Author: Valentin Spasov
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Nail Care and Maintenance for Classical Guitarists
The beautiful sound of the classical guitar depends not only on the player’s skill but also on the condition of their nails. Nail care and maintenance are crucial for achieving the clear, crisp, and vibrant tones that define classical guitar music. Understanding how to care for your nails is essential. In this article we’ll explore…
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Performing Guitar: The Importance of Performing as a Guitar Student
Performing Guitar is an important part of every guitar student’s musical journey. At some point, you will need to play in front of others. This might happen at a school event, a recital, a concert. Also it can be: a community performance, or simply at home for parents, friends, or colleagues.Whether the performance is formal…
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Can I Learn Guitar as an Adult? What to Consider Before Enrolling in a Course
You can learn guitar as an adult as you learn anything else. Here are a few things to have in mind before you enroll in any guitar course or program: Decide on what type of guitar you want to play. There are diverse types of guitars: electric, classical, acoustic, bass… in many cases, people tend…
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The Importance of Dynamics in Music: Bringing Your Performance to Life
Dynamics in music are the written instructions that indicate the loudness or softness of a piece, guiding the performer on how to convey the emotional depth intended by the composer. Playing a piece with no dynamics can be compared to a robot reading poetry—monotonous and devoid of feeling. There are four essential components of musical…
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Learning Guitar Online: A Journey from Skepticism to Embracing Digital Learning
As an “old school” guitar teacher, I was initially hesitant about teaching guitar online. For years, I believed that while video lessons could be created, they wouldn’t truly benefit the student. After all, there’s no direct feedback from someone watching a video—you simply don’t know if they understand what you’re teaching. But a few years…
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Choosing a New Piece: A Guide for Classical Guitar Students
The Challenge of a New Piece The concert or exam is just a month away, and it feels like there’s enough time to learn that new piece or pieces. But as the performance day approaches, nervousness and uncertainty set in. You might even wish for a delay of another month. Does this situation sound familiar?…
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The Art of Muting: A Key Skill for Guitarists
As important as it is to learn how to produce sounds on the guitar, it is equally crucial to learn how to stop them—to mute them effectively. The reasons for mastering muting techniques are purely musical, involving note values, articulation, style, and more. For example, if a note is written as a crotchet, it should…
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Guitar Posture: The Foundation of Fluent Performance
The Importance of Posture Posture is a fundamental aspect of achieving a good and fluent guitar performance. It’s likely that your teacher has emphasized the significance of posture, and you’ve probably experimented with various ways of holding the guitar and positioning your body and hands. While posture is highly individual, based on the anatomical conditions…
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Preparing for your first guitar exam
At some point you may decide to take a music exam. Great! You will get an internationally recognized certificate, you will have something to work towards as well as something to aim for. This will motivate you and help you to progress faster. The examination systems are welcoming encouraging the candidates to enter these exams.…
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Those Scales and Techniques!?
Many classical guitar students find practicing scales tedious and uninteresting. As a teacher, I understand this sentiment to a certain extent. For beginners, it may be difficult to see how playing a repetitive sequence of notes can significantly improve their overall performance. Teachers often get caught up in preparing students for exams by focusing on…