4 Templates for Classical Guitar Practice Sessions
Simon2018-10-07T13:04:13+00:00Contrary to what many people might think it is not in your lessons but rather in your practice sessions where you will improve as a musician. A lesson will shine [...]
Fixed Fingers – Guitar Exercise
Simon2016-10-24T00:20:19+00:00Finger independence is important. It helps with speed, accuracy and control, all very integral to making music. To work on our finger independence this exercise, called Fixed Fingers, takes [...]
Left Hand Warmup
Simon2016-10-24T00:20:20+00:00This set of fingerings is a great template to use with left hand warm up exercises. I say template because there are tons of ways you can add extra [...]
On Making Mistakes
Simon2016-10-24T00:20:20+00:00Wouldn’t life be boring if everything were perfect? I am not going to waste my time preaching that making mistakes is OK and that too many classical musicians [...]
Breaking down a passage of music
Simon2016-10-24T00:20:23+00:00It is always surprising when after weeks, months and even years of studying a piece of music you can still be surprised by seemingly obvious musical elements that have [...]
Metronome Technique
Simon2016-10-24T00:20:24+00:00When I was in my teenage years I built up quite a large collection of metronomes. I was absolutely convinced that they kept breaking, one after another. I had [...]
Choosing Repertoire
Simon2016-10-24T00:20:24+00:00It is important to consider carefully which works you choose to study because more often than not, they stay with us throughout our entire lives. Our repertoire can shape [...]
Making the most of your practice time
Simon2016-10-24T00:20:24+00:00For those of us who battle with the hectic modern lifestyle it can often be difficult to make time for practice. Families, work and life’s little surprises always have [...]
Give Your Fingers Lungs!
Simon2016-10-24T00:20:25+00:00In masterclasses and lessons I have come across passages that the student simply does not play musically. Even with repeated attempts to convey the shape and phrasing [...]
Slow Practice
Simon2016-10-24T00:20:25+00:00In my lessons with students I find myself repeating a few core ideas many times. Perhaps one of the most common suggestions I make to students is to... slow [...]