One of the biggest problems with music education these days is that many students are practicing scales in the same way, everyday…forever. For example, let’s say a teacher is using the Canadian Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM) exams as a…
Many students wonder how often they should practice with a metronome because there is little consensus in music education as to the benefits or negative consequences. Before outlining some pros and cons of metronome use I’d like to tell you what…
Some of my students are starting to play weddings and they are filled with questions. I’ve played many wedding over the years but I remember how nerve racking the first few were. If only I had a small guide and…
Ten Classical Etudes Lesson: Study No.14, Op.60 by Matteo Carcassi. From my sheet music eBook (PDF): Ten Classical Etudes. Includes fingering, notation & notation + TAB edition. YouTube Video Lesson Link. This etude develops free-stroke scale-work with bass notes and a…
Students often ask me when to use rubato so here’s a piece of advice: not too often! Pulse is an essential element to the majority of music we play, therefore, don’t obscure the rhythmic element of pulse with unnecessary amounts…
Lesson for Allegretto, No. 22, Op. 50 by Mauro Giuliani – From my sheet music eBook (PDF): Ten Classical Etudes. Includes fingering, notation & notation + TAB edition. YouTube Video Lesson Link. This is a great introductory etude for slurs and…
Lesson for Study No.6 Op.60 by Fernando SorFrom my sheet music eBook (PDF): Ten Classical EtudesIncludes fingering, notation & notation + TAB edition.YouTube Video Lesson Link (4k) The first etude is a basic legato study by Fernando Sor. As you improve…
This classical guitar lesson in right hand articulation is brought to you by Strings By Mail and Gohar Vardanyan. It has an excellent discussion about how to play legato, staccato, detached, and general articulation. I like the two different camera angles as well.…
Thomas Viloteau via his youtube channel gives a lesson in right hand arpeggios of classical guitar. He discusses aspects of gaining control, variety to avoid the difficulty of repetitive motions as well as control the texture, keeping the hand stable,…
Just reviewing some old articles and came across this one by David Leisner on his website titled: Six Golden Rules for Conquering Performance Anxiety. It is reprinted by permission of the American String Teachers Association, copyright, Spring 1995. This is an excerpt,…
Jérôme Ducharme via his YouTube channel gives tips and tricks on Rodrigo’s Tres Piezas. Ducharme is a GFA winner and teaches at McGill University up in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He discusses ideas related to technique, phrasing, as well as other…
Scott Morris gives a small performance and then talks about how to prepare a piece. Likely best for beginners but surely also a relevant reminder to intermediate and advanced players. This comes via Guitar Salon International on YouTube. He talks…