Daniel+L.+-2011

= **Daniel Luo, grade 10. Age 15.** = You can sometimes catch me listening to music in my room, sometimes with a book, sometimes without. Alternately, you can catch me breakdancing in my basement or practicing parkour wherever I can. I love to swim, doodle, ski, play badminton, piano, flute and more recently, guitar. I speak Mandarin, am learning French and of course, speak English. My favorite bands include Linkin Park, My Chemical Romance and Maroon 5. My favorite color is orange, but I don't really hate any color, either.
 * Bio**

Learn what I can, attempt what I can't. Everything and anything's worth a shot.
 * Goals and stuff**

I learned Something In The Air by Tom Pettyand the Spanish Fandago, a simple finger picking song. As well, I learned the D major, E minor, G major and C major chords.
 * Week 1:**

I've been practicing Hotel California by The Eaglesfor a few days now. I've learned about 1/3 of the intro, but my bar-ing still needs a bit of work. Below is the tutorial I've been following. media type="youtube" key="wXzdbCHqI3I?version=3" height="283" width="378" I also began to learn Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the Children. Along with it, I learned the A major chord. I went for a camping trip for 3 days, though, so I missed a lot of practice.
 * Week 2:**

I finished learning Pumped Up Kicks. I can basically play the whole thing now. We also got a new song called [|Father and Son by Cat Stevens]and learned the A minor, A minor 7, B minor and B minor 7 chords.
 * Week 3:**

media type="youtube" key="PHHG0qbN0nw?version=3" height="283" width="378" I'll be away for a field trip on Friday, so I'll be recording Father and Son by Cat Stevens to share with you all by Monday. Above is the music video. media type="youtube" key="e5SU950RmTU?version=3" height="283" width="378" As well, I also moved on to part 2 of the intro to Hotel California and learned the F# minor chord.
 * Week 4:**

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Learned I'm Yours by Jason Mraz in 3 different keys and the intro as well. Also learned the B minor, G# minor and B major chords.
 * Week 5:**

Tutorial for I'm Yours by Jason Mraz: media type="youtube" key="0J7Yl95fp8o" height="283" width="378"media type="youtube" key="NQ97jXbxe60" height="283" width="378" The Eagles - Hotel California media type="youtube" key="CxTFX1fV7wI" height="315" width="420"
 * Week 6:**

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Started Grenade by Bruno Marsand Working Class Hero by Green Day, and learned the A minor chord. Here are tutorials for Working Class Hero by John Lennon and Green Day's cover as well. media type="youtube" key="gejfCb2j5TE" height="219" width="392"media type="youtube" key="cCntM4_igRs" height="251" width="308" Choice week. Performed Party Rock Anthem by LMFAO and learned used a capo for the first time. Below is a tutorial. media type="youtube" key="mcZyWkcycs4" height="251" width="448"
 * Week 7:**
 * Week 8:**

Performing Working Class Hero in front of the class.
 * Week 9:**

Continuing from last week. Also learning Sing by My Chemical Romance. Below is a tutorial. media type="youtube" key="MT-JD8iGNP8" height="251" width="448" Christmas week! We performed Jingle Bellsas a group. I also learned Wonderwall by Oasisand the Esus4, B7sus4 and Dadd9 chords. Here'sa link to the tab.
 * Week 10:**
 * Week 11:**

Learned and will play Deck The Halls as a group, but I'll be performing You're Too Cool by The Zolas on my own. Along with it I learned the F major chord. Here'sa link to the tab I've been following.
 * Week 12**

Below is a video of The Zolas performing an acoustic version of You're Too Cool. media type="youtube" key="nJhpS36uOlg" height="251" width="448"

I've been playing around with a few more songs to learn. I'm still deciding between Seize the Day by Avenged Sevenfold, Fallen Leaves by Billy Talentand Kids by MGMT. I also learned the G minor chord and bar chords.
 * Week 13**

Back from winter break! I'll be performing Seize the Day on Friday. Also started learning Surrender by Billy Talent, a song that involves more finger picking than strumming chords. Here'sthe tab I've been following. We're also going to be writing our own songs, starting with a simple haiku about our favourite place to visit. I'm writing about China.
 * Week 14**

Warm evening breeze Moment of self-reflection Calming and serene

Continued writing my song. I also started to learn Hey Jude by The Beatlesand The Ghost Of You by My Chemical Romance.
 * Week 15**

The next 2 verses to my song:

I gaze in to the deep black sky I really need to get some shuteye But the night's still young And so am I

I look back to the time I spent 5 years ago I was a child 5 years now I'll be an adult Time for me to step out into the world

The last week. I find it pretty crazy how I went from not knowing how to play a single chord to being able to knowing all sorts of chords and learning so many songs! As a final project, we're finishing off our songs and performing for one last time in front of the class. Our song has to include at least one bar chord. I'll be playing Welcome To The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance.
 * Week 16**

Conveniently enough, someone decided to make a 'tutorial' (though it's more of a cover) of this song, so I followed that. media type="youtube" key="MUeAwpbSZVI" height="251" width="336"

My completed song:

I gaze [G]in to the [F#]deep black sky I [F]really need to get [E]some shuteye But the [D]night's still [G]young And [A]so [E]am [F#]I
 * Verse 1:**

Life [G]is a [D]wonderful thing It's a [E]long, long [D]road So [G]relax and be [D]bold Cause [F#]'youth is a lifelong [G]thing
 * Chorus:**

I look [G]back to the [F#]time I spent Five [F]years ago I was a [E]child Five [D]years now I'll be an [G]adult Time to [A]step out [E]into the [F#]world
 * Verse 2:**


 * Chorus**

Don't [G]fret if things aren't [F#]going well See the [F]good in life cause it's [E]all you need There's [D]enough for [G]everyone So [A]live your [E]life [F#]free
 * Verse 3:**


 * Chorus**