WEEK ONE: Uncharted Territory!
Welcome to the Main Thread for the first week of the Sergio Assad Community Challenge, starting to discover this wonderfully intriguing set of etudes!
- Make sure you've read the guidelines before replying (← click)
- Watch the Kick-Off-Livestream on July 16th to get an overview!
- Download the scores for Assad's 10 Sketches here (← click)
If you want to describe your process (optional), feel free to use the following template.
- Things you found easy:
- Things you found difficult:
- (Optional): a video of you performing the Sketch!
- (Optional:) questions
↓ Reply below with your assignments and questions! ↓
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Hello everyone!
I decided to dive right in at Sketch IV. When I heard Martin say it was like Stairway to Heaven, I had to play it! Growing up, Jimmy Page was like a god to me.
Things I found easy: Eating ice cream
(just kidding, I did not actually eat any) Things I found difficult: Taking care on some of the fingerings; damping open strings when necessary; I played around with the improvisation, but I found everything I did to be terribly boring or just weird sounding, so I decided to spare you all of listening to me do it.
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Eric Phillips Bravo!!!
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Giuseppe Gasparini Thank you, Giuseppe.
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Eric Phillips Eric!!! Right on, what a start! Thank you for your submission of Sketch No.4!!! Did you also get the Led Zeppelin Vibes with this one?
Looking forward to more of your submission, if you want to cover all of them during the Challenge Period, we'll need to cover approx. 3,3 per week 
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Martin Thanks, Martin. The chromatic descending bass line in A minor is a dead giveaway.
I’m not sure if the later sketches are within my technical capabilities. I was thinking of maybe using this challenge to really focus on a few techniques posed by some of the sketches and maybe going for quality over quantity. Besides, I’ve heard Sergio Assad is not looking for a housekeeper like Tarrega was!
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Eric Phillips Yes, it's so much fun to play!
Very nice, keep us up to date, your submissions are always inspiring to see and hear!
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Eric Phillips Eric that's beautiful - well done!
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Ron Thanks, Ron!
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Eric Phillips Nice!
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Peter Thanks, Peter.
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Eric Phillips wow you were fast at posting your first one... and the fourth one... great start!
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Eric Phillips Bravo
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Vilio Celli Thank you, Vilio.
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Very nice Eric!
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Paul Kennedy Thanks, Paul.
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Hello everybody, I gave the first Sketch a try and - Spoiler alert - failed miserably in the 4th section of the 1st Sketch, but I'll continue working on that one!
- Things you found easy: Shaping and phrasing the line as the Simple Notes can't hide their harmonic direction!
- Things you found difficult: Adding the brazilian flavour the the 4th part and especially performing it! While the first 3 sections are repetitive and the way their patterns are built, the 4th really needs attention for fingering in order not to stumble! A wolf in sheep's clothing!
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Martin Really well done, Martin! Great shaping of the melody. Your musicianship shines through even on this simple melody.
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Martin I agree with Eric - the phrasing is exquisite - thanks for sharing!
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Ron Eric Phillips Thank you guys! Excited to dive deeper, especially into the last part of the first Sketch!
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Martin Good!
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Martin Martin
I am having trouble with that one too. Nevertheless, I found this Assad’s short pieces amazing. Even if I am not able to play them well (working now on Etude 2) they are quite beautiful and appelative.
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Martin great to hear the music you're doing with simple lines :)
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Martin Beautiful! Really nice work. Inspiring!
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Steve Pederson thank you, I‘ll dig deeper from Sunday on, had a busy schedule but finally will explore more of these fantastic compositions and of course all of your submissions!
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Blaise Laflamme thanks you!!!
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
