Since Christmas my focus has changed back to the rework of my original songs. I started work on 2010 song, ‘Sign on Again’, looking at the song dynamics, guitar chord voicings and alternate rhythm.

However my focus shifted to my 2016 song ‘The Back Catalogue’ which I felt lent itself to a retro, 1960’s feel influenced by my encounters with that era at Soul Choir and indeed via ‘Sing Pop’ song choices like ‘The Night’.  After experimenting I was drawn towards  an offbeat rhythm over a 60’s drum pattern. So I sought feedback from my guitar tutor at Kirklees Guitar School and he suggested a more committed approach to that feel. So that’s what I’m now working on. He also felt that my bridge, a classic middle eight’ was too short or at least didn’t end well. I decided to move to a 12 bar bridge by adding a four bar solo derived from the relative minor’s pentatonic scales.

In parallel I continue to work on my guitar playing via a mix of scales and working on ‘Wonderful Land’ by The Shadows.

For the sake of diversity I also uncovered the Sax, cleaned it, found a new reed and gently started the task of getting back to where I left off two years ago. I managed to play the warm-up piece, ‘Senua Dedende’ from memory so I’m now back to gently working through an arrangement of Christina Perri’s ‘A Thousand Years’ and The Beatles ‘She’s Leaving Home’ to a backing tracks a few bars at a time.

In time I will hit a brick wall as the Sax is actually broken, with some keys unplayable. I will need to get it repaired at some point.

I think that a couple of sessions a week will not detract too much from progress on the guitar so I shall give that a try.

Meanwhile the new season with Soul Choir has seen us commence rehearsal of ‘A Decade of Soul – The 1960’s’ with a concert planned for the 29th March. We will again join up with Huddersfield Gospel Choir and the youngsters from True Talent Performing Arts School.