WEEK ONE Updates: Main Thread - Awakening Tárrega's Spirit
Hello and welcome to the WEEK ONE Main Thread for this challenge! 
Alright my friends - this is the thread where we'll all be posting our daily updates.
Make sure you've read the rules before replying (<- click)
Twice a week between Mai 31st and June 21st, I hope to be reading your daily updates in this very thread right here!
Download the music here! (← click)
Please use the following format when commenting (feel free to copy & paste!):
- One thing you found easy:
- One thing you found difficult:
- (Optional): a video of you performing it!
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Started revising prelude no. 1 and the prelude(s?) Endecha-Oremus
endecha is a Canción triste y de lamento, for funerals, I understand. And oremus, means praying, so they go together, but were they written as one piece? Is there a story behind? Anyway, they represent the sadness in my heart as I must leave Prague and many dear friends .....
easy: technically not complicated and I studied the pieces before. Long time ago, with Srdan Tosic, eminence grise of the Belgrade CG world.
difficult: a clean phrasing and legato, consistent fingering for Oremus, clean harmonics at the end of prelude 1
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Emma I've seen them done with the right hand thumb on the node, instead of the i finger. This helps reduce the scraping noise on the bass strings.
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joosje joosje the original Schumann piece might be Phantasientanz, Op.124 No. 5
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Etude I'll be working on: Maria Gavotte. I've always enjoyed it. It's so rockin'!
One thing I find easy: It's not complicated musically and it is very guitaristic.
One thing I find difficult: I've always been intimidated by any piece that goes much above the 12th fret, and so I've never fully taken this one on. I'm particularly nervous about the portamento in measure 41. I'm going to give it my best try, though.
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Eric Phillips Oh yes, Maria has quite a temper!
I did a Live Stream on Unconventional Practice Techniques, where I talk about an exercise for shifts, that might help you! -
Martin Thanks, Martin. I’ll check it out.
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Just downloaded the pdf. Will be taking a look at it tomorrow to choose a piece
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Ron Awesome!
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- Etude you worked on: Capricho Arabe, first page
- One thing you found easy: No much difficulty with sight reading since I worked on it last year for a short time, still remember the scores
- One thing you found difficult: Sometimes molto accelerando
I am planning to work on the first page entire week, and the second next week. It is not an easy piece, but I want to finish it this time. That's why I like these challenges
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Gokce Turkmendag Awesome! I'll intend to work a little bit on Capricho as well! Yeah, sometimes the piece requires to let loose your fingers, but sometimes the fingers are still sleepy
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Hi Martin and everyone! I’m also really excited about this challenge. The two Tarrega pieces I already have in my repertoire are Lagrima and Adelita. I have always wanted to learn the Gran Vals and Capricho Arabe so this is a great opportunity to pick one and see it through. I’ve never tried either. And since we just finished the Virtuosity Challenge, why not?
Hmm
eeny, meeny, miny, moe... Capricho Arabe! I will start on it tomorrow!
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Debbie good choice!
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Debbie Wonderful, I look forward to your updates on that piece!
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Gokce Turkmendag I see we are both working on it Gokce. We can compare notes!
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Debbie yes, that's why I am happy about your choice. Gran Vals was my second option by the way. Don't miss Tariq Harb's course on Tonebase. Looking forward to your submissions!
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Debbie great choice. there is this wonderful lesson by Ali Arrango on tonebase for Gran Vals and there is also one in Mircea's virtual masterclass. (think is the first one).
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Hi Martin. This should be a great challenge. I have an ongoing challenge of my own but I can work on the Tarrega pieces alongside this. I've just actually been working on Prelude 5 and was hoping to record it before Wednesday for something else so I shall post the video here. I've tried to play Maria a long time ago so will also work on that this week. Hopefully I'll have time to learn the Tango after that (but not this week!)
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Derek Wonderful, the Prelude 5 is one of my most favourite pieces! It has its obstacles and stumbling blocks (especially intonation in the higher positions), but this piece definitely worth all the effort!
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Hi Martin and everone! I have already had LaGrima and Recuerdos de la Alhambra under my hands. I will choose to work on two new pieces: Adelita and Gran Vals for this Tarrega challenge :) I am excited! :)
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Khiem Nguyen why not post a video of both as a warm up for other pieces you'll work on :)
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Khiem Nguyen Great choices, I look forward to hear from you!
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Blaise Laflamme thank you for your encouragement Blaise! I will post those pieces I have learnt. I look forward to hearing you play too! :)
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Martin thank you Martin! :)
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Is there an actual video being broadcast today 31st May - I cannot seem to find how to access it?
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Dennis Greensmith I think there are no livestreams for this one.
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Eric Phillips thanks Eric :-)
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
