Lessons from Sketches I – Single String Etude #1

Hi – I present here a series of videos to talk about my compositions and my approach to the guitar – mini lessons, if you will. They will be short, and to the point. If you want more info, please write me at info[at]gyremusic.com and/or consider Skype lessons.

The Basics of Melody

Single String Etudes begin the Sketches series. They embody the most simple of concepts, lessons on the subtle techniques of melodic playing. I accomplish this by using the simplest, but most expressive way of playing a melody, shifting up and down a single string. In order to create interest without technical difficulty, easy accompaniments to the tunes are simple drones. This is a basic concept of monophonic music, medieval tunes, and folk music around the world. Therefore advantages are multiple: one can visualize whole and half steps and easily employ fundamentals such as vibrato, portamento, legato, rest stroke, free stroke, timbre and dynamics.

The Backstory

I begin at the beginning. In (or around) 1995, I was bored with my career. It had taken several unexpected turns, and I wasn’t satisfied. Fiercely independent, I nevertheless taught one year at a state college. It was too far and paid too poorly. Next, I saw an ad in Soundboard magazine for Childbloom guitar. It read, “Have a college degree and don’t know what to do with it?” In my mid forties, I had to respond yes! So I called Kevin Taylor, owner/director of the Childbloom Company in Austin TX. That led to ten satisfying years teaching young children. This, another unexpected turn, led to the most unexpected of all – I became a composer.

I’ll write more about my genesis as a composer in a future post, but my first collection of original compositions was the glorious result of teaching children. Sketches I is 30 simple pieces for students of any age. I intend them as a supplement to a more rigorous method, an opportunity to explore unusual textures, to create beautiful sounds with simple techniques, and to present a variety of styles. I am proud that several of these pieces became part of the Childbloom curriculum and that Kevin asked me to record his Tunes You Can Play CD.

Vintage Guitars

The excellent guitars I use are usually for sale at Aaron Green’s Vintage Classical Guitars. You can buy my music at www.gyremusic.com. Scores are organized by instrument, ensemble, voice and level of ability. Click to buy a PDF download of  Sketches I.

Thanks for watching.