project plan 07
Jan. 15, 2007
Contents
-
Japanese Proficiency - Education
-
Technical Proficiency - Music
-
Mathematics - Education
-
Programming - Education
-
MA:46 - Music
-
Novel Project - Writing
Japanese Proficiency - Education
Summary:
In the last 3 years, my Japanese language skill has withered. In December 2003 I passed the 2kyu proficiency exam with flying colors. In December 2006 I have difficulty reading Japanese newspapers and websites, and haven't carried on a conversation in the language in at least a year.
Goals:
-
Return to 2kyu-level reading and writing proficiency
-
Regain confidence in conversational Japanese
-
(tentative) Take 1kyu exam in December
Methods:
-
Read and summarize 正確な文章の書き方
-
Find conversation partner for monthly practice
-
Re-purchase JLPT 2kyu study materials and practice tests, for review
-
Purchase JLPT 1kyu study materials and practice tests
-
Set aside a 'study night'
Milestones
-
January 22 - buy JPLT study materials (COMPLETE)
-
February 9 - Write reaction/summary of 正確な文章の書き方 (in Japanese of course)
-
February 28 - Find conversation partner
-
End of August - JLPT registration deadline
-
End of December - JLPT
Technical Proficiency - Music
Summary:
I wish to improve my technical proficiency with guitar and piano.
Goals:
-
Learn a beginner-intermediate piano piece as a 'warmup'
-
Learn to play a moderately difficult piano piece
-
Improve chord knowledge and transisitions on guitar
-
clean up single note runs on guitar
-
Improve classical-style playing
Methods:
-
Spend at least an hour per instrument per week on technical excercises as a supplement to normal practice
Milestones:
-
February 11 - select beginner-intermediate piano piece
-
March 2 - select moderately difficult piano piece
Mathematics - Education
Summary:
I would like to improve my understanding of mathematical reasoning. I took calculus in college, but my understanding of topics like statistics is lacking.
Goals:
-
Improve my understanding of mathematical reasoning.
-
Improve my understanding of the math in this book: http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Information-Theory-John-Pierce/dp/0486240614
Methods:
-
Study a college-level statistics text
-
Find an online course
-
Take a course through UCLA extension
Milestones:
-
Feb 22 - define study plan
Programming - Education
Currently my programming skills do not reach far beyond writing scripts for simple automation, and a few rudimentary framework-based web applications. I believe the distance between my current skill level and a level I will find acceptable requires hands-on practice, not book learning / example apps from books.
Goals:
-
Improve my programming skill to the point where I could implement a web app of moderate difficulty (bonus points if app assists with projects described in this document)
-
Explore non-web programming in preparation for the release of "OpenMoko":http://openmoko.com
Methods:
-
Implement beginner-intermediate web application
-
Write basic GTK+ application (for standard GUI, not OpenMoko)
Milestones:
-
February 7 - Choose web application to implement, define milestone for completion
-
(web app completion milestone + 2 weeks) - Choose GTK+ app
MA:46 - Music
Summary:
I have plenty of complete or half-complete MA:46 songs to perform and record with quality. I must do this!
Goals:
-
Play live shows as MA:46 with other humans
-
Record at least demo-quality tracks for 10 songs
Methods:
-
Assemble tracks as recorded currently into 'live set mix'
-
Find collaborators for live performance
-
Record new / higher quality versions of songs
-
this will likely incur expenses for better equipment and studio time
Milestones:
-
Assemble tracks as recorded currently into 'live set mix' - February 16
Novel Project - Writing
Summary:
I have a mostly complete fiction project that needs a rewrite. It's sat too long, it needs to be finished.
Milestones:
-
Re-read and annotate current draft - March 16
Milestone Calendar
Melissah commented, on December 5, 2007 at 6:23 a.m.:
What a good plan. Are you winning?