The value of recording

Today I recorded myself playing the first three Leavitt etudes, using a combination of the GuitarPort and GarageBand.

I listened to the recordings only enough to make sure that they worked. I intend to pull them out for a serious listening in a month or two. This is something that should help me get a good feel for my improvements.

It used to be that recording yourself in this manner was a complicated setup. Not any more. One inexpensive recording device ($100), and GarageBand came with my Macintosh. PC users could use something like FL Studio, I imagine. I recommend against audacity, because it doesn't automatically compensate for latency. Whatever tools you use, if you can set them up for recording, you're going to advance your playing by great leaps and bounds. Listening, as always, is the key. How is your intonation-- REALLY. How is your note duration? How is your sense of rhythm?

The tape (or hard disk recording) tells all.