Month October 2016

Lesson: Well-rounded technique and m, a scales

Lesson of the Week: The importance of a well-rounded technique and how m, a scales can improve arpeggios and tremolo If you’ve had troubles improving your arpeggios or tremolo and specific exercises don’t seem to work then you might want…

Andrew Zohn Plays Fantasies Op.16 by Coste

American guitarist Andrew Zohn plays Fantasies sur deux motifs de la Norma, Op. 16 by French guitarist and composer Napoléon Coste (1805–1883). Recorded at the Schwob School of Music in Columbus, Georgia.Sound engineer, Matt McCabe. Video & Editing by the…

Xu Kun (Alan) Liu Plays Regondi

The young Canadian guitarist Xu Kun Liu (Alan Liu) Plays Introduction et Caprice, Op. 23 by Giulio Regondi (1823–1872) at the GFA 2016 Youth Competition Senior Division. It’s followed up by another work by Cataluña by Albeniz. This comes via…

Drew Henderson Plays Reverie Op. 19 by Regondi

Canadian guitarist Drew Henderson performs Nocturne “Reverie” Op. 19 by Giulio Regondi (1823–1872). This comes via Henderson’s great YouTube Channel. Regondi is one of the great 19th century composers for guitar who probably had more to offer musically than most…

Fabio Zanon – Interview: The Romantic Guitar

A wonderful interview with the legendary Brazilian guitarist Fabio Zanon. This video comes from the amazing GuitarCoop and their YouTube Channel. This is partly a promo for his CD but he talks a great deal about the history of the…

Lesson: Extension and Contraction of the Right Hand

This is from my Lesson of the Week segment of the site. The idea of Extension and Contraction is so common for the left hand but rarely practiced in the right hand. I’m using Exercise 21 from Ricardo Iznaola’s Kitharologus:…

Review: The Legend of Hagoromo by Aaron Larget-Caplan

The Legend of Hagoromo American & Japanese Music for Classical Guitarby Aaron Larget-CaplanStone Records 2015 I recently received this excellent recording, a mix of Japanese and American music performed by Aaron Larget-Caplan. You probably recognize Larget-Caplan from his videos, concerts or…

Roland Dyens Plays Sor, Reinhardt, and Piazzolla

Roland Dyens plays Fernando Sor’s Le Calme, Django Reinhardt’s Nuages, and Astor Piazzolla’s Oblivion + Libertango on a 1947 Bouchet guitar. Includes an excellent into about the guitar and the usual hilarious banter by Dyens that one can not help…

Pascal Valois Plays Magnien on Romantic Guitar

Canadian guitarist Pascal Valois plays Andante by Victor Magnien on a Romantic Guitar (Stauffer – Legnani guitar built by Gary Southwell). You can also see him playing Mertz’s Fingals-Höhle or Schubert/Mertz Stadchen. I’m glad to learn more about Victor Magnien…

Adam Kossler Plays Polka by Shostakovich

American guitarist Adam Kossler plays Polka from Dances of the Dolls by Russian (Soviet era) composer Dimitri Shostakovich (1906–1975). Arrangement by John Kossler (brother I assume).  This comes via Kossler’s YouTube channel. Audio and Video by the amazing Canadian guitarist/audio-visual wizard Drew…

Matthew McAllister Plays Barrios on Four Guitars

Scottish guitarist Matthew McAllister plays the third movement of La Catedral, Allegro solemne by Agustín Barrios (1885–1944) on four different guitars. This comes via the excellent Siccas Guitars and their constantly updated YouTube channel. Always a pleasure to hear the very musical Matthew McAllister and a fun addition…

Tremolo Lesson and Exercise for Classical Guitar

During my week of teaching I come across all sorts of repertoire and technique. These are my ramblings and teaching from the week which I’m categorizing as weekly technique tips. This week is a tremolo lesson around the intermediate to…