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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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 Hi Dennis! Eric Phillips is correct, we will only have a Watch Party at the end of this challenge!
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This looks fun!
I would like to participate(:-
Devyn McCrea working on Maria(:
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Devyn McCrea Great, a spirited piece!
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Hi Martin, I’m refining Recuerdos de la Alhambra, and Estudio brilliante and starting Danza Mora ( I was holding off on starting this one until after the school semester was over. Perfect timing!).
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Giovanni Wow, tough choices, it will be a hell of a development for your right hand as each of these three pieces have their unique properties! Recuerdos of course as the standard tremolo piece, Estudio Brilliante as a great Arpeggio Study and Danza Mora to improve balance and right hand finger independence!
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Martin Totally! hahaha I have "recuerdos" memorized, but not happy with where it's at. Working on the rubato and tone with this one. "Estudio Brillante" is definitley tough at a fast tempo. I can't play it fast right now. I'll work on increasing my speed this week!
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Giovanni To be honest, I am not a Tremolo-Guy, I always had problems with that, which is why I've been sticking to "Una Limosna Por El Amor de Dios" by Barrios so far, the Tremolo on the 1st string is just much easier. But maybe I'll try to work on that a little bit as well over the course of the next 3 weeks!
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Martin I love "el ultimo tremolo!" it sounded really good the last time you played it live! Yeah, "Recuerdos" is a tough one. Getting it to sound right is a challenge for me.
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Giovanni Thank you, another one of those pieces that I will play for the rest of my live, haha!
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Hi Martin, I am excited about this topic. I regularly practice Lágrima, and Etude in E Minor. For this challenge I will focus on 2 pieces Prelude No 5 in E major and Adelita. I have worked on Adelita before however always a few stumbling blocks , so I will start to work on Adelita this week and into next week ...
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margaret macarthur Great! We have a great Tutorial for Adelita by our friend Eduardo Inestal! A beautiful, moody piece with a wonderful uplifting B-Part for sure!
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Martin Thanks Martin. I have watched the Tutorial by Eduardo Inestal and found it very helpful especially suggestions for playing legato.
I found easy: The first section , measures 1 to 8, and with practice I am improving bring out the melodic line each note clearly.
I found hard: The second section, measure 11 and 12, and i am working on this. I have found Eduardo's tutorial especially helpful for the second section and have enjoyed his suggestion for second half of measure 14, moving to eight fret.
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margaret macarthur Awesome!
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Hello Martin,
I'm quite excited, as this is my first tone base challenge. I just started classical guitar a couple of months ago (I used to practice rock guitar when I was younger). Thus, I think the only piece I might try to play - at least in part - is Lagrima. I just started yesterday, using the lessons by Thomas Viloteau. I'm very much looking forward to it!
- Etude you worked on: Lagrima
- One thing you found easy: Simple melody and rythm without surprises
- One thing you found difficult: Keeping the melody very legato and more present than the rest
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Didier Lágrima is truly on of the greatest Miniatures we have, so much beauty in one page! We have quite a few beginner resources if you feel like you're hitting a roadblock:
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Hey all.
Here's my utterly RAW recording of me practising Marieta. It sounds a bit boxy.
EASY
Just doing RAW recording take was simple enough. Also, the piece in its entirety - it's not too difficult.
HARD
- The slides of minor and major section: getting it just right
- Not attacking the string with RH too hard (I comment on that in the recording).
- The 16th notes slurs and the one 32nd note slur. Challenging to articulate them properly.
- And more...
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Philip the A section sounds beautiful, very good tone and clean slurs and ornaments. The B needs more practice but the sound again is Philip very good. I am looking forward to hearing the final product. It is going to be great! Congratulations!!!
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Philip great start and good sound... you're using the OM1?
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Emma Thanks Emma! Appreciate it a lot
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Blaise Laflamme Merci Blaise
Yes I used my 2 OM1's through my Scarlet interface. -
Philip Very good work so far! I particularly like your articulation and vibrato.
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Philip Wonderful and a great recording! I loved how you included your comments as well, that's very educational! The B-Section sounds as you have quite a bit of tension in your left hand (which happens to me as well when I start a piece!), always try to find those tiny bits of relaxation!
Thank your for that update, I look forward to many more! 
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Philip That's wonderful Philip. great sound and balance. The B section is tricky , causes stress in the left hand mainly. Looking forward to the updates
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Philip hey Philip, you have don a great job on practicing. This piece is really challenging to play !
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
