Before Day One (Again): What I’m Changing, What I’m Keeping, What I’m Hoping to Learn

In 2026, I’m returning to 100 Days of ’Ukulele. Day One is Sunday March 1, 2026.

Not because I need to prove I can do it — I already did.
But because the project taught me things I couldn’t have learned any other way, and I’m curious what another pass might reveal.

Before Day One arrives, I want to name what I’m changing, what I’m keeping, and what I’m hoping to learn this time around.

What I’m Changing

The goal this year isn’t “bigger” — it’s clearer.

With the least amount of added friction possible, I’m making a few intentional upgrades:

• Using a metronome
  Not to make things rigid, but to make them reliable. I want time to feel steady enough that I don’t have to think about it — especially as songs get more complex.
• Audio & video quality
  A slightly better audio mix, a more consistent visual setup, and a little more attention to hair, makeup, and background — not for polish, but for care. I want the recordings to feel as good to revisit as they do to make.
• A simpler recording process
  Each day will be recorded in a single session, with up to three takes. No endless retakes. No chasing perfection. Just commitment inside a clear container.
• Real-time publishing
  Record → upload → move on.
  This year, the YouTube releases will happen in real time, closer to the actual recording day, so the project stays alive instead of stockpiled.
• Structure
  One hundred different songs.
  A calendar.
  A schedule.
  Intentional Sets
  Fewer last-minute scrambles.

What I’m Keeping

Some things worked — and I’m not interested in fixing what isn’t broken.

• The daily ritual
  The same greeting every day: “It’s a great day for ‘ukulele.”
  The same sign-off every day: “This is my best today, and that is good enough for me.”
• Showing up, one day at a time
  One song. One sitting. One decision to keep going.
• Progress over polish
  A recording can be honest without being perfect. That principle stays.
• Comfort over glamour
  I’ll still choose setups that make it easier to play well, not harder to look impressive.
• Credits and context
  Song descriptions and credits will remain — acknowledging the music, the writers, and the lineage that makes playing possible.

What I’m Hoping to Learn

This project has never been about arriving. It’s about keeping on.

This year, I’m hoping to come away with:

• 100 different songs that are performance-ready — not just learned, but dependable
• Stronger left-hand technique and more confident fingerpicking
• Steadier strumming that continues to improve over time
• Stamina — physical, musical, and mental — for the long game

I don’t expect every day to feel inspired. I do expect it to feel real.

That’s the point.

Day One is coming.
The calendar is ready.
The metronome is on.
The songs are waiting.

I’ll see what happens!

— Suz