Reaching The Next Level

A guide for intermediate and advanced classical guitarists, addressing technical and musical issues. Any serious student of classical guitar will appreciate this book which covers topics often heard in a lesson, but seldom covered in a book, with appropriate repertoire provided. Topics covered include technical control, study habits, crafting interpretations, tone production, performance anxiety, and much more.Students and teachers alike will appreciate the varied repertoire selections, as well as the annotated repertoire list included for further study. Includes thoughtful discussion of each topic and careful choice of repertoire to allow guitarists to overcome obstacles and reachthe next level in their playing.- A guide for intermediate and advanced classical guitarists, addressing technical and musical issues- Topics covered include technical control, study habits, crafting interpretations, tone production, performance anxiety, and much more.- Students and teachers alike will appreciate the varied repertoire selections, as well as the annotated repertoire list included for further study.- Thoughtful discussion of each topic and careful choice of repertoire allow guitarists to overcome obstacles and reach the next level in their playing.

CONTENTS

• Developing Critical Listening Skills
• Develop Your Concentration
• Have a Thorough Understanding of the Material
• Listen at a Pace That Allows You to Hear the Details
• Keep an Open Mind
• Be Detail Oriented
• Listen Critically to Others
• Listen Critically to Yourself
• The Basics of Good Technique
• Sitting Position
• Right-Hand Technique
• Left-Hand Technique
• Learning New Repertoire with Good Study Habits
• Gain a General Understanding of the Piece
• Divide and Conquer
• Getting It Performance Ready
• Spot Practicing
• Keep the Quality of Learning at a High Level
• Gaining Control of Your Technique
• Relax
• Have a Clear Goal in Your Technical Exercises
• Do What Works for You
• Etruscan Prelude No. 1, by Reginald Smith Brindle
• Sueo, by Jos? Vias
• Fundamentals of Strong Playing at Any Level
• Playing with a Consistent, Beautiful Tone
• Great Nails
• Consistent Hand Position
• Follow Through
• Allegro moderato, from Five Vignettes, by Atanas Ourkouzounov
• Controlling Tempo
• Don't Use Rubato as an Excuse
• Pulse or Death (of the Performance)
• Allegro, from Partita No. IV, by Giuseppe Antonio Brescianello
• Recuerdo triste, by Jos? Broc?
• Playing Truly Legato
• Test the Right Hand
• Test the Left Hand
• Cantabile, from Cinq etudes faciles, ou presque, by Simone Iannarelli
• Etude No. 7, by Napol?on Coste
• Expanding Your Interpretive Skills
• Determining Phrases and Breathing
• Sing It
• Overt Breathing
• Introduction and Andante, by Jos? Vias
• Meditando, from Preludios Po?ticos, by Jaime Zenamon
• Crafting Your Interpretation: Dynamics & Colors
• Mythical Magical Moment Interpretations
• Start Interpreting Early
• Study the Game
• Know the Score, Discover the Music
• Improvise Interpretations
• Have No Fear
• Prelude No. 5, by Francisco T?rrega
• Making Informed Fingering Choices
• What Factors Can Motivate Fingering Choices?
• What Motivates Your Fingering Choices?
• String Damping
• Accidental Dissonance
• Cross String Interference
• Melodic Lines versus Arpeggios
• Sympathetic Vibrations
• Bolero, by Juli?n Arcas
• Articulations
• Experiment with Ideas
• Create a Plan
• Cure Accidental Accents
• Capriccio, from Partita No. X, by Giuseppe Antonio Brescianello
• Vibrato
• Use Vibrato Deliberately and Consistently
• Practice Vibrato as a Technique
• Berceuse, by Napol?on Coste
• Discovering the Soul of the Piece
• Listen to the Great Interpreters
• Know Your History
• Don't Let Your Knowledge Clog Your Process
• Merengue, by Frantz Cass?us
• Valseana, by Sergio Assad
• Tying It All Together
• Improving Your Sight-Reading
• Know Where the Notes Are
• Pre-Read
• Play Slowly
• Get the Main Idea
• Read Ahead
• Coping with Performance Anxiety
• Physical Effects of Anxiety
• Mental Effects of Anxiety
• Be Prepared
• Be Positive
• Keep Performing
• What It Takes To Succeed ? and What Is Success?
• What Is Your Definition of Success?
• If You Want to be a Professional?
• They Have to Know You to Hire You
• Don't Wait for the Phone to Ring
• Compete to be Heard
• Reaching the Next Level
• Selected Annotated Bibliography
• Medium Level Difficulty Repertoire
• Technique Books
• Music for Sight Reading
• Books on Various Musical Subjects