Music

By Month:

By Category:

Daily Classical Guitar Repertoire Reading: Aire de Milonga by Jose Luis Merlin

If you want to be tunely, practice afternoonly.

I have to admit something. I haven’t been practicing as much as I would like. I haven’t been practicing afternoonly. In fact, I haven’t been practicing regularly at all lately. I love practicing, and I love playing. It’s one of those things I would do even if it wasn’t my job. But when life gets busy, in order to do it consistently, I need something to practice for. And having something to practice for means having someONE to practice for.  That someone is you. Whoever you are, if you are reading this (or skipping this so you can listen to the music) you are why I’m doing these repertoire reading videos. I just love sharing beautiful music with people.. And if you are inspired by my playing and practicing to pick up the guitar yourself, that’s even better.

As soon as I get a few more things set up, I”ll also be posting teaching videos that I hope will also inspire you to pick up your guitar and practice. I also hope you’ll be inspired to find people to share YOUR playing with. That’s what it’s all about!

I”m gearing up to create a hybrid online course over at Artofguitar.net, on how to become positively dangerous on the classical guitar.
Stay tuned for that. It will combine online coursework with personal attention and group interaction. If you are curious about this, or if you just want some help figuring things out on the guitar, sign up for a free lesson with me here!

This is the second movement of the Dos Aires Pampeanos by Jose Luis Merlin, a real guitar and composition wizard from Argentina. He has an amazing gift for writing touching melodies and structuring them into musical compositions that really deliver the goods—emotional impact combined with engaging rhythmic interest and excitement are hallmarks of his writing style. And his pieces, while they sometimes sound quite technically impressive and even virtuosic, are often easier to play than you might expect. This is because they are so “guitaristic,” so perfectly suited to the instrument.

Get the score to this gorgeous piece here:
It’s published by Tuscany Publications (my publisher.) Dos Aires Pampeanos from Strings by Mail

Daily Classical Guitar Repertoire Reading: Aire de Milonga by Jose Luis Merlin post image

If you want to be tunely, practice afternoonly.

I have to admit something. I haven’t been practicing as much as I would like. I haven’t been practicing afternoonly. In fact, I haven’t been practicing regularly at all lately. I love practicing, and I love playing. It’s one of those things I would do even if it wasn’t my job. But when life gets busy, in order to do it consistently, I need something to practice for. And having something to practice for means having someONE to practice for.  That someone is you. Whoever you are, if you are reading this (or skipping this so you can listen to the music) you are why I’m doing these repertoire reading videos. I just love sharing beautiful music with people.. And if you are inspired by my playing and practicing to pick up the guitar yourself, that’s even better.

As soon as I get a few more things set up, I”ll also be posting teaching videos that I hope will also inspire you to pick up your guitar and practice. I also hope you’ll be inspired to find people to share YOUR playing with. That’s what it’s all about!

I”m gearing up to create a hybrid online course over at Artofguitar.net, on how to become positively dangerous on the classical guitar.
Stay tuned for that. It will combine online coursework with personal attention and group interaction. If you are curious about this, or if you just want some help figuring things out on the guitar, sign up for a free lesson with me here!

This is the second movement of the Dos Aires Pampeanos by Jose Luis Merlin, a real guitar and composition wizard from Argentina. He has an amazing gift for writing touching melodies and structuring them into musical compositions that really deliver the goods—emotional impact combined with engaging rhythmic interest and excitement are hallmarks of his writing style. And his pieces, while they sometimes sound quite technically impressive and even virtuosic, are often easier to play than you might expect. This is because they are so “guitaristic,” so perfectly suited to the instrument.

Get the score to this gorgeous piece here:
It’s published by Tuscany Publications (my publisher.) Dos Aires Pampeanos from Strings by Mail

If you want to be tunely, practice afternoonly. I have to admit something. I haven’t been practicing as much as I would like. I haven’t been practicing afternoonly. In fact, I haven’t been practicing regularly at all lately. I love practicing, and I love playing. It’s one of those things I would do even if [...]

Daily Classical Guitar Repertoire Reading: Aire de Milonga by Jose Luis Merlin post image

By Month:

By Category:

Daily Sight-Reading: Aire de Estilo (Jose Luis Merlin)

There is a whole lot of music sitting around in my studio, and I love nothing more than to rifle through it, find something that suits my inclination for the day, and start reading it.

Daily sight-reading is a great idea for developing your skills as a guitarist. It can also be a great joy. There’s no requirement to play through anything that is too far beyond your current capabilities, as long as it challenges you a bit.

I should be clear that for these recordings, I am not sight-reading from scratch.

Most of them I’ve played before, sometimes even learned. I play through the piece several times to get a feeling for it, then I get to work applying various slow practice techniques to clean things up, solidify fingerings and shore up difficult passages. Slow practicing is the best way to learn something fast, paradoxically. Then I record a few takes, and edit and publish my favorite one.  My goal is to get them worked up well enough and quickly enough to provide you with an enjoyable listening experience. I want to get the gist of the piece, and capture its emotional essence.

I realise that sheet music is expensive, but I recommend purchasing a physical copy of music that you love and are serious about learning, if at all possible.

If you get your music online, I still recommend printing it out. There is nothing like reading music from a real, paper score that doesn’t require electricity to view, and that you can mark up and make your own. It’s similar to the joy of reading books and of using bookmarks.

You can purchase the score here:

The score is published by Tuscany Publications (my publisher.)

Dos Aires Pampeanos from Strings by Mail

Do an internet search if you need to find it in your country, or perhaps find a more affordable version.

Happy Listening, Jay

Daily Sight-Reading: Aire de Estilo (Jose Luis Merlin) post image

There is a whole lot of music sitting around in my studio, and I love nothing more than to rifle through it, find something that suits my inclination for the day, and start reading it.

Daily sight-reading is a great idea for developing your skills as a guitarist. It can also be a great joy. There’s no requirement to play through anything that is too far beyond your current capabilities, as long as it challenges you a bit.

I should be clear that for these recordings, I am not sight-reading from scratch.

Most of them I’ve played before, sometimes even learned. I play through the piece several times to get a feeling for it, then I get to work applying various slow practice techniques to clean things up, solidify fingerings and shore up difficult passages. Slow practicing is the best way to learn something fast, paradoxically. Then I record a few takes, and edit and publish my favorite one.  My goal is to get them worked up well enough and quickly enough to provide you with an enjoyable listening experience. I want to get the gist of the piece, and capture its emotional essence.

I realise that sheet music is expensive, but I recommend purchasing a physical copy of music that you love and are serious about learning, if at all possible.

If you get your music online, I still recommend printing it out. There is nothing like reading music from a real, paper score that doesn’t require electricity to view, and that you can mark up and make your own. It’s similar to the joy of reading books and of using bookmarks.

You can purchase the score here:

The score is published by Tuscany Publications (my publisher.)

Dos Aires Pampeanos from Strings by Mail

Do an internet search if you need to find it in your country, or perhaps find a more affordable version.

Happy Listening, Jay

There is a whole lot of music sitting around in my studio, and I love nothing more than to rifle through it, find something that suits my inclination for the day, and start reading it. Daily sight-reading is a great idea for developing your skills as a guitarist. It can also be a great joy. [...]

Daily Sight-Reading: Aire de Estilo (Jose Luis Merlin) post image

By Month:

By Category:

Prelude 5 (Moto Perpetuo)

This piece evokes a feeling of spring for me. It’s to be played with a very gentle sense of perpetual motion. It is also a wonderful study in left hand slur technique.

This is the finale prelude from my first set of Preludes for solo guitar.

You can purchase this prelude as a single piece by clicking “add to cart” just below:

Prelude #5: Moto Perpetuo
Prelude #5: Moto Perpetuo
Instant download of a 2 Page Pdf Score
Price: $2.00
Tablature Version :

You can also purchase all 5  preludes in one Pdf for a discount.

Five Preludes
Five Preludes
Instant Download of 7-page Pdf Score
Price: $6.50

To listen and watch the rest of the preludes, go here:  http://artofguitar.net/five-preludes/

This piece evokes a feeling of spring for me. It’s to be played with a very gentle sense of perpetual motion. It is also a wonderful study in left hand slur technique.

This is the finale prelude from my first set of Preludes for solo guitar.

You can purchase this prelude as a single piece by clicking “add to cart” just below:

Prelude #5: Moto Perpetuo
Prelude #5: Moto Perpetuo
Instant download of a 2 Page Pdf Score
Price: $2.00
Tablature Version :

You can also purchase all 5  preludes in one Pdf for a discount.

Five Preludes
Five Preludes
Instant Download of 7-page Pdf Score
Price: $6.50

To listen and watch the rest of the preludes, go here:  http://artofguitar.net/five-preludes/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-W71VqMp_o&feature=youtu.be This piece evokes a feeling of spring for me. It’s to be played with a very gentle sense of perpetual motion. It is also a wonderful study in left hand slur technique. This is the finale prelude from my first set of Preludes for solo guitar. You can purchase this prelude as a single [...]

By Month:

By Category:

Prelude 2 with Variation

This piece has a storytelling, Latin American feel to it. The variation also works great as a study in strengthening your “a m i” arpeggio technique while at the same time making it more expressive and musical.

This is the 2nd prelude from my first set of Preludes for solo guitar.

You can purchase this prelude as a single piece by clicking “add to cart” just below:

Prelude #2 with Variation
Prelude #2 with Variation
Instant Download of a 2-page Pdf score
Price: $2.00
Tablature Version :

You can also purchase all 5  preludes in one Pdf for a discount.

Five Preludes
Five Preludes
Instant Download of 7-page Pdf Score
Price: $6.50

To listen and watch the rest of the preludes, go here:  http://artofguitar.net/five-preludes/

This piece has a storytelling, Latin American feel to it. The variation also works great as a study in strengthening your “a m i” arpeggio technique while at the same time making it more expressive and musical.

This is the 2nd prelude from my first set of Preludes for solo guitar.

You can purchase this prelude as a single piece by clicking “add to cart” just below:

Prelude #2 with Variation
Prelude #2 with Variation
Instant Download of a 2-page Pdf score
Price: $2.00
Tablature Version :

You can also purchase all 5  preludes in one Pdf for a discount.

Five Preludes
Five Preludes
Instant Download of 7-page Pdf Score
Price: $6.50

To listen and watch the rest of the preludes, go here:  http://artofguitar.net/five-preludes/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5UdayIxMZs&feature=youtu.be This piece has a storytelling, Latin American feel to it. The variation also works great as a study in strengthening your “a m i” arpeggio technique while at the same time making it more expressive and musical. This is the 2nd prelude from my first set of Preludes for solo guitar. You can purchase [...]

By Month:

By Category:

Prelude 3 Vivo (Brook-rolick)

This is a short but fun little piece. It’s got the bucolic feel of a little Irish brook, dancing a jig, so I called it “Brook-rolick”. It also works great as a study for developing your pull-offs.

bu·col·ic byo͞oˈkälik/ adjective

  1. of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
    “the church is lovely for its bucolic setting”]

This is the 3rd prelude from my first set of Preludes for solo guitar.

You can purchase this prelude as a single piece by clicking “add to cart” just below:

Prelude #3: Brook-rolick
Prelude #3: Brook-rolick
Instant Download of a 1-Page pdf score
Price: $1.00

You can also purchase all 5  preludes in one Pdf for a discount.

Five Preludes
Five Preludes
Instant Download of 7-page Pdf Score
Price: $6.50

To listen and watch the rest of the preludes, go here:  http://artofguitar.net/five-preludes/

This is a short but fun little piece. It’s got the bucolic feel of a little Irish brook, dancing a jig, so I called it “Brook-rolick”. It also works great as a study for developing your pull-offs.

bu·col·ic byo͞oˈkälik/ adjective

  1. of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life.
    “the church is lovely for its bucolic setting”]

This is the 3rd prelude from my first set of Preludes for solo guitar.

You can purchase this prelude as a single piece by clicking “add to cart” just below:

Prelude #3: Brook-rolick
Prelude #3: Brook-rolick
Instant Download of a 1-Page pdf score
Price: $1.00

You can also purchase all 5  preludes in one Pdf for a discount.

Five Preludes
Five Preludes
Instant Download of 7-page Pdf Score
Price: $6.50

To listen and watch the rest of the preludes, go here:  http://artofguitar.net/five-preludes/

This is a short but fun little piece. It’s got the bucolic feel of a little Irish brook, dancing a jig, so I called it “Brook-rolick”. It also works great as a study for developing your pull-offs. bu·col·ic byo͞oˈkälik/ adjective of or relating to the pleasant aspects of the countryside and country life. “the church is lovely for its bucolic [...]

By Month:

By Category:

The Space Between the Notes

This is actually one of the most important secrets to being in control of your playing both expressively and technically.

It’s the first video in Module Five of Conquering Technical Hurdles, which is about Coordinating the Two Hands. In the rest of the videos I walk you through all the essentials and some of the best tricks available for you to pull your playing out of half-sloppy-land and get your music sounding more and more like you want it to sound.

[leadplayer_vid id=”52F10A97CDAAA”]

The Space Between the Notes post image

This is actually one of the most important secrets to being in control of your playing both expressively and technically.

It’s the first video in Module Five of Conquering Technical Hurdles, which is about Coordinating the Two Hands. In the rest of the videos I walk you through all the essentials and some of the best tricks available for you to pull your playing out of half-sloppy-land and get your music sounding more and more like you want it to sound.

[leadplayer_vid id=”52F10A97CDAAA”]

This is actually one of the most important secrets to being in control of your playing both expressively and technically. It’s the first video in Module Five of Conquering Technical Hurdles, which is about Coordinating the Two Hands. In the rest of the videos I walk you through all the essentials and some of the [...]

The Space Between the Notes post image

By Month:

By Category:

Video and Score—Prelude 1: Lullaby from a Paper Boat

I started out this piece as a simple study for one of my students to practice left hand finger independence. But while it does have a bit of that, it’s really more of a study in delicacy of expression and bringing out both musical voices to create a whole picture. As I wrote more of these short pieces, I decided to call them Preludes instead.

It’s all in 1st position, with one “pinky stretch” that will be a bit of a challenge to beginners.

I had a bit too much fun editing this video….
Yes, that’s “water” in the background. I got it from this amazing website: http://mynoise.net/, which demonstrates the mind & body-altering power of sound in a really neat way that you can explore at your leisure.

This is the 1st prelude from my first set of Preludes for solo guitar.

You can purchase this prelude as a single piece by clicking “add to cart” just below:

Prelude #1: Lullaby from a Paper Boat
Prelude #1: Lullaby from a Paper Boat
Instant download of zip file containing 2 pdfs: Single Page Score with fingerings, and Single Page TAB Score
Price: $0.00

You can also purchase all 5  preludes in one Pdf for a discount.

Five Preludes
Five Preludes
Instant Download of 7-page Pdf Score
Price: $6.50

To listen and watch the rest of the preludes, go here:  http://artofguitar.net/five-preludes/

 

 

I started out this piece as a simple study for one of my students to practice left hand finger independence. But while it does have a bit of that, it’s really more of a study in delicacy of expression and bringing out both musical voices to create a whole picture. As I wrote more of these short pieces, I decided to call them Preludes instead.

It’s all in 1st position, with one “pinky stretch” that will be a bit of a challenge to beginners.

I had a bit too much fun editing this video….
Yes, that’s “water” in the background. I got it from this amazing website: http://mynoise.net/, which demonstrates the mind & body-altering power of sound in a really neat way that you can explore at your leisure.

This is the 1st prelude from my first set of Preludes for solo guitar.

You can purchase this prelude as a single piece by clicking “add to cart” just below:

Prelude #1: Lullaby from a Paper Boat
Prelude #1: Lullaby from a Paper Boat
Instant download of zip file containing 2 pdfs: Single Page Score with fingerings, and Single Page TAB Score
Price: $0.00

You can also purchase all 5  preludes in one Pdf for a discount.

Five Preludes
Five Preludes
Instant Download of 7-page Pdf Score
Price: $6.50

To listen and watch the rest of the preludes, go here:  http://artofguitar.net/five-preludes/

 

 

I started out this piece as a simple study for one of my students to practice left hand finger independence. But while it does have a bit of that, it’s really more of a study in delicacy of expression and bringing out both musical voices to create a whole picture. As I wrote more of [...]

By Month:

By Category:

Video and Score: Maestoso–Like a Passacaglia (Prelude #4)

This is a piece that I wrote as a study for left hand finger independence. I called it a “simple study” at first, but it’s actually more of an “intermediate” study with a few slightly advanced techniques (a cross-string trill, barres in a lot of places) After writing several more of these short pieces, I decided to group them together and call the Preludes.
This prelude is based on a 4-note descending chromatic figure: F-E-Eb-D. See if you can catch the two measures where those notes reverse themselves: (D-Eb-E-natural-F)

I say “like a passacaglia” in part because most passacaglias go on for a lot longer….still, it’s got an intense Baroque passacaglia feel to it, with a touch of Renaissance flair.

It also serves as a study in period ornamentation.

This is the 4th prelude from my first set of Preludes for solo guitar.

You can purchase this prelude as a single piece by clicking “add to cart” just below:

Prelude #4: Maestoso---Like a Passacaglia
Prelude #4: Maestoso---Like a Passacaglia
Instant download of a 1 page pdf
Price: $1.00

You can also purchase all 5  preludes in one Pdf for a discount.

Five Preludes
Five Preludes
Instant Download of 7-page Pdf Score
Price: $6.50

To listen and watch the rest of the preludes, go here:  http://artofguitar.net/five-preludes/

 

 

 

This is a piece that I wrote as a study for left hand finger independence. I called it a “simple study” at first, but it’s actually more of an “intermediate” study with a few slightly advanced techniques (a cross-string trill, barres in a lot of places) After writing several more of these short pieces, I decided to group them together and call the Preludes.
This prelude is based on a 4-note descending chromatic figure: F-E-Eb-D. See if you can catch the two measures where those notes reverse themselves: (D-Eb-E-natural-F)

I say “like a passacaglia” in part because most passacaglias go on for a lot longer….still, it’s got an intense Baroque passacaglia feel to it, with a touch of Renaissance flair.

It also serves as a study in period ornamentation.

This is the 4th prelude from my first set of Preludes for solo guitar.

You can purchase this prelude as a single piece by clicking “add to cart” just below:

Prelude #4: Maestoso---Like a Passacaglia
Prelude #4: Maestoso---Like a Passacaglia
Instant download of a 1 page pdf
Price: $1.00

You can also purchase all 5  preludes in one Pdf for a discount.

Five Preludes
Five Preludes
Instant Download of 7-page Pdf Score
Price: $6.50

To listen and watch the rest of the preludes, go here:  http://artofguitar.net/five-preludes/

 

 

 

This is a piece that I wrote as a study for left hand finger independence. I called it a “simple study” at first, but it’s actually more of an “intermediate” study with a few slightly advanced techniques (a cross-string trill, barres in a lot of places) After writing several more of these short pieces, I decided [...]