The classical guitar is one of the easiest instruments to play poorly. I’ve observed many players who have struggled with playing, especially in public. Guitar society meetings are full of players who struggle with tension, missed notes memory issues, and little or no ability to express themselves musically.
If you are one of these players, you understand this all too well. You put the in the practice, you work hard, you prepare, and yet your expectations aren’t met, and you’re frustrated. Perhaps you commit to practicing even harder, but still, when you return to perform, there is little or no sign of progress. You may have realized that more practice won’t yield anything but more of the same.
Poor technique results not only in missed notes, tense hands, and frustration, but also in a lack of expression. Many begin playing music so that they can enjoy the music, but music without expression is, at best, a fruitless exercise. Yet, in our journey to become expressive, we encounter technical challenges it seems that only the most gifted can overcome.
Beginners to Advanced Players Welcome
In Primary Skills you’ll be given all the information necessary to develop to your highest technical potential. Guided by clear principles and exercises, you’ll begin to see real results from your work within weeks. Phase I will take up to 15 minutes per day for which you’ll gain foundational skills and knowledge that can last a lifetime. In addition you’ll avoid the more damaging effect of wear and tear resulting from improper technique.
Players of all levels (from beginning to advanced to concert level players) can competently complete and gain the full benefits incorporated in Primary Skills. Beginning players who have little or no reading skills can easily learn the technical exercises here in Phase I. Advanced players will find a new level of control and command in their playing. Each chapter is comprised of an introduction video, written descriptions, musical examples, a Practice-Along-with-Scott video and printable PDF’s of the technical exercises for each chapter.
Developing a strong technical foundation begins with positioning. In Part 1 you’ll be introduced to the Principles of Positioning through step by step instruction for finding your body’s optimal sitting, right and left hand positions. The application of these principles will result in a solid technique.
The entire classical guitarist’s repertoire can be broken down to a finite number of right hand movement forms.
With your positioning in place you will learn and begin the process of mastering these forms in your technical exercises, study pieces and eventually your repertoire.
Chapter 5 – Principles of Movement
Chapter 6 – The Free Stroke
Chapter 7 – Alternation
Chapter 8 – Sympathetic Motion
Chapter 9 – Tremolo
Chapter 10 – Compound Motion
Chapter 11 – Left Hand Patterns
While we allow your work in Part 2 to gestate we’ll take a slight detour to learn a few more exercises and techniques that will be integrated into your new Practice Plan.
Chapter 12 – String Crossing
Chapter 13 – Scale Bursts
Chapter 14 – Rest Stroke
Chapter 15 – Compound Motion Derivatives
Chapter 16 – Sym and Comp Motion with Active Bass
Chapter 17 – Primary Skills Exercises and Practice Plan
In Part 4 the positioning principles from Chapter 2 will be applied to the left hand. This will help to develop a well positioned and relaxed left hand to which we introduce scales, shifting and slurs.
Chapter 18 – Left Hand Positioning with Sympathetic Motion
Chapter 19- Left Hand Shifting (PROP)
Chapter 20 – Positioning with Scale Bursts
Chapter 21 -Positioning with Complex Alternation
Chapter 22 – Left Hand Chord Positioning
Chapter 23 – Slurs
In Part 5 we begin the critical process of integrating – or mapping – all the right hand movement forms into repertoire, allowing your continued technical improvements to manifest themselves into your repertoire.
In addition to the Right Hand Mapping, you’ll be introduced to a set of right and left hand fingering guidelines that will better aid in recognizing and assigning the movement forms in repertoire.
Chapter 24 – Mapping Range of Motion and Alternation
Chapter 25 – Mapping Sympathetic Motion
Chapter 26 – Mapping Mixed Patterns
Chapter 27 – Mapping Popular Repertoire
Chapter 28 – Fingering Guidelines
Chapter 29 – Integrating Mapping into Repertoire
In Part 6 we’ll further develop scale and arpeggios speed through exercises designed to encourage relaxation and accuracy. The result is more fluid, faster and accurate scales and arpeggios.
In addition, you’ll also be introduced to the final set of scales as well as a long term plan for learning and memorizing the Segovia Scales. And finally you’ll have a practice plan utilizing these scale forms with varied metronome tempos will allow you to increase your scale speed, with the shorter scale forms, without compromising accuracy.
Chapter 30 – Extended Scale Forms
Chapter 31 – Scale Speed Development
Chapter 32 – Arpeggio Speed and Development
Chapter 33 – Studies Supplement
Chapter 34 – Part 1
Chapter 35 – Weeks
Chapter 36 – Part 3
Chapter 37 – Part 4
Chapter 38 – Part 5
Chapter 39 – Part 6
Phase I Primary Skills Introduction Video
Phase I Formats for Instruction
Rosewood Membership
Those who become members to my website will have instant access to all written instructions and videos as well as personalized practice plans.
Independant Studies
You have the option of progressing through Phase I independently. A complete list of a practice checklist, support materials and a calendar for your progress make it possible to learn all that Phase I has to offer.
Private Lessons
You can study with me directly in bi-monthly lessons either in person or via Skype. With private instruction, you’ll not only get personal instruction on Phase I material, but also Phases II and III (Secondary Skills and
Practice Directives) through our work with your repertoire. Another benefit of Private Lessons is a personalized practice plan. Your practice plan will be online and editable. It consists of technique practice, repertoire practice, and a list of secondary skills and practice directives that are integrated via drop-down menus. This keeps the guesswork out what to practice and how to practice.
Online Workshops
With you Rosewood Membership you’ll have access to my monthly workshop “Tech Talk with/Scott”. A portion of each workshop will be designated for Phase I participants where I can answer any questions you may have.
Integrating Phase I with Current Studies or Teacher
FAQ
We Are Here To Help You With Any Questions You May Have
Phase I requires between 5-15 minutes per day depending on which chapter that you’re working.
You’ll be instructed to work independently from all your other instruction. In fact, it’s critical for a good start to do so.
It won’t take but a few days before you’ll feel more control over your positioning. And then, as you learn the movement forms, more control over your playing. And you’ll have clear guidelines to monitor your progress.
Phase I can be successfully completed entirely through the online format and has been done so many times.
Yes, after you’ve learned all the movement forms you can move forward in developing faster and stronger arpeggios and scales.
Eventually you’ll have a technical practice that will rotate between Alternation (a series of scales and alternation exercises) and Sympathetic Motion where your work will be on arpeggios.
You’ll be encouraged to join your fellow Phase I participants for my Tech Talk w/Scott monthly workshop where you ask your questions.