Group 2

Rhythm and Rubato - Improving Your Interpretation Of Latin Dances

Immerse yourself in the vibrant and rhythmic world of Latin American dances with our two-week intensive course, “Rhythm and Rubato”. This course is a deep exploration into the rich musical heritage of Latin America, focusing on authentic interpretation and rhythmic structure of emblematic pieces like Heitor Villa-Lobos’s Choro 1, Antonio Lauro’s Carora, and Cardoso’s Milonga.

Core Concepts:

  • Rhythm and Rubato: Delve into the essential techniques of employing rhythm and rubato, learning where to take time and where to maintain a straightforward tempo.
  • Understanding Rhythmic Structure: Gain insights into the intrinsic rhythmic structures that define Latin American dances, enabling you to render performances that resonate with authenticity and vitality.
  • Addressing Technical Challenges: Overcome typical technical hurdles such as mastering arpeggios with ami and thumb, negotiating chord changes, and more.

Hands-on Learning:

Participants are encouraged to bring their own repertoire to the course, allowing for a collaborative learning environment where individual pieces are analyzed for their rhythm and interpretability. The course will guide participants through the process of identifying where to take time in their pieces, ensuring a broader applicability of the skills acquired.

Who Should Attend:

This course is tailored for classical guitarists who are eager to refine their interpretative skills, enhance their understanding of rhythm, and delve deeper into the beauty of Latin American music. Whether you’re a seasoned performer or an enthusiastic beginner, this intensive course will enhance your musicality and broaden your interpretive horizons.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, participants will have a nuanced understanding of rhythm and rubato, allowing them to bring out the authentic essence of Latin American dances in their performances. They will also have honed their technical skills to navigate through typical challenges encountered in playing such pieces.

Join Us:

Embark on this musical journey and immerse yourself in the rhythms and expressions of Latin American dances. This course promises a transformative learning experience, offering a rich blend of theoretical knowledge and practical skills, all aimed at unlocking the true potential of every classical guitarist.

Timeline:

  • Sign-Up: October 13th - 15th
  • Course Period: October 16th - 27th
  • Optional check-In via Zoom: tba

 

Assignments

 

PART 2 ''Milonga'' by Jorge Cardoso

 

Practice assignment:

1. Try the rhythm with open strings concentration on the beat from the metronome.

2. Play the first couple of bars (first three or four chords is enough).

 

Part 3: Carora (vals Venezolano) by Antonio Lauro

 

Assignment:

1. Try to play the cuatro's rhythm very slowly, by strumming in a down and up motion six 8th-notes damping 8th-note number 3 and 6 (1 2 X 4 5 X). Don't forget it is a vals and has a 3/4 measure.

 

2. If you play this piece or any other Venezuelan vals you can post it, if not, you can try the first couple of bars.

 

Have fun!

 

 

Part 4: Choro No.1 by Heitor Villa-Lobos

 

Assignment:

Try to play the basic rhythm as explained in the video and if you can, add some percussion from this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYWXrkYTLOE

 

Have fun!

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  • Hello. I’m a putting a link for Milonga that I recorded this morning. Hope you enjoy - feed back welcome- I know I’m squeaky and some wrong notes. 

    I’ll have a go on the assignments too. 
    🙏 

    https://youtu.be/8tZoHA3Sp0Y?si=5mnuN_2DNodyz5v-

     

    Like 1
    • Jaime Zaldua  I'm very happy to read that! Let me know if you have more questions or comments.

      Like
    • Moyses Lopes
    • Classical Guitarist and Electroacoustic Interpreter
    • Moses
    • 11 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    That's my first recording of Milonga. It needs some polish, of course. Thank you, Arturo, for the class at Zoom today. I would like to draw your attention to the ornament mentioned by Khiem in Zoom Class. I guess I'm doing a bit different, maybe in the Atahualpa Yupanqui style. Thank you!

    Like 2
    • Moyses Lopes This is really good! Thanks for sharing.

      I like this version of the ornaments too, works just fine. As an exercise I would try to play the left hand by it self and listen to the strength you are using for the beginning of each bar. And then practice the chord change only. Once you've done that try to get the same feeling of relaxation so it feels more fluent. What do you think?

      Like 1
      • Moyses Lopes
      • Classical Guitarist and Electroacoustic Interpreter
      • Moses
      • 11 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Arturo Castro Nogueras I'll give it a go, thanks for the advice. Maybe I'm emphasizing too much the basic rhythm (|..|..|.) and losing the fluidity of tempo. Thanks again!

      Like 1
    • Moyses Lopes this is completely normal :D once you have the feel for it (which I think you already have) it becomes easier

      Like 1
      • Moyses Lopes
      • Classical Guitarist and Electroacoustic Interpreter
      • Moses
      • 11 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      Arturo Castro Nogueras Needs time to mature, but for this TWI I guess that's what I can do. Thank you again, Arturo!

      Like
  • I am trying to learn Milonga by Jorge Cardoso and I am having difficulty executing the slides accurately and quickly, and deciding on the fingering for the chords at measures 24-25 and 28-29. Do you have suggestions on how to execute these parts?

    Like 1
    • Takato Umeda Thank you for your comment. I perfectly understand. The good thing about fingerings is that it has to be ''user friendly'' whatever works for you and for your hands. Can you show me what have you done so far or what are you thinking of using? You can record it super slow, I just want to have a look at your hands and we can go from there tomorrow. What do you think?

      Like
    •  Also, which version of the sheet music are you using?

      Like
    • Arturo Castro Nogueras 

       

      Hi Arturo

      Thank you for your suggestion. Sorry that it has taken me this long to reply, but it was my first time trying to record myself and post on YouTube.  Anyway, here is the link: https://youtu.be/T4OKtxJLWp0.

      I am surprised by what the video shows: 1. I am often searching for the correct finger position to fret the strings, 2. My rhythm is different from what I perceive it to be when I am playing, and 3. My fingers seem to form some chords slowly.  Recording videos of myself playing is a great way of uncovering problems that I am not aware of when I am playing.

      Memorizing the piece so I can look at the fretboard would be helpful, but I always have difficulty remembering music.

      Any advice you can provide would be appreciated.

      Like 1
  • Hi thank you Arturo for the comments on my Villa Lobos vid. I implemented them and working on what we talked about and I think it's a step in the right direction. I would like to re-record it and share but I have a little one at home and do not have the time to make another vid but I would like to post my version of Barrios for you all to enjoy. I think it sounds quite nice so I hope you like it! 

    Like
  • I had to redo last vid and take it down due to some weird dimensions on it. Here is the final version. Thanks Ienkoyed the group. Lets do it again some time :)

    Like 2
    • David Trevors fantastic! Let me know if I can help you with anything else. 

      Like 1
      • Moyses Lopes
      • Classical Guitarist and Electroacoustic Interpreter
      • Moses
      • 11 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      David Trevors Great! Bravíssimo!

      Like
  • Hola Arturo..

    Thanks so much for your help with the Milonga. By using the metronome and re imagining the melody’s - your advise has been a game changer!
    I’m hearing and feeling it differently and actually enjoying playing it more and more. 

    I made a sketchy video today on my phone, there were lots of distractions so it was good focus training (boiler man came in during repeat) I hope it conveys some development anyway.🙏

     

    https://youtu.be/2CKzSgXey6I?si=UTYqihByDixJS6yz

     

    Like 1
    • Moyses Lopes
    • Classical Guitarist and Electroacoustic Interpreter
    • Moses
    • 11 mths ago
    • Reported - view

    Arturo Castro Nogueras Bravo, maestro! Your video about Choros No. 1 is really inspiring, thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings with us. Talking about popular music, I did a small exercise, trying to get attention to the rhythmic accompaniment of choro. The way you explain in this video is perfect!

    Like
      • Moyses Lopes
      • Classical Guitarist and Electroacoustic Interpreter
      • Moses
      • 11 mths ago
      • Reported - view

      My recording (solo) of the first part of Choros 1, I owe you the other two parts...

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