Author: Valentin Spasov
-
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?…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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.…
-
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…