Borbála Seres: Quick Tips to Improve your Technique and Musical Expression!

Rob Sanford Hello Rob, I would say it depends on the level. Could you please tell me which level do you mean? 

Steve Price 

It’s a very good, but very difficult question. I try to answer it entirely. So first I always try to figure out what the notes are telling me, so I play them over and over, where is tension where is release and I already have a musical basic character like if it's sad, positive or playful etc., but I don’t have the exact characters yet. Then I put the articulation fit to this basic character and at the same time I’m writing the good fingering which helps to express this musical idea the best way. Then I figure out exactly what could be the exact character, story, feeling, mood, it's also changing mostly in the pieces, to help to make the music more lively. And when I have these ideas, then I try out with different tools, how I could make these ideas the most alive, and put all the aspects like volume, tonecolour, tempo, breathing etc., which will be able to express them the best way. Then comes actually the learning process. And also if some better ideas come up during the learning process, I can decide to change it afterwards. As I mentioned, you can use the musical imagery to play with the musical material and try out, or listen to different versions in your mind, and pick the right one for your idea. So this is the way, how I use to learn pieces.   I hope, you got your answer! If you still would have any question, just send it to me!

Borbala Seres Thank you for the reply. I appreciate it. Since your first lesson, a benefit I've noticed with this kind of musical thinking is that it keeps simpler pieces interesting. Pretty much every amateur I know, myself included, spends most of their time playing music above their grade. This approach helps me push myself musically instead of just technically so even the most basic studies can take on a life.

I'd love to see more lessons from you about the mental aspects of guitar like repertoire selection, developing realistic musical goals, etc. (hint hint martin )

Thanks again.

Steve Price You're completely right. In my opinion it's never bad to choose a piece, which is a bit above your grade, it's give you motivation and you will get better through them.
But to choose a piece much more difficult, what we could handle, can easily detract the attention from the joy of the music. And what should be the main purpose of playing an instrument, if this?

An easy piece with good musical ideas can be as joyful as playing very difficult pieces. Very good examples are Etudes Simple by Brouwer. If you handle them not as only etudes (technical material), but as performance pieces, they are incredible beautiful works.
(martin has probably gift as mind reader as well)