Classical Guitarist
Placing the Bourrée in a musical context. When teaching the Bourrée recently, I realised that there can be the misconception that it is a stand-alone piece rather than a movement from a larger work, so I thought that I would write a few words about the baroque suite. The baroque […]
Why do Mental Practice / Use Visualisation for Learning? It’s great for: Memorising a piece Improving technical issues – difficult leaps, stretches, left hand finger contortions Understanding/ reinforcing your structural/ harmonic understanding of a piece Working on phrasing and interpretation Practising the performance of a piece without muscle fatigue Becoming […]
We had a wonderful day! The under 18s started at 9am, quickly proving that their ensemble skills have developed hugely since the first time they met. They read so well, listened to each other, played with dynamics and accuracy – it was a joy to hear! The adults analysed the […]
It’s a lot of fun for classical players to dabble in the field of flamenco. This Rumba leaves behind the melancholic beautiful tunes of the classical guitar world and enters into a high spirited Spain. It’s written in 4/4 but the quavers are often grouped into 3,3,2. There’s a repeated […]
This blog is set to be a melting pot of ideas to add some sparkle, intrigue and analysis to your own musical journey. As the great Paraguayan virtuoso/composer Agustín Barrios Mangoré is quoted to have said, “One cannot become a guitarist if he has not bathed in the fountain of […]
Top Tip for Winter. Do you suffer from cold hands Autumn through to Spring? Those of you who know me well will be well aware that I suffer from cold hands in the winter months. This is bad news for a guitarist! It’s tricky to play semiquaver scales at crotchet […]
Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Tárrega (1852–1909) Created originally for military purposes, the Alhambra, in Spain, was an “alcazaba” (fortress), an “alcázar” (palace) and a small “medina” (city), all in one. Since 1984 it has been a UNESCO World Heritage site and its history stretches back to the 9th century. […]
Practice is a massive subject to discuss and is relevant to all of us that play an instrument. As the website and blog are new, I thought that I would, at this stage, touch on the subject by sharing some Excerpts from Practice Revolution by Philip Johnston. A while back, […]