Status update:

• Video game design: a bit of progress. Started working on my pixel art. Downloaded the Game Maker source of Banana Nababa to fiddle with; I imagine this will serve me better than any tutorial as I'm a hands-on learner. Played lots of games, though I can't say my game design goals were always in mind.
  
• Music: unfortunately, little progress. Reserved Hanon at the library; intend to get sheet music and guitar training books when I go there over the weekend. Played some exercies on the piano.
• Programming: significant progress. Picked up a C++ book, and have already finished 1/4 of it.