Goal: Brouwer – Learn Etude 1

Classical Guitar

Polish entire piece

26 minutes

Notes:

I can now do the tempo Ricardo Cabo performs on his album covering these Brouwer etudes “sencillos”. Not convinced it should be quite as fast. It feels more passionate a tad slower. Note that the tempo is way above what Brouwer noted. Pushing the tempo makes this study a worthy performance tune albeit a short one. I think that the syncopation and the Cuban-ness comes out better at the faster tempo. Brouwer of course was composing a simple study for his students and thus the much slower tempo.

I do have to work on the dynamics more. That will come out when I try to record the tune and listen back.

References:

Goal: JM Verdiales Grade 0

Classical Guitar

Bars 17 – 34

20 minutes

Notes:

I think I should get on to new sections of a tune before perfecting a previous section. For one it gives me a chance to work on my reading but it also allows me to keep the big picture in mind i.e. of the composition as a whole. The problem with this composition is that it used a rasgueado i.e. a flamenco “fan” stroke which I did not have down. I know can pull that off at Juan Martin’s recorded tempo. Its an important technique , its core to Flamenco.

References:

Goal: Mix: So May It Secretly Begin

Studio

Drums for Intro (8 bars)

118 minutes

Notes:

having difficulties matching the rim click sample to the original, trying various snare samples as well as working with EQ , pitch settings. Not sure how to control snare bleed into over head and room mics. I needed to boost up ride, cymbal levels which I can only do via the OH and room mics but this has now increased the presence of the rim clicks in the mix.

See ref #1 for bounce of bass and drum tracks superimposed upon the original audio. Both original audio and B&D are at an even volume level. I feel its now much closer. Next I need to work in the string and flutes swells.

References:

  1. Bars 1 – 10 superimposed B&D.mp3

Goal: Brouwer – Learn Etude 1

Project: Classical Guitar

Activity: Polish entire piece

Time Spent: 15 mins

Notes:

when do you know that a repertoire piece is ready for recording ? Well, for me is when I get to the point that I can play it with my eyes closed. When I find myself “observing” myself play the piece. When I find myself thinking about the emotions instead of the notes.

Of course, putting that up to the mirror is the key. So I now need to do that and put this down in Logic Pro.

Goal: La Catedral

Project: Classical Guitar

Activity: Learn 3rd Movement

Time Spent: 17 mins

Notes:

picking speed is in the viscinity of John William’s performance. However, I still cramp up my hand and especially the left thumb because of the held barre chords. Think I need to do some independent “muscle” only work to build the stamina. All in all , I’m getting through the run faster and smoother.

Goal: JM Verdiales Grade 0

Project: Classical Guitar

Activity:

Time Spent: 37 mins

Notes:

This flamenco study focuses on thumb picking. I vary between picking solely using the thumb i.e. where the thumb moves freely to picking with the thumb as an extension of the wrist i,e, where I lock the thumb on to my first finger and move it as an extenion of the wrist. Both useful. The latter key in performing dowward slip picking and full swipes.

The free thumb comes into play when working on a second technicasl aspect of the study which occurs in measures 5 – 8. Here the thumb plays the same melody but the first finger (i) plays a pedal open E on the top string. Very typical flamenco.