REACHING THE

NEXT LEVEL

A METHOD FOR THE EXPERIENCED

CLASSICAL GUITARIST

MARTHA MASTERS

Guitar Tutor Book

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 reach the next level in their playing.

Acknowledgments

Introduction: Why We All Need This Book

Revisiting the Basics with a New Sense of Purpose

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
• Sueño, by José Viñas

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 José Brocá

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 Napoléon Coste

Expanding Your Interpretive Skills

Determining Phrases and Breathing

• Sing It
• Overt Breathing
• Introduction and Andante, by José Viñas
• Meditando, from Preludios Poéticos, 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 Tárrega

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 Julián 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 Napoléon 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 Casséus
• 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

About the Author