Leo Brouwer's Estudios Sencillios!
Welcome to our next Study Group — a collaborative, peer-led dive into a beautiful piece of music over the course of two weeks.
This time, we’re diving into the methodical riches of Brouwer’s Estudios Sencillos 1–10!
This is not a course or a class — it’s a space for mutual exploration, discussion, and shared progress. I’ll be learning the piece alongside you (again — it’s been a while!), and I’m excited to discover new things together.
What to expect:
Over the next two weeks, we’ll focus on:
Fingerings and technique- Methodical background
- Interpretation and expressive choices
- Your own questions and perspectives!
We’ll also meet for two live Zoom sessions to share progress, chat about challenges, and nerd out over all things Brouwer.
How to participate:
Sign up through the Forum
Grab your score of the Estudios Sencillos
Introduce yourself below!
Join the prompts and discussion
Share your thoughts, ideas, or a clip of your playing
Live Zoom Calls:
Dates: July 28th – August 8th
Sign-Up
-
I'm joining!
-
Blaise Laflamme Yay!!
-
Martin Are you aware of any digital version of these studies available in PDF (not a scan) that we can buy?
-
Blaise Laflamme Hm, I don't know tbh. They are available on nkoda, a subscription service for musical scores. Might be a good idea to write Brouwer's publishing house directly: https://www.eeebrouwer.com/en
-
Martin Ok thanks, and on nkoda, are they a scan of the printed edition (that I both already own) or a real digital version (that's what I'm looking for)?
-
Martin just took a look... it's a scan of the printed edition
-
Blaise Laflamme I typed up one or two in musescore. Can i share it here? What format, if so?
-
David Cool... you can share the link, it's not the file! And I did a quick search there and found all 10 together, and using mxl I'd be able to import to Dorico.
-
-
I'm in!
-
Ron Fantastic!!
-
-
I'm in. This is great.
-
I will join too !
-
Me too!
-
Study Group 999 It's great to see so many of us excited about Leo Brouwer's Estudios Sencillios! They really offer a wonderful opportunity to explore guitar techniques and deepen our understanding of expression. If anyone has tips on which studies are particularly challenging or rewarding, feel free to share! Let's keep the enthusiasm going!
-
I've played 1 and 6, but would like to explore others.
-
I've joined. Does this include the new ones or just the original 20 :-)
-
Brilliant. I’m in.
-
I won't be able to participate in this one, I will be in Peru for the first 2 weeks of August. I hope I can follow everyone's progress during the trip.
-
Maybe I can do 1-4 and 5-6 may be a stretch at my level. 7-10 could be beyond my levels. martin Would that be okay to join this study group. I assess to level 4/5 in the original level system of TB. If so I will join.
-
Great! I’m joining too
-
Would I be absolutely terrible if I told you good folks that Estudios 1-12 is on MuseScore here:
https://musescore.com/user/20550446/scores/6218261
I already bought the Complete Studies book, so this is an added bonus.
Martin, if my post is verboten, then please feel free to let me know and delete it.-
Marc Adler I also got this one, works better on the iPad.
-
-
So far, I've learned 1,2,3,4 and 6 and the opening bars of 5. The studies are absolutely fantastic, easier than the Villa Lobos etudes, obviously.
My favourites are 2, 4 and 6. The 2nd etude has helped me in opposing finger movements of the LH and also balance in the RH strokes.
The 6th is an absolute must for everyone, I feel. This etude plus the 1st Villa Lobos etude has done wonders for my arpeggios. I practice the 6th almost everyday. It's really good for descending arpeggios (PAMI movement). I think practicing this can also help in one's tremolo as the PAMI movement is the same as the usual RH tremolo pattern.
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
