Jimmy Yancy, ‘The Rocks’, transcribed by ‘BlueBlackJazz.com.

A real favourite when I first heard it.  I’ve been working on it for around 8 months now.  At one point I was really getting there with it, analysing the music, phrasing etc, all those counter melody nuances, video recording myself etc.  All that was required was to bring it up to tempo, which was proving impossible.

Then I had the amateur ‘wanna-be performer’ nightmare, monotony set in to the tune, constant repetition just drove me crackers, and I couldn’t wish to hear it again.  As well as that, the ‘memory association process’ that can accompany learning a tune, went very bad for me when I had a bit of a breakdown at the piano, where my frustrations just erupted.

I’ve not touched the song for several weeks now, but I did attempt it again yesterday, but now it’s become so negative, and ‘demonically’ haunted, such that the more I try, the greater the mistakes.

I’m not sure what to do now.   I’m an older adult amateur, self-taught for about 17 years now, so perhaps the years have caught up with me.  I’ve never performed for anyone outside of my living room, but I can put ‘some’ tunes together very well.  I do respect that Jimmy Yancy, was a proper sophisticated gentleman who brushed with some regal circles.

Perhaps I should accept that its beyond my level and limits, although much research has said that the faster boogie is difficult for any pianist.

Should I persevere, how can I turn it around again.

Any advice please?