Hi Joe

I think picking out a key and doing what you suggested is useful. This is most useful when the song you may be dealing with stays in key. This sort of study helps a lot in playing live with a band you have not played with. Perhaps you have to play a song you have not played before. This sort of training relates best to music that has a classical structure. It is less useful in some of the more modern forms where rhythmic content is predominant. We have many good training methods nowadays. Information is easy to find on the internet.

It is fun to study music even if you never actually play songs.

After all the study, I find that where one really learns to play is live on stage.

The wind is blowing and my boat is tied up to the dock. I now get to play music again for a while.

Cheers,

Billy

“Amazing! I’ll be working with Jaco Pastorius, Charlie Parker, Art Tatum, and Buddy Rich, and you’re telling me it’s not that great of a gig?
“Well…” Saint Peter, hesitated, “God’s got this girlfriend who thinks she can sing…”