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Guitar Practice Motivation – Julian Bream Plays Fandanguillo
This week began with a day off, Labor Day! I took the day off but my mind was focused throughout the day on the work I wanted to get done on the guitar. In my mind, I was making a list of everything I wanted to get done this week and how in the world I would find the time to do finish it all. I like writing this article every Monday (Tuesday this week) to keep me focused on where I am going and for those supporting my work. Therefore, let’s begin my guitar practice motivation for myself (and hopefully you!).
Continued Technical Studies
My technical studies are beginning to show some improvement. I am going to continue with Exercises 25, 26, 33, and 117 from Christopher Berg’s Mastering Guitar Technique: Process & Essence. The only addition to Exercise 117 will be my variations to further strengthen the slurs between fingers 3 and 4 without flexing or extending 2 or 1 in the process.
I will be moving on to arpeggios 19 through 24 in Berg’s Giuliani Revisited. The ones that create a tremolo (20 and 24) give me the most trouble overall. I am also continuing to refresh my memory on all major and harmonic minor scales open position on the guitar. These are being played at a minimum of 80 bpm playing the sixteenth notes with all fingerings (i/m, m/i, i/a, a/i, m/a, and a/m).
Études
The two études, Tárrega’s arpeggio étude in A major and Barrios’ Estudio del Ligado, are both at about 50% performance tempo. I am planning a video for Friday that talks a bit about my struggle with the Tárrega and how I am attempting to solve the problems.
Finally, Turina’s Fandaguillo is taking consuming my new repertoire work. Christopher assigned this to me almost a year ago. I am finally at a place that I believe I can move forward both physically and psychologically. It is a wonderful piece and I hope to share it with you by the end of the year (fingers crossed).
Other Work And Guitar Practice Motivation
On top of all the guitar work, I have a lot of teaching to do! I also have a number of videos that I have on YouTube that need to put into posts on this site and my Patreon page. Some of these also need sheet music to go with them as well. There is never enough time but the work is (almost) always enjoyable.
In keeping with the motivation title of this post, I’d like to offer the video of Julian Bream playing the Fandanguillo by Turina. Though I interpret certain parts differently than he does, his musical choices always mesmerize me. This should also serve as a tribute to him as he has gone on from this earth.
I have two degrees in guitar performance and was privileged to study under Aaron Shearer, Tom Kikta, David Skantar, Ken Karsh, Tim Bedner, and currently Christopher Berg. Outside my editorial work on this blog, I teach full-time across many genres including classical, jazz, blues, rock, funk, and metal.
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