Member Spotlight: Catherina Cenntani

It is always a pleasure for us to feature our members from Classical Guitar Corner Academy. Our members are dedicated adult musicians who have a deep love of the craft. From time to time, they share their progress with their fellow members in the Student Showcase in the Academy forum, and we as a community celebrate their accomplishments.

Many of our members have stories that might be similar to yours. Perhaps they first started learning music as a child and are rediscovering it as an adult. Or perhaps they are encountering it for the first time in retirement. Whatever the story, these members ended up at CGC Academy because they were looking for a structured approach to learn classical guitar, so they can deepen their connection with the instrument.

The story of CGC Academy member Catherina Cenntani is no different. Starting out as a complete beginner, she has gained a sensitive musical interpretation in her playing over the last several years as a member at the Academy. She graciously agreed to allow us to feature her story and some of her playing here on the blog. Here’s Catherina’s story, in her own words:

Like most children in Austria, I had some exposure to early music education, but unfortunately, I didn’t continue past the age of ten. I think I simply had too many competing interests! However, I’ve always loved music, and it has remained a vital part of my life as a listener.
As an adult, I always hoped to learn an instrument again, but it seemed impossible to juggle work with the dedication required to make it worthwhile. In 2021, a year and a half into the pandemic, while still working from home, I began to think about it more seriously. I realized that if I put the time I would normally spend commuting into music, I could dedicate two hours a day to learning an instrument.

The guitar was a purely practical choice at first; I assumed it was the most played instrument in the USA and that there would be a wealth of instructional videos on YouTube. Knowing nothing about the instrument, I went to Guitar Center with a friend who plays bass and bought an electric guitar. However, I didn’t really know what to do with it, and it mostly sat collecting dust. Everything changed when I found a video of someone playing Bach’s Bourrée on an electric guitar. I decided right then that I wanted to play Bach!

I still knew nothing about classical guitar when I discovered CGC on YouTube and joined in early 2022. The new Cornerstone Method had just launched, which turned out to be the perfect entry point for a complete beginner like me. My goal was to reach a level where I could play well enough and, most importantly, enjoy the process of practicing—knowing that my “extra” commuting time would eventually disappear.

The curriculum and teachers at CGC have helped me establish a path where the guitar is now a non-negotiable part of my day. I now get up before 5:00 AM every morning to practice. In addition to Bach, I’ve discovered the wealth of classical guitar repertoire through CGC and fell in love with the music of Australian composer Phillip Houghton.

Although I initially moved through the grades a bit too quickly, I’ve recently returned to the new Cornerstone Grade 3 curriculum to focus more deeply on my technique. I’ve found the new studies and technical exercises to be both helpful and enjoyable. I believe anyone, from a total beginner to an experienced student, would benefit from the exceptional curriculum, teachers, and community at CGC.

If Catherina’s story resonates with you, and you are also looking for a structured pathway for learning classical guitar, consider becoming a member of the Academy today. You can learn more and join here.

Want to read about other members’ stories? Check out our Reviews and Testimonials page for more.