Hi Active Melody family!

It’s time for the October 2026 Site Member Challenge!

This month’s challenge is Then and Now. Go back to something you recorded a while ago, whether it’s one of your earlier challenge submissions, the first video you ever posted in the forum, or any old recording of yourself playing, and record that same piece again today. Then share both so we can hear how far you’ve come. In your post, include a link to your original recording along with your new one.

This is a great opportunity to step back and recognize your own progress. When you practice a little every day, it’s easy to feel like you’re not improving, but putting an old recording right next to a new one tells the real story. Maybe your timing is steadier, your bends are more in tune, your tone is fuller, or you’ve added ideas you couldn’t have played back then. Feel free to share what you notice has changed and what you worked on to get there. And if you don’t have an older recording, pick the first lesson you learned at Active Melody and play it today!

The submission date for this challenge will be Sunday, November 15. You can start submitting Friday, November 13.

If you need assistance with how to record yourself and post to the forum see this post

GROUND RULES FOR PARTICIPATION:

1. Post your Youtube, Vimeo, or Soundcloud links of you playing your chosen piece anytime between Friday, November 13, through Sunday, November 15, 10:00 pm CST. Please do not submit earlier. I think it is fun to see everyone’s posts at once.
2. Submit individually in the “Active Melody Member Challenge Response Submissions” forum. Title your posts “October 2026 Challenge Response: [Your AM Screen Name]”
3. Please submit only a single new video or audio file for this challenge, and include the link to your original recording in your post description so everyone can compare.
4. Have fun and don’t be intimidated by these challenges!!! Use these challenges to help you set goals and complete them by a deadline. You can also use this as an opportunity to chat with other Active Melody members and share tips or tricks on this challenge that you think are useful.
5. It is better to show progress versus perfection with these challenges, and this month progress is the whole point. Whether your improvement is big or small, it counts. Remember we are all here to support you no matter what your current playing level is.

I look forward to seeing everyone’s posts! 🙂