Week 3: Melodic Meanderings!
Welcome to the Main Thread for the third week of "Etude Extravaganza" practice challenge!
- Choose an etude from a composer that captures your interest. It could be a soothing Sor etude, a technical Giuliani masterpiece, a Carcassi finger exercise, a harmonically rich Brouwer composition, or a rhythmically challenging Villa-Lobos piece. You're encouraged to experiment with pieces from composers you're not accustomed to or push your boundaries with a technically demanding work.
- Commit to regular practice and share your journey with the community. Aim to practice daily and upload at least two videos per week to showcase your progress. This will not only aid in keeping you dedicated and motivated but also enables you to share your musical journey with our tonebase family.
- Share your favorite etude or recording that epitomizes the concept of "Etude Extravaganza." Your submission will serve as inspiration for others and construct a vibrant repertoire of potential pieces for fellow members to explore.
↓ Happy Sharing! ↓
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The popular VL Etude #1 is always fun and a nice arpeggios practice.
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Barney Excellent, Barney. I noticed how you cleverly got up to the fifth position before the A minor barre chord. Did you come up with that yourself?
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Eric Phillips martin Thanks Eric! I believe Martin showed us that little trick in one of the live streams...
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Barney Nice arpeggio! If I may, one suggestion which Carlevaro taught was to vary the timbre and/or dynamics when repeating the arpeggios, i.e., play the first dolce and the second metallic or the first forte and the second piano.
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Dale Needles Good idea Dale. I will try to implement that into the Etude. Thanks!!
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Barney That’s such a great arpeggio workout! Nicely done!
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Marilyn Blodget Thanks Marilyn! I agree, #1 is great...
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Barney Eric Phillips Hehehe, that is a clever one, my former teacher Augustin Wiedemann (that was before I moved to Düsseldorf to study with Joaquin Clerch) showed that to me, he supposedly got it from Eliot Fisk!
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Barney nic3 Barbey. It’s always great to hear this one played clean and musical.lly
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joosje Thanks Joosje!
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Barney that was great Barney, you have a great control over the arpeggio pattern and it sounds solid! While I don't do the trick Eric mentioned about the Am I do the same than you for bar 24 for the ascendant arpeggio before the semitone descent.
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Blaise Laflamme Thanks Blaise! I figured if I'm going to do this thing, might as well try both little tricks to smooth out those passages...
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Barney also a tricky thing at speed is to change the pattern for a few beats, or a bar!
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Blaise Laflamme Yes. I agree Blaise. Need to remember to concentrate more in those spots.
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Barney Great play Barney, thanks for sharing
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Andre Bernier Thanks Andre!
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Barney awesome! This is sounding great!
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don Thanks Don!
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Barney “Mad props” as the kids are saying Barney! Respect. This is a beast of a piece and you nailed it!
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Steve Pederson Thanks Steve!
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Sor – Selections from Opus 60
Of all of Sor’s sets of studies, perhaps my favorite is opus 60. Not only are they the easiest to play (which does not mean that they are easy), but I really enjoy them musically as well. It was hard picking my favorites, but for this video, I settled on the following:
- Number 6 – With great fear and trembling, I have changed many of Sor’s fingerings. It makes it harder, but I like the musical effects. Let me know what you think.
- Number 12 – I love the chromaticism and contrary motion in this one.
- Number 14 – It’s in a minor key, so it’s a nice change. I also really like the phrasing in this one.
- Number 16 – I don’t know exactly why, but this may be favorite of all of Sor’s studies. There is something very satisfying about playing it.
- Number 22 – Many people add slurs and glissandi to the melody line, but I prefer not to do that. The use of A# in the melody gives this one a unique flavor.
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Eric Phillips such pleasure to listen to this selection! Beautifully played, beautiful sound.
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Eric Phillips Very nice and beautiful performance of these Sor Estudios.
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Eric Phillips great selection of this Opus and nicely played. I think your fingerings for #8 sound pretty good, no worries about changing Sor's fingerings, I do that all the time
. I think my preferred one of the set is #19... looks like you have another one to play! 
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Blaise Laflamme Okay, I will not just meet your challenge, I will "one up" you. Here is number 19 and number 23.
Will I be hearing any Sor studies from you?
End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
