Someone mentioned before about playing with others. This is the obsticle I have run into most recently. Playing with others, in my opinion, is the most valuable skill to develop playing any instrument.

I think I am a good mandolin player, I can play for a long time and not become fatigued to where I can't go on. I can play in open and closed positions in any key, I can play a variety of songs from Bluegrass to Rock to Chamber music. I can write songs and come up with cool melodies and even harmonies, sometimes. All of these abilities I have cultivated over the past four years has lead me to the belief I am a good player. But all of this amounts to nothing when I get together and try to play with people outside of the local Jams. Getting together with peers and those better than you will point out many of the shortcomings you have within your playing and technical abilities. I don't want to deter anyone, nor do I want anyone to think I am putting down their abilities, playing with peers with one or two other people can be more helpful than we often realize and it is my belief that it is sorely underrated.

Books are great, you can play along with them and begin to sound good, but nothing is like the nervousness found when playing with another individual when you are conscience of them being there and listening to you play. It freaks me out and I am getting better, but I have found myself working less at home by myself and more time with others. Give it as much wieght in your practice as you do the B Major scale in the second position.

That's my community info buliten for the night. Thanks.