We’re thrilled to introduce our upcoming Two-Week Intensive (TWI): "Avoiding Exponential Left-Hand Tension" with guitarist Arturo Castro Nogueras! This interactive, online course is designed to help you identify and manage left-hand tension, equipping you with techniques that will elevate your playing to the next level. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned player, this TWI is packed with valuable insights and exercises tailored for all skill levels.

Sign-Up: October 1st - October 6th

Course Dates: October 7th - October 18th

Where: Our community forum

What You'll Learn Over These Two Weeks:

• How to Spot Tension Build-Up: Learn how to recognize early signs of left-hand tension and how to relax your hand before it impacts your playing. Arturo will provide practical advice on maintaining a relaxed approach to your technique.
• Exercises for Continuous and Active Relaxation: We’ll explore specific exercises that promote ongoing relaxation, helping you stay mindful of your hand positioning and tension levels during your practice sessions.
• Mastering "Position Zero": Discover the concept of "position zero" and how to use this foundational technique to keep your left hand relaxed, improving your overall control and sound quality.

How to Participate:

• Join the course discussions on our community forum.
• Watch Arturo’s video assignments, and share your progress.
• Receive feedback directly from Arturo Castro Nogueras throughout the two-week journey!

Ready to relieve tension and unlock smoother playing? Mark your calendars and get ready to dive into this intensive learning experience. See you on the forum!

Assignments

Hello everyone!

It's great to be back with a new TWI. This time we are going to focus on left-hand relaxation!

Exercises:

1. Observe your relaxed hand. Play simple notes or chords and in between always consciously relax your hand. This first part of observing your relaxation will be very important for our next exercises. 

2. Record a couple of bars of a simple piece you are practicing right now, returning to "position zero" in between of every position change. 

Looking forward to your questions and comments!

Exercises for the second video:

1. Identify the structural sequence to design a practice pattern

2. Practice the three steps to change between positions. (relax - prepare - play)

The music examples are in the comments.  Looking forward to hearing from you!

Exercises for the third video:

1. Practice the first line of Estudios Sencillos No. 2 and apply the 3-step system for relaxing (relax - prepare - play)

2. Count five seconds between each step so you take time to feel your hands and observe the process.

I'll post the excerpt of the etude on the comments.

(Sorry if the video is a bit longer than usual, I got exited with the subject. Pinky promise that the next one will be shorter :)