Group 2
Improve your Arpeggios in Two Weeks with Evan Taucher!
Arpeggios are a fundamental part of guitar technique, but are you practicing them in a way where you will improve over time? Oftentimes we find ourselves stuck in the same routine with old habits that leave our arpeggios sounding imprecise and strained. Join this intensive to break out of the box and work on our arpeggios in a precise way that will challenge your mind, and then your fingers.
- Course Period: October 17th - 28th
- Optional check-In via Zoom: October 24th, 10 am PST
Assignment Video for Week 1
Please follow along and share a video of yourself with the exercises Evan is presenting in his video! Scores of Villa-Lobos Prelude no.4 and Giuliani op.48 no.5 attached!
Week 1 video submissions should include one or more of the following:
- preparation exercise with metronome on, playing one note per click
- accent exercise with metronome, cycling through accenting different fingers
IMSLP273551-PMLP444038-HVL-Preludes-Eschig Kopie
IMSLP26384-PMLP58657-Giuliani_Esercizio_Op48
IMSLP273547-PMLP224198-HVL-Estudos-Eschig1953 (1)
The assignment Video for Week 2 will be shared after the Zoom Session on October 24th!
Assignment Video for Week 2
Week 2 submissions should include one or more of the following:
- pluck and relax exercise
- pimiaimi arpeggio
- pmimamim arpeggio
- pamamaia arpeggio
- a repertoire example (Giuliani Etude 5 op.48 or Prelude 4 arpeggios by Villa Lobos)
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Find the recording of he Zoom Check-In here: https://youtu.be/iVYpg_fPN84
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martin martin thanks! I missed it because I misread the time. appreciate the video.
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here's my link
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Vilio Celli hi Vilio, great work so far!
first, itâs a little difficult to see you RH from that angle, but one thing I can point out to you is that your p finger (your thumb) should be preparing immediately after your a finger plucks. It shouldnât âtake its timeâ to get there. Of course, this is in effort of becoming more efficient.the other practice strategy I would recommend is to set your metronome to finger subdivisions and to make sure youâre perfect with the click every single time. Training this will help in all other areas of your playing as well.
thanks for the video and keep up the solid work!
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Evan Taucher
thanks Evan great advice!
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Hello Evan and Group 2.
Here is my attempt on exercise 2. This is just the basic exercise without accenting. I am working to control my right-hand pinkie which tended to stick out whenever I used my 'a' finger. After some practice, this is getting better, but still very noticeable. I'll beginning to work on the accenting, and will post if I made enough progress.
Vincent
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Vincent Tam Vicent, big progress on the preparation as well as the rhythmic precision from last week. Big props - this is the way! Keep up the good work, and your pinky is looking great. Your fingers are looking quick and efficient! Great job. Keep up the great work and move the tempo faster at a slow rate!
Good eye regarding the pinky. All of our bodies show the evidence of tension one way or another and the pinky on the RH is one of the first places it usually manifests, so itâs good to watch out. Ironically, watching too intensely for tension can also cause tension, so trust yourself and pick your times (often times itâs the start of the practice session) to focus on this.
best wishes and thanks for the great work.
evan
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Hello Even and Group 2
Here is my video for the Week 2 exercises.
I have also included the first 8 measures of Phillip Houghton's piece KINKACHOO, I LOVE YOU. I just started working on it this week with the goal of including it as one of the pieces I want to play in a local Open Mic session in January. It is all arpeggios. I would appreciate any basic observations, especially regarding the "a" finger.
This intensive session couldn't have come at a better time for me, given specific repertoire I am learning.
Thank you.
Martha Kreipke, St. Louis, MO
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Martha Kreipke Martha, congrats on your progress. Your hand is looking great. Thatâs a nice piece - how perfect is it to be working on arpeggios with such an arpeggios heavy piece!
one thing Iâd suggest to examine and work on for the future. Letâs take the pmimamim arpeggios as an example.
âąwhen you pluck the 2nd m in this example, youâre âaâ finger is doing what I call a âdouble actionâ. That is, your âaâ finger is coming along with your m when it plucks, then, right after m has plucked your a finger has to come from a âtuckedâ position to âshooting back outâ to prepare on the 1st string. What Iâd encourage you to try instead is when you m finger plucks, allow your a to just âfallâ onto the 1st string immediately after the pluck. This way itâs more efficient and itâs one action rather than two. Let me know if that makes sense. Itâs applicable to other patterns too, which I imagine youâll see once you try this.
let me know how it works out, and congratulations!
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The beginning of this video is the Arpeggio section of VL Prelude No.4 . I was trying to play the correct notes but also concentrate on the sequential planting. Not as easy as expected.
Next are the exercises from WK. 2 of the three patterns for sequential planting using a C major chord. I turned on the metronome, but lost concentration of tempo at times while focusing on the planting sequences. Please let me know your comments.
Also, on VL Etude 11's Arpeggios section, what type of of RH planting would you use in performance?
Thanks!!!
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Barney Barney, first, congrats on your progress. Your preparation and rhythmic precision is getting much better!
Two quick suggestions as you continue to practice:
1) when practicing HBL prelude 4, make sure to use the metronome 99% of the time, set to 16th bit subdivision. The rhythmic work should continue here to even out those arpeggios.
2) when you review your video, notice how your âaâ finger kind of âreachesâ for the 1st string. Sometimes even, your right hand tilts towards the guitar on the right hand side (from your perspective, not the videoâs) in order to reach the string. What Iâd suggest atleast trying is - moving your entire right hand a little more over the strings so your a finger doesnât have to reach as far.
^whenever I suggest this to a student, they always make a HUGE adjustment at first. Remember, little adjustments at a time. Weâre talking a few millimeters. I think youâll notice a positive change with your hand overall.cheers and congrats on the work!
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Evan Taucher Thanks Evan! Your advice is very helpful. It was great working with you, and hope to see you again soon!
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Sorry, question about the RH thumb. Typically the thumb would be used as an "anchor" on a string for support. During these sequential planting movements, should the thumb hang freely when it is not about to start playing? Support?
Thanks!
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Barney Barney, correct- anchoring the thumb isnât a bad thing typically. But in this exercise, we are preparing the thumb only after the previous finger plucks. This is in order to complete the cycle of preparation.
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Evan Taucher Got it, thanks!
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It sounds ironic, but the relaxation exercises were some of the toughest I've ever done...too much time in between notes, lol. The second video is the Giuliani etude played with no accents, just trying for even notes and sequential planting. Any feedback is appreciated.
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Steve Price Steve, your first video , the relaxing is looking so much better!! Keep up with this work, it will be rewarding over time, as evidenced by your video here!
in the second video, try keeping it slow and make sure to prepare every finger, especially your p finger! From the video itâs normally âswingingâ at the string. Make sure to set it down immediately after i plays during the descending part of the arpeggio.
congratulations on the amazing work!
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Evan Taucher Hi Evan, I just noticed you did not respond to my question above on HVL #11:
"Also, on VL Etude 11's Arpeggios section, what type of of RH planting would you use in performance?"
Would appreciate your guidance on this one. thanks!
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Barney Hey Barney, sorry I missed that! In performance of that section, there would be almost no planting, maybe besides the p finger.
However, when practicing it, I would practice sequentially preparation as well as full preparation. That's a tricky spot!
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Evan Taucher Understood. Thanks Evan!!!
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here's my attempt at exercise2
Vilio
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Thanks to everybody for your active participation! I happily forward a message from Evan to all of you!
Hi all,
It was incredible to work with each of you the past few weeks. Your progress, determination, and inquisitiveness inspired me!
Thanks for all of your efforts, and itâs been great getting to know you. Please keep in touch if thereâs anything you need - www.evantaucher.com
Best wishes, and I hope to see you soon!
Evan
Best wishes and get ready for our next TWI with TY!
arpeggio 2
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
