http://www.nyghtfall.com/ Chronicling My Experiences as a Student of Classical Guitar en-us hutchinsonmr@kc.rr.com Mon, 31 Jul 2006 23:23:31 -0600 http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003579.html My teacher and I haven't been able to get together for a lesson during the last couple of weeks, but that hasn't kept me from working hard on Ode to Joy and the other two pieces I've been studying. Tonight,... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003578.html Eureka! I had a revelation last week, and have finally figured it out musicality! It isn't about feeling, rather, it's about expression. When we add musicality to a piece, we communicate feeling through expression! My teacher and I had a... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003577.html The subject of this week's journal entry is the titles of the three pieces I'm currently studying out of Christopher Parkening's Guitar Method Book 1. I'm actually very happy that we've gone back to this book, because it means I... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003576.html Last night was my first lesson in nearly a month. Either my teacher or I have both had to cancel for one reason or another. My first official piece of repertoire, Romance, was at one point proving such a challenge... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003575.html Tonight, I did some reflecting on where I am as a guitarist and how far I've come in my studies. I've realized that I'm not progressing as much as I want to be. The culprit - the haphazard practice routine... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003574.html A few weeks ago, we decided to take a break from Spanish arpeggio studies so I could continue refining Romance, and we've returned to Christopher Parkening's Guitar Method so I could focus more on learning how to inject musicality into... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003573.html After recovering from the visual wonder of this beautiful guitar, I realized I'd be crazy for buying it sound unheard, mainly because I've never heard a transparent guitar before. So, upon returning to the store this morning, I took it... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003572.html I adore my Ibanez. It looks and sounds beautiful, but the floating bridge precludes me from ever being able to change tunings on-the-fly. So, on a whim this evening, I decided to take a trip down to my local music... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003571.html After just over four months of blood, sweat, and severe left-hand muscle aches, I've finally memorized the chord positions for Romance! Last week, I decided it was time I stopped feeling so defeated and sorry for myself, get right down... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003570.html Lately, I've been struggling with how it's taking me to learn how to play Romance. With my steadily growing knowledge of how to read music, I feel like I should already know how to play it and simply be working... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003569.html The last couple of weeks saw a (thankfully) short-term injury to my left hand. I've lapsed, significantly, in making a point to warm up before each practice session, opting, instead, to just jump right in to whatever I've been learning... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003568.html I used some of my Christmas money to finally buy myself some relatively decent audio recording equipment. I picked up a $20 microphone at Radio Shack, and a boom mic stand at the local music shop for $40. This is... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003567.html Last night was, for the most part, a lesson about focus and musicality. I was there, but my thoughts weren't, and I couldn't seem to bring myself or my playing into focus. Suffice it to say, my performance of Romance... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003566.html Tonight was a terrific lesson! Save for a couple of quibbles, I had a near flawless performance of the arpeggio study I've been learning to play! I think part of the problem stemmed from my having rush through it a... http://www.nyghtfall.com/archives/003565.html I'm pleased to report that I finally have all of the pieces I need to play through my current arpeggio study, and they're coming together slowly but surely. As with any new piece I learn, now I just have to...