Monday, April 8, 2013

Pianist Secrets - The Unknown Guitar Training

By Angelica L. Cong


When I first started learning with the fantastic concert pianist, Mark Wescott, he discussed all type of things that I had never noticed before. During my coaching and in his master classes he was discussing things that no guitar instructor had ever said. He had a totally different method of approaching music, plus it was incredibly effective at creating emotional connection with audience. As he played, you could not help but listen. It really was that great. This is exactly why I took him on as a coach. I wanted to know what it was he was discussing. (Just to be very clear, he plays piano, I play guitar. Mainly we work on phrasing and interpretation issues.)

An old idea

One of the main tenants of his approach to music, and now mine also, is definitely the concept of the long line. This isn't a new concept. Musicians for hundreds of years have been talking about this, and striving for it. So please don't think this really is my (or his) idea in any shape, form, or fashion. If only it was, but it is not.

The idea of what it is:

The long line is actually an aspiration for our own playing. The long line is really a particular level of engagement and also continuity throughout a whole piece of music. It could exist in a small piece of music, and a large piece of music. Even as huge as Wagner's Ring Cycle. The effect of developing a long line is the fact that audience are usually engaged from the first note till the very last note. There is an energetic force that activates the music forward and keeps the music energized plus alive. There is the same concept in writing, in films, in storytelling of all types.

Sign me up!

Obviously, we'd all like to play in such a way as to have listeners' rapt attention for every millisecond that were playing. It's a primary reason that people play, to share music and the experience of a particular piece of music.

The effects of just actively playing notes:

Nevertheless, it's sadly an undeniable fact that this quality of playing is fairly uncommon these days. I am unable to name all that numerous players who consistently embody this quality, on any instrument, nevertheless particularly guitar. And also the result of this is that audience, musicians and non-musician as well, will probably form opinions and also assumptions regarding music as well as the guitar in general based on their substandard experiences.

I have spoken with several music lovers who sheepishly admitted to me that they never genuinely liked guitar music. And the reason was that they had not had virtually any positive experiences.

Just as in any other art form, exposure creates awareness, awareness creates appreciation, and appreciation produces demand. There is relatively very little demand for classical guitar music these days. Thus perhaps there's a connection here.

Forward and Up: digging deeper

Consequently one definitive key to creating more substantial musical experiences for audience, is actually embracing and pursuing the long line. It's not always the easiest road to take, but it's considered one of the most satisfying, personally and for your own audience. Most of the basic presumptions and performance habits we've mastered from our own teachers, plus they from theirs, actually serve to stop the long line, and actually undermine the musical continuity that we're striving for.

The Long Line:

-Takes focus

-Takes persistence and also attention

-Is possible for players at all levels

-Builds method and also increases musical knowledge

-Is well worth the effort




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