🎶 Latin American Music Challenge | Week 4

LIVE
martin.3
Yesterday
25replies

Welcome to our tonebase Guitar Community Challenge! For the next few weeks, we’ll be diving into the vibrant world of Latin American music, exploring rhythms, colors, and styles that have inspired guitarists around the globe.

This is your chance to work on masterpieces and hidden gems by some of the most iconic composers:

Heitor Villa-Lobos (Brazil) – lush, virtuosic preludes and études
Agustín Barrios Mangoré (Paraguay) – romantic, poetic works full of soul
Abel Carlevaro (Uruguay) – brilliant studies and innovative techniques
Leo Brouwer (Cuba) – modern masterpieces mixing folklore and avant-garde
Manuel M. Ponce – sonatas, and romantic masterpieces
Antonio Lauro – famous Venezuelan Waltzes
Atahualpa Yupanqui – folk-rooted pieces
Jorge Morel – virtuosic concert works and arrangements
…and many more treasures from across Latin America!

How it Works

Pick your piece(s) – anything from the Latin American repertoire that excites you.
Introduce yourself – share what you’ll be working on and why.
Post updates – you can share progress videos, practice tips, or reflections.
Support others – comment, encourage, and learn together.

📅 When?

Start: September 29th
End: October 30th
Watch Party: October 30th 🎉

Why Join?

✅ Discover new repertoire
✅ Build consistency in practice
✅ Get feedback from peers
✅ Celebrate Latin American music with the community

💡 Whether you’re tackling a full Villa-Lobos Étude, polishing a Barrios gem, or exploring a short Brouwer piece, this challenge is for everyone — from curious beginners to advanced players.

👉 Jump in by introducing yourself below and telling us what you’ll be working on!

Let’s bring the sounds of Latin America to life together. 💃🎶

- Retired
- Jack_Stewart
- Yesterday
- Reported - view
Brouwer Tres Apuntes I - a bit late to the party

This is a revisit to this piece. I presented it a year or 2 ago. I had intentions of doing this and the VL etude #5 for this challenge (both would have been revisions). I have it pretty well under my fingers but it is a long way off from being under control. I don't care for my tone - I am hoping that is mostly due to my nail situation, Time will tell.

Towards the end of the 1st section I am experimenting with slowing the tempo down, trying to create a 'Stravinsky' effect. I haven't decided whether I think this works. Feel free to offer comments.

I have been in fingenail hell for the last month or so. I am currently trying Tiptonic Nails. I think they are a good system. The nails have small 'pockets' on either side that the corners of the nail fit in and use adhesive tabs to hold the nail in place. Unfortunately I have worn the left side corners on both 'm' and 'a' all the way down so there isn't much to hook in. So, in addition to adhesive, I tape the nails on with surgical tape. this, at least, allows me to practice but it is difficult to control tone and dynamics. I am hoping when my nails grow out a bit this will work much better.
- Dale_Needles
  
  23 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Hey Jack, that is sounding really good. The false nails worked fine and thought the tone fit the piece very well. The Stravinsky character of the piece definitely also came through. I would definitely keep this piece in your repertoire, it fits you.
- Amateur with too little time and bingeplayer with sore arms and fingers
  
  Lars_KjollerHansen
  
  19 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  I think you execute this piece very well. I don’t know the piece but on one listening there are no spots where I would think this in my ears pretty difficult piece needs significant improvement Bravo!
  ‘All pieces get better through years of playing and practicing. I heard Ana Vidovic play two Bach suites recently and I had not doubt which had been on her repertoire for 20 years.
  
  Regarding nail issues I had my happiest time in the spring where I had n artificial nail on my a finger always consistent and good sounding.
  Use of artificial nails is not uncommon Lukasz Kuropaczewski , Gulia Ballare and lot of others use them consistently. Mircea Gorgoncea always on a finger, I have seen Rene Izquierdo, Matt Palmer with fake nails and of course all the flamenco players with some kind of glue nd silicone— but it do hurt your native nails
  
  Lars
- Retired
  
  Andre_Bernier
  
  15 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Great piece Jack. I always enjoy your musical choice. This kind of piece grows on you the more you listen to them. Thanks for sharing. 👏
- Steve_Price
  
  15 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Excellent work on this, Jack. This is such a great piece, and I love your interpretation. The cross string trills are a really nice touch that I hadn't ever heard before.
- Nijwm_Bwiswmuthiary
  
  12 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  wonderfully played, Jack. This piece has a very distinctive, atmospheric feel, and you brought it out very well. Like Dale said, your tone fits the piece very well. Hope you find a solution for your nails soon.
- Barney
  
  11 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Hey Jack, it looks like you have healed the right hand tendonitis (. I hope so...Ouch!) in order to play this tricky piece. Excellent job and I enjoyed the effect of the slow down phrases in your interpretation. Tone quality was fine for the style of this work. Bravo!
- Retired
  
  Jack_Stewart
  
  2 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Thanks, Dale. I just received the 'premium' nail kit and I think it is going to work a lot better. I don't think I will need the tape. I hope I can put together another recording before the end.
- Retired
  
  Jack_Stewart
  
  2 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Thanks Lars. I agree that pieces take time to develop, especially good pieces. I quit using fake nails because the kept peeling off layers of natural nail such that they wouldn't stay. The Tiptonic nails I just got have a different approach and use adhesive tabs that are strong but don't seem to affect the nail. I am hopeful.
- Retired
  
  Jack_Stewart
  
  2 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Thanks Andre. I have had this piece on my list for a long time, and have worked it up once before. I am happy to bearing it back, hopefully to a more polished level.
- Retired
  
  Jack_Stewart
  
  1 hr ago
  
  Reported - view
  Thanks Steve. This is a great piece. and I am glad to be working on it again. I have kind of 'bought into' cross string trills. I like how the ring out and my single string trills have always been rather anemic.
- Retired
  
  Jack_Stewart
  
  1 hr ago
  
  Reported - view
  Thanks, Nijwm, This piece has been 'in my sights' for years. I'm glad to be working on it. I just got a new nail 'system' today that seems very promising. Fingers crossed (ok - that was an unintentional pun 🙄.)
- Retired
  
  Jack_Stewart
  
  1 hr ago
  
  Reported - view
  Thanks Barney. My tendonitis seems to have resolved itself as of a couple of weeks ago, thankfully.
- Retired
  
  Jack_Stewart
  
  1 hr ago
  
  Reported - view
  BTW, Andre. I don't know if you ever came across Tiptonic nails. I just started using them and am pretty impressed. The share a bit of technic with Alaska nails. They have small 'pockets' that the corners of the nail fit in and then use removable adhesive t hold the nail in place. The adhesive stands up to sharp attacks, so the striking if the string doesn't affect its grip, but can be removed by slowly adding pressure to push it off. so the striking if the string doesn't affect its grip. The downside is that they are pretty expensive - the premium setup which includes a dedicated adhesive warmer is about $300.
  
  However, you seem to be getting really good results with the Alaska picks.
- Amateur with too little time and bingeplayer with sore arms and fingers
- Lars_KjollerHansen
- 19 hrs ago
- Reported - view
Misionera (Bustamente/arr J Morel)- Brouwer Trilogy from live in Lukowski 1971 ( Guajira Criolla -Cancion de Cuna-Danza Caracteristica.

Have been away first two weeks of October of all places Asturias (which is a misleading title for that piece you know— 2026 project I guess) .Guess I told Dale I might throw in Misonera which I presented unfinished in a challenge some years ago. Have not played in since. Just retired after 41 years as a doctor with night and weekend calls— so more time to practice than before.
Here is status after a week - including now a sore right thumb MCP joint. First shot in the morning with iPhone after 15 min warm up. It does not get worse so it is ideal to record yourself that way to show all your weak spots to work more on. I decided to supplement Misonera that is fast and includes tremolo with the more feel good slow Cancion de Cuna and suddenly I started on the whole Brouwer Trilogy from live at Lukowski 1971. Ambitiuos , but it has been on my list to do one day, so this was the occasion. Danza Caracterstica does not go well, I seem to stumble dyscoordinated over that pavement all the time, but that’s I after 7min 30 s so few will probably note😉

But remember the original concept for monthly changes was to present works in progress..- And as I wrote earlier one months is too short for me also in my new retried status— and as Lukasz Kuropaczewski told me: You don’t want to live in house build in one months — or three

I like to have pieces som much in the pocket that I can play them after a half bottle of wine ( at least) because that is the situation where I get my performances

Dear

Really enjoyed your efforts and playing and not least the joy you have playing music

Lars
- Retired
  
  Andre_Bernier
  
  15 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Great play Lars. For me this was my matinal concert. Thanks for sharing 👍
- Amateur with too little time and bingeplayer with sore arms and fingers
  
  Lars_KjollerHansen
  
  15 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Mine too 😀..Thank you
- Steve_Price
  
  15 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Very nice, Lars. I'm a huge Brouwer fan, so I enjoyed all of those, and I love the energy on the Bustamente. I also applaud the single long take. It's a little too daunting for me at the moment, but hopefully I'll work up the courage at some point to try it, lol.
- Nijwm_Bwiswmuthiary
  
  12 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Bravo, wonderful performance, that too for a work in progress only for a week.
- Barney
  
  4 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  I really enjoyed your little concert. ( not so little--over nine minutes...)! It has so much variety in mood and rhythms, so time flew by quickly.
  
  Not sure how you got thru this with the sore thumb MCP joint. Hope it is healing well! I have tendonitis of left hand thumb MCP joint, which is taking a long while to completely heal. I use heat and ice, along with targeted thumb exercises daily prescribed by a hand therapist, and wear a hand/thumb brace when I play. Not ready to play the long challenging pieces yet; just the less painful ones.
  
  I glad you have more time now to play in retirement! This is such a great hobby, so continue to enjoy it . I look forward to your future submissions!
- Retired
  
  Jack_Stewart
  
  2 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Wow! What a workout, Lars! Especially first thing in the morning. I am always envious of how much you can accomplish in a short period of time. These are sounding very good for such a short time. The Danza Characteristica is also well under your fingers. Maybe play it first and it would all fall into place.
  
  Great work and congratulations on retirement.
- Palmer
- 8 hrs ago
- Reported - view
Here is my recording of Recuerdos by Eduardo Diaz. I need to apply myself to learning to record as the quality here is poor. Still needs polish anyway.
- Barney
  
  4 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Nice playing Palmer of this beautiful Recuerdos! Thanks for sharing it!!
- Retired
  
  Jack_Stewart
  
  2 hrs ago
  
  Reported - view
  Beautifully played, Palmer. Your phrasing and tone are very good. Thanks for sharing.
  
  Your recording sounded very good - maybe recorded slightly loud. However, take my observations with a grain of salt.
  
  oh yes, and I would suggest allowing the last note to breathe a little.
- Palmer
- 7 hrs ago
- Reported - view
I've been catching up with everyone's recordings! Beautiful!! I'm getting some great ideas for new pieces to play.