Medina+Keita

Sounds like a great plan! I really look forward to seeing your presentation. Be sure to check the rubric on the main independent study wiki page to ensure your presentation has all of the required components.

May 11, 2016 For my final presentation I think I'm going to give a demonstration of all the info I learned about the guitar such as the different parts(neck,frets, strings etc.) and then perform each of the pieces starting from the lowest difficulty to the higher difficulty level piece. I will also describe why each piece gets more progressively harder and then maybe try to show variations or how having a capo affects an entire piece's key. I was also struggling on choosing which pieces to perform but I have decided to play the three songs that get progressivly harder. I will probably just need a stool for my performance and I'm contemplating whether or not I should sing along with the songs just because I'm only playing the chords and not the actual melodies. The only thing I need to do now is just perfect them and practice more and get a steady playing pattern down that doesn't sound choppy.

Good Journal Medina. I am really looking forward to seeing your final presentation. Your performance at the coffee house was great! Both of you looked comfortable and relaxed playing. I am so glad you took on this challenge. I hope you apply the life lessons you have learned from this project to other things that you want to take on. May 2, 2016 I have decided to learn Elvis Presley's song "Can't Help Falling in Love" for my final project presentation. I'm not sure if I should perform the easier songs I learned as well just because this song is difficult enough with chords but I can play the other two "Imagine" and "Need you Now" for it. The other song that I had previously been thinking about playing is 4 chords so I may do that one and the Elvis song for my final presentation since those two are the most difficult. I think I have become better at assessing how much time I need to allocate for each song and at not looking directly at the strings while playing cause that's a problem I struggle with. Two weeks ago I performed the same Tri-M song at the Coffeehouse open mic night and just as before people came up to my friend and I, and were praising us for our performance. Overall I have been enjoying the experience much more than I thought I would. I think I believed I would struggle much more than I have been which is why u put off so long teaching myself how to play, and the dedication to working at it everyday also made me hesitant towards it because I always like to move on to new things when one thing starts to become to hard or takes me too long to become like a master of it, but I've gotten better at focusing on learning the songs all the way through with precision.

April 19, 2016 On April 21st I had my Tri-M concert and I would say it went extremely well. The first opening chords were great except I couldn't hear my friend count us in so we came in on different times, but after that we got into the song and performed very well especially considering we were the first to perform and it was nerveracking. Afterwords I had multiple people come up and compliment me on our performance and heard many remarks like "I didn't know you could play guitar?!" which made me really happy because I had considered myself very novice and I was able to play well enough that others believed I had a stronger ability in playing than I actually did. Overall I think I learned I can accomplish anything that I work hard enough at and continue to do without like giving up or slacking off. I think the main reason why it took me so long to learn or get to the skill set I am now is because I never set aside actual time to push myself and practice like I had to do with this performance because there was a time limit and I didn't want to let my friend down or Mrs. Wydrzynski down because she always wants our Tri-M concerts to be high caliber performances because it is an honor society which I think we achieved. :) I am so glad you had the time and could learn something that you really wanted to learn! I learned that it's actually really easy to learn a new skill if you're willing to work at it and being disciplined is a good way to reach this goal. I do think I met my learning objective I was able to ultimately learn my Trl-M song and the second song but the difficulty level was a bit lower for that song as it had less variation in chords. I think now I just have to think of a way to continue to challenge myself, so picking higher difficulty music and learning more strumming patterns. Awesome! My next objective I think will be to choose another song to learn or maybe 3 songs this time that are progressively more difficult and involve a wider range of skills. Tof reach this objective I think I basically need to do what I did last time which is just practice and push myself to get better at reading the music as well as playing it because I want to improve on that skill as well. Great job Medina. I am really looking forward to hearing you present what you have done. I challenge you to learn one more song for your final project presentation that is of greater difficulty and demonstrates a wider range of skills. You will be presenting on 5/27, so you have one month. You can do it!!!


 * What have I learned?**
 * Have I met my learning objective?**
 * Is there more to be done to help me fully reach my objective?**
 * What is my next objective?**
 * What do I need to do/learn to reach my next objective?**
 * Make a plan for the next 8 days to help me reach my next objective.**

Great Medina! I am so glad you are finding success! It sounds like the hard work and time you are putting in is helping you to improve and become comfortable with what you are learning. I love that you may take on another song and challenge. That is awesome! Have you looked into suggestions for the numbness you are experiencing? I am wonder that dissipates as you practice more? Also, there may be exercises you can do to strengthen your finder muscles??? Check out this site and see if it's links might help... https://www.quora.com/What-should-one-do-about-numbness-in-the-fingers-when-playing-guitar It looks like stretching might alleviate some of the discomfort.

April 6, 2016 I do feel that I am ready for the tri-m concert. The other day my friend and I practiced at my house for 2 hours straight and we are basically able to play together with a few mistakes here and there, which are easily able to be corrected with just more practice. To learn that song in particular I have just been using straight out practice, looking up chords and then figuring out my own strumming patterns for each section. I meant to say that song doesn't involve a key change I just use the frets to make different chords. I have also improved with the playing of the other two songs that I am just learning to get better at playing in a different key, on different sections of the guitar, and the plucking pattern for the song. I have been using tutorials to learn different strum and plucking techniques and to find finger stretches to help with playing chords that have a wider fret range. Seeing the amount of progress I was able to make in just a short amount of time I definitely feel like I am on track more than I felt I was before. I may learn a second song for tri-m because my other friend has to perform but she couldn't t decide what song she wanted to do and we just found one that we both liked and are considering doing because she still has to perform, but the song is for sure yet. The only downside to this process is the fact that the tips of my fingers feel numb but also tingly sometimes because of how hard I have to hold down on the frets and string but it's been worth it considering how much progress we have made. I am excited for the upcoming performance and I think we will perform the song very well.

Keep it up Medina. What is a "jet" change? Have you been using tutorials or just straight out practice to help you? Your deadline for Tri-M is 4/21. Do you feel like you are ready? March 24, 2016 I feel I am progressing at a very good rate. Just the other day my friend and I got together to work on our tri-m song and I basically have the part down with just one run through. My strumming technique isn't that well but I am trying to get down the chord switching before I work on something yet. This song doesn't involve a jet change but it does have me using three different chords that I change between constantly so my finger placements has been getting better. The other songs that I have been working on are going good as well. Imagine I have almost completely finished and for I just need you now I only have to work on getting my fingers right on the correct strings when switching chords. I think I am making good progress for this project and my goals are being met.

March 10, 2016 After working on my independent study some more and reassessing my skill set I have decided to change my overall objectives. Instead of learning the entire major and minor scale which would be close to impossible with the amount of time we have and considering the different alterations in the scale(capo changing the key of the guitar and string tuning to change the key), I have decided to focus on learning and perfecting 3 beginner songs that employ the use of chords and capo to get practice with playing in different keys. The three songs I've decided to learn are Imagine by John Lennon which has no charts but will help me get used to finger placements on frets and string plucking; Need You Now which will give me practice with the capo, key change and playing on the lower frets of the guitar; and a third song that I have yet to decide but will incorporate both single string plucking and chords and possibly the use of the capo. I'm hoping that by the time I have mastered these three songs I will be proficient enough to learn the sing for Tri-M. I might start learning it after I have mastered the second song so I can improve my total skills all at once.

Reassessment of your goals is important. We can talk about the direction you are going after your third journal installment. I appreciate your ambition and do realize the play took up quite a bit of your time over the last month. Now that it is over (EXCELLENT JOB, by the way) you can focus more on your Ind. Study. I love your plan to play at the Tri-M concert. You can document your progress on that and reflect on how it goes.

February 29, 2016 I am starting to think I was a little ambitious with the previous goals i had set for each learning journal. I think I need to reevaluate my skill level in order to benefit from the time I spend actually playing. I am still behind on learning both the major scale and minor scale. I think the goals I had set of learning 3 beginner songs and one intermediate song need to be moved two the second half of the year for the later half of the learning journals. I learned imagine by John Lennon but that song is very basic and I want the songs I actually learn to complete my future learning journals to be somewhat more challenging. I think the main reason why I have been falling behind on my objectives is because of school activities namely the play. I think now that the year is coming close to an end I will have more time to focus on my learning journals goals and overall skill of playing. For the Tri-M concert in April I plan on playing basic chords with my friend for a song we are singing together so I'm hoping my skills will improve by then.

I appreciate your honesty Medina. Part of adding Learning Journal goals to the independent study is to help you be focused, but I do realize that you are not going to reach every goal in its entirety each week. I love the specific details you have provided in the journal. I also like hearing your voice through your writing. It shows you are doing the needed reflection to set yourself up for success. Keep up the good work Medina! February 17, 2016 For my second independent study I am choosing to learn how to play the guitar. I have a little knowledge of how to play; I know the notes of each open string are EADGBE; I know the structure of the guitar meaning the frets and different strings; I know how to tune the guitar and how to use accessories like a capo to change the key of a guitar, however I haven't been able to put this knowledge into the skill of playing because of a lack of time. In fourth grade I took guitar class and I wanted to resume this learning during high school, but wasn't able to due to other required classes. I own my guitar and I started practicing over the summer. I was able to learn a few chords but as time passed I forgot all but two which were the E and A chords. As my first object I had hoped to learn all of the major and minor chords, however this proved to be very difficult. I was able to successfully learn and play the C and F chords but some of the other chords required a technique known as barring, where the index finger is laid across all of the strings on a specific fret and the other fingers are placed on the instructed strings. Over time ones hand would become used to this method and wouldn't have trouble doing this, but as I have not built up the muscle memory for playing, I struggled quite a bit. Although I have not accomplished my full goal I think I am on my way to being able to play a few simple songs with my current knowledge. I have taught myself how to read tabs, which is a specific way of writing guitar music displaying numbers and the different strings to show where to place the fingers and what strings to pluck. I have also taken up the habit of doing finger/ plucking exercises each time before I actually start playing, so my fingers get better at stretching across the guitar and my dexterity improves. Overall I am happy with my choice for my second independent project, I just know it's going to take a lot of practice and dedication to actually improve to the point where I can say I know how to play. As I am behind on my goals I am going to work on learning songs as I go along learning the chords of the major and minor scale. I hope to be on task by the second learning journal but at this point it is not guaranteed.

January 6, 2016 The under 21 night went very well although i was the only person who had art to display. I enjoyed having it up and I would like to experience that again. I think some people don't understand what my galaxy painting is supposed to be or about but I still enjoyed seeing people's reactions to the pieces. I have been working on my keynote presentation and have to finish my reflection paper now. I have also been trying to decide what I would like to do for my second independent study and whether or not I want to use that time for more art based activities or something as simple as reading which I dont get to do often with my time. I also want to complete scholarship applications which will be due soon so that is also a possibility as it gives me a set time frame to work on them. I will presentunt the first week of February which is coming soon so I'm in pretty good shape I think for this.

Medina, that is such a great opportunity. I am really excited to hear how it goes. It is nice to see your work displayed in the library. The analysis you plan to do with the opinion cards is very interesting. I hope you share what you learn here in your learning journal.

December 16th, Now that I'm done my actual project I have to make the presentation. I plan on taking my work to Flickerwood January 8th as they are having an under 21 night where artists can perform or show off any art work that they have. I'll probably try and document some of the reactions I get and I hope to place maybe opinion cards around the artwork to get some feed back or see what reactions people have to the pieces. I hope to use these for my own analysis of the effect art can have on people. I'll also take pictures of the actual exhibit and put them in my keystone presentation. I also have to write my reflection paper and document the completion of each piece. I took a time lapse video of my "Faith" painting and plan on incorporating it into my presentation to show a part of the actual process. I will be presenting the first week of February so I'll have enough time to finish the rest of the project. Overall im satisfied with the end result and I'm glad I got to complete a project I enjoyed doing.

Medina... Please don't forget your journal due today, December 16.

It is nice to hear your thoughts about the process. It sounds like you learned a lot about yourself by completing the project. I wish you well on your grade project presentation.

December 3, 2015 Now that I am done my art I have to put it up in the library and then give my actual presentation. I think I am presenting during the mid of December with Mr. Wooddell so I'll probably bring my pieces with me for the presentation. Now that I'm finished the only thing i plan on working on is the piece for this class. Being that this is the ATP room, I want to try and focus on creativity. I just have to write my reflection paper now so I am basically finished with my grad project. I feel I learned a lot from doing art as my grad project. I had to try and time manage better than I usually do, I'm a very big procrastinator so trying to finish everything with a deadline was hard for me. I also feel like every time I finish or work on a piece I realize that nothing I do is going to be absolutely perfect or turn out exactly how I want so I become a little more realistic with my goals. i think overall I'm really proud of what I accomplished and if given the chance would probably complete the same project. The only change I would make is maybe when I was finished because then I couldve displayed my art maybe at first Friday or somewhere like that but overall I'm happy with the end result.

November 17, 2015 I will be presenting my graduation project during the second week of December which is approaching fast but I plan on finishing the rest of my work over Thanksgiving break. I have decided that I might display it in the library because they are looking for art and it's my easiest option at this point so I have to consult with Mrs. Liljestrand and Ms. Hill to organize that. (AWESOME, I look forward to seeing it!.) To answer the questions you have posed I do think that my paintings have helped me to gain a better understanding of myself. I say this because each piece I make, I feel I put my personality and a part of myself into it, so when I see the final result and I'm finally satisfied with where I've gotten, I learn a lot about what I'm able to accomplish. Also with each finished piece I can see a development of my style and so that also helps me to understand who I am and what I like. To contrast this though I don't think it gives me a better understanding of my audience solely because I paint and do art to please myself and make myself feel better. I'm not so much concerned with what other people think about it or whether or not they like it just because I know in the end all that matters is how my art makes me feel and if it just so happens to have a positive effect on someone else then that's a plus. (I am glad it has helped you see the progression of your talent, as well as provide deeper insight into yourself.)

Excellent Medina! It sounds like you are on track for your presentation. The work you are doing with the glass does sound tedious. I am sure it will look neat when you are done. November 2, 2015 I wasnt able to work on my project much in class this week so I took home my creativity painting and worked on it over the weekend. I find that it is really time consuming trying to take each shard or piece of glass and then paint the clear coat of sparkle paint on the edges and then wait for it to dry so I've been trying to do that part all at once and then pick and choose which pieces I want to actually put onto the painting. I also started painting the girl on the piece and im having a lot of fun experimenting with the skin tone and trying to find the right shades to put into it. It is gettimg hard though trying to keep some of overall consistency with it. For her hair I was going to try and paint some cool kind of ombré grey but I'm not really liking how it's looking so I have to change that. This piece isn't really turning out as well as I had hoped but I'm hoping i can turn it around by adding some more detail. For my final piece I want to keep it a surprise but when I make significant progress on it I will talk about that. I still have that piece, the creativity piece, and I believe two more pieces to complete my graduation project which I will probably present in December so I believe I'm on a good path for now.

Okay, the suspense! Are you going to tell me what the final piece is, or will you hold me in suspense? Thank you for sharing how "Be Blue" connects to your sister. It is so important to have at least one person you can share you struggles with. It isn't easy, but it is important. I look forward to seeing how the glass works into your third project. Please show me a pic from your iPad in class!

October 21, 2015 I was able to complete my second piece on the second A day. The concept of that piece connected to my sister because I feel like she kept a lot of her struggles or sadness inside instead of expressing it, so in a way I kind of learned that it's better to let out those emotions or "Be BLUE" instead of keeping them in. I have moved onto my third piece which is about expressing your creativity. I haven't come up with a name yet but I like how far I've gotten. I am using pieces of glass and the reflection of them in a different way so I'm excited to see how my overall vision will turn out. As for my final piece I have decided what I hope to create. I think it's going to be one of my favorite pieces I've ever made if I can execute it correctly.

Medina, this is really cool! I would love to see it in person. Let me know when you are completely finished. I would like to go see it with you some time; I don't think the photo does it justice. I love the concept and the colors! How does this connect to your sister? Great journal response too!

October 8th, 2015 Over the past week I was able to begin and come close to completing my second piece "It's Okay to Be Blue". I am very pleased with how it has come along. I found it would be an interesting contrast to have the blue brushstrokes look very care free and random and then to have this sort of pop art face over top depicting sadness. To get the different shades of blue I would mix different blues and then add white to some shades to give each color a little more depth. I started off by painting the entire canvas two shades of blue instead of just one, because I didnt want the background to be just one flat color. After I painted the canvas I began to layer the different brusthstrokes of blue which I think gives the piece a really cool affect. I still want to refine the women's face and add a little more detall but I'm proud of what I was able to accomplish during the Aday and Bday class periods. Once I finish this piece I plan to move onto the third one which focuses on the importance of creativity which I think I will have a lot of fun creating.

Medina, I am glad you were able to get everything you need. I love the idea... I agree it is okay to be "blue" sometimes. It will be interesting to see what you produce. Keep an open mind, and I am sure something will come to you for the large canvas.

September 29, 2015- So far I have been able to gather the rest of my art supplies; paints, canvases, brushes etc. and have brought them to the schools paint room. I haven't started on the second piece yet but I already have the general idea of what it is going to portray. I want to create a painting to serve as a reminder that it's okay to be "blue" or sad so I plan to do a painting in various shades of blue with a woman's face outlined. I don't expect it to be very hard, I am actually really excited to experiment with the different shades of blue ill be able to make and I think it will turn out pretty nice. One thing im trying to figure out though is what will be my bigger and more extravagant piece. I bought a pretty large canvas and so far the ideas that I have wont really be enough to fill it up so I'll have to create something large enough to fit my theme but I'm not to worried about it yet. I plan to go into the art room this friday and get started on the next piece.

That is just beautiful Medina. I knew I was looking at a word, but was unsure of the translation. What a simple depiction of the word FAITH. I love that you are inspired by your sister. She will feel very honored that she has touched you so much. I agree, Faith is something that will help you through hard times, and also good. I am not an art scholar, but I can see how clean and simple your work is here.

Your plan sounds great. I look forward to seeing you progress through the project and hearing what the pieces mean to you and how your sister has influenced you.

September 16, 2015- For my independent study I will be creating an art portfolio that I will use as my graduation project. I plan on creating 6 pieces minimum and then continuing to add pieces as I gather more ideas that fit my theme. My entire portfolio is going to be made out of pieces that come from the inspiration of my sister and the lessons she taught me. She was a major influence in my life and we were able to share a love of art. She was the reason that I began to better my art abilities and I feel that creating this portfolio is a way to honor her and the impact she made on me as a person today. I have created one piece that was fairly easy to complete and I think will end up being the closing piece during my presentation. I call it "Faith" because it is a painting of the word "faith" in Arabic. I chose to do this piece because that was my sisters namesake, and I also think that learning to have faith is very important when facing difficult times. It took me about 30 minutes to complete which is a fairly good time for one painting. I'm hoping to not spend any more than 5 hours on each piece because I like to go into great detail when I work. Overall I think I am off to a good start and will have no trouble completing the pieces before my grad project is due.