Some News

Well, It has been a little bit since I last posted. During the time that I have not posted I have received a new classical guitar. My friend said that he did not use it anymore. I was happy to take it off his hands. It has a nice finish to it. The color of the guitar is a darker brown. I think it looks spiffy. During my lessons my teacher and I have been trying to prepare some new pieces for me to play. The reason being is that at the barn where I go for horse riding lessons, there is an event that some people wanted me to play for. I was not able to this year, but maybe next year. It has been a good experience for me to play for my horse riding instructor and whoever else is at the barn. I used to be afraid of playing for anybody.  I am now rambling so I will go.

What I Did on Thursday

This past Thursday I went for my guitar lesson. My Dad had to teach a class so I went with him for that. I really did enjoy that. After his class we stopped at Radio Shack. We had a really nice and enjoyable time in the store. After we got out of Radio Shack (without the piece we went into the store for) we went to Runnings farm and fleet to pick up horse food for a friend of ours. While in Runnings my Dad and I stopped for spurs for my horse riding. After paying for all of it we rushed out into a great wind and loaded it into the car. I got to my lesson just in time. My teacher Peter Lothringer listened and even did a little harmonizing with me while I played a little piece that I made up. He said that it is important to try to make up your own songs from time to time. After a little discussion of my piece we moved on to my piece that I am working on, which is Bach's Minuet in G. I have so far been able to accomplish the first half of the piece with some difficulty, but nevertheless I have made it through the first half. I should be able to polish this piece by the end of this month. It is good to practice pieces that are unfamiliar to you measure by measure. I have just begun working on the last few measures of the first half. It seems that the moving down and back up of the last measures is extremely difficult for me.I really do enjoy the advice of my teacher. He really does know what he is talking about.

What I Have Been Up to With My Guitar

Well, it does seem like a while since I have last posted on my blog. Since then I have received another guitar. It is not a classical. The guitar which I received is an acoustic guitar. I really enjoy it but I must say there is nothing like playing a classical guitar. I have now gotten back into my horse riding as well. Sometimes I stay later after my lesson so that I can play my guitar while my teacher is training some horses. Now, on to what I have been doing with my classical guitar. Since my last post I have learned some new techniques and also have begun my new Christopher Parkening book which continues where the first book left off. My teacher has encouraged me to slow down a bit in learning other things besides classical guitar. Since the beginning of May I began to learn Bach's Jesus, Joy of Man's Desiring. I am on the second page of the seven-page song. It such a pretty song. It should take me a few years to perfect the song. During that time I plan on working on basic pieces that should only take about a month to polish. To begin that one-piece-a-month journey I have started a Bach  Minuet. I am glad to be back  here posting and hope that I will have more to write on my progress with my classical guitar.

The Beauty of Classical Guitar

For my birthday I received a cd of Angel Romero playing Bach. I really like to listen to it. I was listening to it while I was doing my homework and thinking how beautiful it was. I had to pause in my work just so I could concentrate on the music. I was thinking how great it would be to be able to play some of those songs. I really hope that I will be able to. Lately I have not been  really focusing on classical playing because I just really did not feel into playing classical guitar music. After I started listening to the cd I really wanted to immediately start playing my guitar and trying to learn a new classical piece. I had to fight the urge so I could finish my homework. I thank my dad who bought that cd for my birthday. I now have the urge to continue learning classical pieces. My guitar will be put to use for what it was meant for! I really do love playing my classical guitar, but lately I have not felt that love. The love has continued to grow and I hope to glorify God with my playing!

One year ago.....

One year ago on April 14, 2010. I started my guitar lessons. I received my guitar a  ( Yamaha  C-40) on the same day that I started my lessons. I met my teacher and I was really nervous. I suppose that is to be expected. I had no need to be worried though because my teacher was really nice and wanted me to enjoy the lesson. He started my out with Christopher Parkening's book called The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method - Volume 1: Guitar Technique. I really enjoyed it and am happy to have the teacher I have. We then continued to work our way through the book and I would like to say that I was getting good at playing the guitar, but  I was a very poor player. Thanks to my family who encouraged me, I slowly began to get better at it. It has been a good year with my teacher who has faithfully taught me all the things I know about guitar. I am also  happy to say that I am now preparing for my first recital May 7, 2011. I have come to appreciate guitar a lot over this year and I hope that I may continue to play for many years to come.

  

Arpeggios

Arpeggio which is from the Italian which means " in the manner of a harp"  The arpeggio sound really pretty when played  the way it is suppose to sound. I once played an arpeggio the wrong way and it sounded horrible. The playing of an arpeggio is a very effective technique on the guitar. It is used pretty frequently in guitar music. Here I quote from my classical guitar book " In an  arpeggio, the notes of a chord, instead of being played simultaneously, are played one after another."  When you play an arpeggio you usually use a  technique called planting. When planting you rest your finger on each string you are going to play, so that you know what note or string you are going to play. There is less of a change of missing the string. Planting helps increases your accuracy and speed when you play your arpeggio. It is also good to remember to plant all your fingers at the same time, and securely. The  songs with the technique of the Arpeggio is really fun and enjoyable  to play.

Chords or Notes?

Would chords be better to learn first or would notes be better? I think that it would be better to at least learn the basics of the notes at least  learn most of them and then I think you could go onto chords. My teacher says it is a good thing to learn chords. Chords can be helpful when you are doing songs like folk, rock and other things  like that. I have now learned almost a quarter of the notes on a guitar so, my teacher and I have been working on some chords because he thinks that it is time to learn them. Classical guitar players use chords as well. We sometimes have to bar chords. Chords can help make the song you are playing even more pretty sounding. Notes are the most important thing to begin the piece I think. Chords are used more to harmonize with a person who sings along with the chord playing. I think that it is better when playing  chords to have somebody singing with you. The chords do not sound right by them selves, but with singing they are one in a way. Notes can be on their own or with singing. I believe my teacher is right to say start with the notes and then work on chords.

Musicians

 A musician is somebody who not only plays and instrument, but also learns how to interpret the music he or she is playing I think. I was playing a piece of music which was my recital piece which is sometime in May. I was not interpreting it the way I want to. How do I make the way I want it to sound? I think the couple ways to do this is firstly work on it continuously for a long period of time. Next try to get into the mood you think this piece is to sound. I also think that it also helps if you talk to someone about you piece or pieces. Preferably a  musician who would understand what you are going through. Do you sometimes feel that you are trying to get over a big cliff? (with your work or playing your instrument is what  I mean) Well I just got that a little while a go. I think and I do not know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. Should I be worried? Well I do not know! All I know is that I am sure glad I have such a wonderful teacher who can help me get over the cliff so to speak.   

Classical Guitar as a Whole

When you think of all the parts of a guitar what do you think? I think, how can anyone think of names for all the parts. It may not seem like a lot of names, but you have the bridge, headstock, neck, and body too name a few big parts. Do you think that if you were to come up with a new instrument that has never been heard of that you could name all the parts? I assume you could since you came up with the instrument,but it would take time and a lot of thinking. Here is something from Wikipedia on the classical guitar.

The classical guitar — (also called the "Spanish guitar" or "nylon string guitar") — is a 6-stringed plucked string instrument from the family of instruments called chordophones. The classical guitar is well known for its comprehensive right hand technique, which allows the soloist to perform complex melodic and polyphonic material, in much the same manner as the piano.
with new ones from time to time.

• the instrumental technique — the individual strings are usually plucked with the fingernails or rarely without nails.
• its historic repertoire, though this is of lesser importance, since any repertoire can be (and is) played on the classical guitar (additionally: classical guitarists are known to borrow from the repertoires of a wide variety of instruments)
• its shape, construction and material — modern classical guitar shape, or historic classical guitar shapes (e.g. early romantic guitars from France and Italy). A guitar family tree can be identified^[1].^{[unreliable source?]} (The flamenco guitar is derived from the modern classical, but has differences in material, construction and sound^{[2][unreliable source?][3]}.^{[unreliable source?]})

The name classical guitar does not mean that only classical repertoire is performed on it, although classical music is a part of the instrument's core repertoire (due to the guitar's long history); instead all kinds of music (folk, jazz, flamenco, etc.) are performed on it.
The term modern classical guitar is sometimes used to distinguish the classical guitar from older forms of guitar, which are in their broadest sense also called classical, or more descriptively: early guitars. Examples of early guitars include the 6-string early romantic guitar (ca. 1790 - 1880), and the earlier baroque guitars with 5 courses.
Today's modern classical guitar is regarded as having been established from the late designs of the 19th century Spanish luthier Antonio Torres Jurado. Hence the modern classical guitar is sometimes called the "Spanish guitar".

A Man Who Influenced Me

Biography

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Christopher Parkening is celebrated as one of the world’s preeminent virtuosos of the classical guitar. For more than a quarter century, his concerts and recordings have received the highest worldwide acclaim. The Washington Post cited his stature as “the leading guitar virtuoso of our day, combining profound musical insight with complete technical mastery of his instrument.” Parkening is recognized as heir to the legacy of the great Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia, who proclaimed that “Christopher Parkening is a great artist – he is one of the most brilliant guitarists in the world.” The Los Angeles Times has noted: “Parkening is considered America’s reigning classical guitarist, carrying the torch of his mentor, the late Andrés Segovia.”

Parkening’s rare combination of dramatic virtuosity, eloquent musicianship and uniquely beautiful sound has captivated audiences around the world. He has performed at the White House, appeared with Placido Domingo on Live from Lincoln Center, participated in Carnegie Hall’s 100th Anniversary celebration and performed twice on the internationally televised Grammy^® Awards. Parkening has appeared on many nationally broadcast television programs, including The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning, The Today Show and 20/20. He has collaborated with composers John Williams, Elmer Bernstein, Joaquín Rodrigo, and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and premiered their new concert works in a effort to keep the guitar in the musical forefront. Parkening was acknowledged as “Best Classical Guitarist” in the nationwide readers’ poll of Guitar Player Magazine for many consecutive years, he was placed in their Gallery of Greats along with Andrés Segovia and English guitarists John Williams and Julian Bream.

Parkening has been guest soloist with the finest orchestras in the United States, including the Philadelphia, Cleveland and Minnesota Orchestras, the Chicago, Pittsburgh, and National Symphony Orchestras, the Detroit, Houston, Oregon, and St. Louis symphonies, the St. Paul and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestras, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. His extensive recital schedule takes him throughout the country, with regular appearances in New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Houston and Los Angeles. Recent performance highlights include appearances at the National Gallery with soprano Renée Fleming, Royal Albert Hall in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and with John Williams and the Boston Pops in a nationally televised broadcast for PBS.

Parkening has amassed an extensive discography on Angel/EMI Classics. He is the recipient of two Grammy^® nominations in the category of Best Classical Recording for Parkening and the Guitar and The Pleasures of Their Company, a collaboration with soprano Kathleen Battle. In October of 2000, EMI debuted his recording of Elmer Bernstein’s Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra with the London Symphony Orchestra, Elmer Bernstein conducting. In 1998 a multi-media CD was released, Christopher Parkening Celebrates Segovia. In 1996, Parkening and Battle combined their talents once again to record a Christmas album titled Angels’ Glory for Sony Classical.  Other recordings include the critically acclaimed orchestral recording of Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez and Fantasia para un gentilhombre and the world premiere recording of Walton’s Five Bagatelles for Guitar and Orchestra, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; and Parkening Plays Vivaldi, which features a selection of Baroque concertos coupled with the world premiere recording of Peter Warlock's Capriol Suite with The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. In honor of Parkening’s 25^th year as a recording artist with Angel/EMI Classics, a 2-CD collection, The Great Recordings, was issued in celebration of his prolific artistry.  In March of 2007, Angel/EMI will release a new album on which Mr. Parkening continues his long collaboration with baritone Jubilant Sykes, recording some favorites of the many pieces they have performed together over the last fifteen years.

For the 2006/07 season, Christopher Parkening’s national tour recital program, Masterworks of the Guitar, will feature his favorite works by composers Joaquín Rodrigo, Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Stanley Myers, Andrew York, Léo Brouwer, and Carlo Domeniconi. Mr. Parkening also will offer a Holiday recital program in November and December with baritone Jubilant Sykes, in addition to their Spanish-American program. As well as playing many of the most popular works for guitar and orchestra, Mr. Parkening continues to perform the highly acclaimed Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra, written for him by renowned film composer Elmer Bernstein.

Parkening’s commitment to music extends beyond his demanding performance schedule. June 2006 saw the launch of the Parkening International Guitar Competition, honoring Parkening’s lifetime commitment to fostering musical excellence in young artists. The Parkening International Guitar Competition features performers from around the world and offers the largest prize purse of any guitar competition worldwide. The competition will be held every four years at Pepperdine University, where Mr. Parkening was recently named a Distinguished Professor of Music and has chaired the Christopher Parkening Chair in Classical Guitar since the fall of 2002.  He also teaches an annual summer master class at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, where the university celebrated his 30^th annual master class in July 2004.  Mr. Parkening has authored The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method, Volumes I and II, basic pedagogy books for beginning and advanced players. These editions, along with his collection of guitar transcriptions and arrangements, are published by Hal Leonard Corporation.  In the summer of 2006, his autobiography, Grace Like a River, was published by Tyndale House Publishers, Chicago, IL.

Parkening has received commendations honoring his dedication and artistry, including an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Montana State University and the Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Southern California “in recognition of his outstanding international achievement and in tribute to his stature throughout the world as America’s preeminent virtuoso of the classical guitar.” In addition, Parkening was given the acclaimed American Academy of Achievementfor excellence in the field of music both nationally and internationally.  Parkening was also presented with the 2000 Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award for Best Classical Guitarist.  Recently, Parkening received the University Musical Society’s “Distinguished Artist Award” for 2003 presented at the Ford Honors Program at the University of Michigan.

Christopher Parkening, his wife, Theresa, and their son reside in Southern California. At the heart of his dedication to performance, recording, and teaching is a deep commitment to the Christian faith. He is also a world class fly-fishing and casting champion who has won the International Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament (the Wimbledon of fly-fishing) held in Islamorada, Florida.

Found on: http://www.parkening.com/cpbio.html

Friends of the Guitar Sort

When you have a friend who does the same thing you do you are happy right? Well, I have some really great friends that play guitar and one of them spurs me on to new and greater heights. I really appreciate this friend for the encouragement he has been to me and my guitar playing. When this friend of mine plays his guitar I makes think wow I wish I was as good as he is. He does not take formal  lessons, but he is a really good guitar player. I have come to think that you do not need guitar lessons to become a good guitarist. That is the general principle that I have come to realize is very true. I hope that all my readers have figured this out as well.

Hope of a Guitar Player

When I first began playing guitar I had my mistakes, but overall I did really well. People kept telling that I was really good and that they were proud of me. I look back and I think man why did they tell me that. I mean when you look at famous guitar players you think wow they are so good. I am thankful for the compliments and the praise, but thinking that I am better than I am is not a good thing. My hope as a guitar player is to continue and to become a better guitar player. To be able to not think to my self why am I getting praise that I do not deserve. I hope that people who read this blog and people who play guitar are incouraged to work hard on their guitar practicing and feel like they deserve the praise that they are getting. As I get ready for my first recital I think will I do a good enough job to deserve the praise I might get? Am I ready to say thank you and feel as though I have not put a stain on  my good teachers name?

classical guitar

I began playing classical guitar in late April. I have always dreamed of being able to play guitar. I ask my parents if I could start. It took a few years to prove to them that I could in fact keep up with my assignments and practicing. I have not been playing guitar for nine months. I have really enjoyed the opportunity that I have to play this wonderful instrument. My thanks goes to Christopher Parkening.