WEEK ONE Updates: Main Thread - Where the magic happens!
Hello and welcome to the WEEK ONE Main Thread for this challenge! 
Since Week 1 is over, this thread is now closed for update submissions
Feel free to continue replying to people's existing submissions, but if you would like to post an update, use the current Week 2 thread.
Alright my friends - this is the thread where we'll all be posting our daily updates.
Make sure you've read the rules before replying (<- click)
Twice a week between January 28th and February 19th, I hope to be reading your daily updates in this very thread right here!
Download the music:
- Exercises 1 - 12 (← click)
- Exercises 13 - 24 (← click)
Please use the following format when commenting (feel free to copy & paste!):
- Etude you worked on:
- One thing you found easy:
- One thing you found difficult:
- (Optional): a video of you performing it!
Sample daily update:
- Etude you worked on: No. 1
- One thing you found easy: The polyphony between bass and treble flowed very naturally, I had an easy time playing each line like it belonged to its own voice.
- One thing you found difficult: I had a hard time creating enough variety throughout the repeated measures.
Feel free to make these updates as short or long as you wish!
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Worked on No. 6
1 easy thing: The rhythmic aspect of this piece is catchy and easy to grasp
1 difficult thing: Chord at beat 2 of measure 6; hard to keep smooth here.
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David welcome to the challenge, David! Congratulations on joining and keeping up the practice!
I went and checked that chord in the score and you are absolutely right! That is an unusual chord to play, and it can be difficult to reach with 1, 2, and 3 all in different frets and on faraway strings.
One thing I might suggest you try is to make sure that the 2 (middle finger) from the C# right before (first chord in the same bar) doesn't leave the second string before reaching the chord in question.
Try to use 2 as a guide finger, sliding it from that C# to the D! It might simplify the work the other fingers need to perform to get to their correct places. Let me know if this helps at all!
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Mircea I have trouble with that measure as well, but it's not the chord on beat two that trips me up (I do take the guide finger approach you suggest) but rather the following passing chord, on the off-beat. No finger can really be prepared here, although the pinky can perhaps be made ready to take its place on the second string E. But index and middle fingers have to be ready to leap! I find it very difficult to play this passage smoothly, but the melody really demands it. The voicing I think is typical of Sor, and while very logical in its movement, is not entirely 'guitar-friendly'. (On a keyboard it would be easy.)
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I worked on no 2 and 3 today. Not had a lot of time but I recorded no 2. I struggled in parts as you can see. Tried to do it better but will have to keep practising this one!
Easy: First section
Hard: The bit with the F# ornament leading to the G major on the top 3 strings then if I managed to get it half right I was so surprised I messed up the next bit!
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Derek Very well
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Derek Great job, Derek! I love how you were able to sight read and record at the same time - that takes some serious coordination! I see you have control over where your left-hand fingers need to go at the same time as reading off the score - I was quite impressed! Great job with the F# ornament! You did get it right
(it happens to me a lot too, by the way, that I go through a hard passage without a hitch, but then mess up as soon as I'm done with the hard part!) -
Derek nice sounding and clean. I like your guitar too!
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David Chidsey Hi David. Just seen this - thank you. The guitar is a Raimundo. Made in Valencia
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I've been reading through No. 13 today and decided to go ahead and post a video. The arpeggio "Alberti bass" pattern is fairly comfortable though the challenge is to dynamically balance that pattern underneath the melodic line.
Finger placement in measures 3 & 11 require a bit of preparation in order to avoid buzz or squeaks when using Segovia's fingering which I've chosen to do here.
Getting the bar chords clean at measures 27 and 29 are also spots that need more isolated and intentional slow practice. Such a lovely study - I should have learned this years ago!
Rick
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Rick Bravo!!
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Rick Very nice!
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Rick great job, Rick!!! Welcome to the challenge and thank you for sharing your video with us! I particularly enjoyed the swell happening around 00:34 (sorry, I don't have the score in front of me right now to tell you the bar number.) It was so effective how you increased the dramatic tension in all voices, rather than just in the melody. I see what you mean about the fingering being prone to squeaking (you're doing a very good job at not letting them happen), but I think this was actually a very good choice in this case. Congratulations and keep it up! Hope to see you around this forum throughout the challenge!
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Rick very nice Rick! I recognized it as soon as you started playing it. I played it years ago but had forgotten. It’s a very nice piece and I’ll definitely revisit it this time around!
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Rick Nicely played Rick
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Rick Nice! Bravo!
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Giuseppe Gasparini Thanks Giuseppe. Enjoyed your work on No.2
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david robinson Thanks for listening David.
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Mircea Thanks for the encouragement Mircea. Will keep at it!
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Debbie Thank you . I hope you will try this one again.
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Derek Thank you Derek.
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Marek Tabisz Thanks Marek.
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Rick really beautiful! The tempo is perfect. Your sound is lovely. It’s professional quality
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David Chidsey many thanks David.
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Rick Excellent Rick. I must have a go at this one it's really beautiful - well done!
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Rick Good to see you here! Please keep posting. I always learn when I listen and watch you play.
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Ron Thanks Ron. It is a lovely study so yes, have a go!
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End of the Year Challenge: Finish Strong!
