A Space to Call Your Own
Classical Guitar Practice Tips
In conversations with many of my students, I notice that some don’t have a place they call their own to practice. Even though it may seem trivial, I think that having your own place to practice help the process. Practicing isn’t always pretty. Nor its it always fun and exciting. Do you really need a […]
Read MoreAsk the Readers: Fingernail Open Thread
Ask the Readers, Classical Guitar Fingernails
I’d like your help. I get a lot of requests for fingernail advice. However, I feel that I’m the least qualified to give it. Many of the people who contact me have odd shaped nails or hooks or some other issue. I don’t have any experience with that as my nails are very well suited […]
Read MoreAn Interview with Scott Tennant
Interviews with Classical Guitarists
During my first year of undergrad the LAGQ visited. I was about two months into playing classical guitar. I didn’t even own a guitar recording; I had no clue what the instrument could do. The LAGQ concert was my first guitar concert, and I left inspired. I remember watching Scott Tennant closely. I was amazing […]
Read MorePesky Pinky
Classical Guitar Technique
There are many different ways to use the right hand little finger (labeled c). Some pedagogues recommend training it as you would any other finger, others advocate keeping it straight (or do that themselves) or having it follow along the ring finger. Is there a right way? Probably not. Everyone has different hands. For some […]
Read MoreMonday Motivation: Krivokapic Edition
Monday Motivation
“I have discovered that all human evil comes from this, man’s being unable to sit still in a room.” -Blaise Pascal Today we feature Goran Krivokapic playing some simple Sor pieces. Now, the thing about Sor is that none of his music is really simple. That is, it might be technically easy, but there’s a […]
Read MorePre-Reading: What you need to know before you start working
Classical Guitar Tips
Recently, I’ve been looking through the New Shearer Method. The main reason is that I was given Volumes 1 and 2 from my boss at work who had these guitar methods laying around. So every once and a while, I’ll go through the books on down time and read though them. Probably one of the […]
Read MoreXuefei Yang on BBC
Classical Guitar Videos
BBC’s Story of the Guitar includes bits of performance and an interview with Xuefei Yang. I stumbled on this interview yesterday, and thought it might be of interest. And a few bits of performance (Recuerdos and Asturias). Buy Xuefei Yang’s CDs on Amazon
Read MoreThe Most Important Note
Musical Interpretation and Musicianship
Every phrase has a climax–the point in the phrase to which everything before it leads. Another way to think of it is that some notes are more important than others: the high point is the most important. Sometimes this could be the highest note! Sometimes it’s the lowest. Sometimes it the place with the thickest […]
Read MoreMonday Motivation: Presti/Lagoya Edition
Monday Motivation
“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.” -Anne Bradstreet The Presti/Lagoya duo featured two of the best guitarists of the twentieth century (especial Ida Presti!). Check out this CD for more of their recordings. The video […]
Read MoreIntroduction… and Inspiration…
Monday Motivation
Introduction Hello readers. My name is Nick Cutroneo. Chris generously asked if I’d like to share some of my ideas/articles and take part on his Classical Guitar Blog. Before I start posting, I figured it would be a smart idea to introduce myself. I’m currently finishing up my final year at the Hartt School of […]
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