Category: Blog

  • Good Things Take Time

    I just realized it’s been over a year since I wrote my last post. Perhaps you can relate to this situation: you miss a deadline and feel bad about it, then you miss another one, and before you know it, you start to forget about it—or rather, repress it. It’s funny because I genuinely enjoy writing these posts and reading and responding to the replies.

    Anyway, I promise to do better in the future! 😀

    ​As a little gift, I’ve transcribed the third movement, Allegro, of Antonio Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in Bb major RV 381 for you. Written around 1710, it’s a lovely piece in 12/8, played mainly in the first and third positions.

    Download the PDF with the score in standard notation and tablature, along with the MIDI-generated audio files, here:
    ​https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bJkc4T7hDDq3TxiKCpy0hFI3IrY2TkPf/view?usp=sharing​


    Over the past year, I have been busy writing my new book on how to understand rhythm on guitar through vocalizing. The writing is done, the cover and artwork are in the works, and I’m almost finished recording all 481 audio examples.

    If the stars align and everything goes smoothly, I hope to publish it by the end of this month!

    Happy practicing!

  • Happy Easter

    Spring’s in full swing, and this morning, I even found a chocolate bunny in my garden.

    This time, I have a nice little musical piece to share with you.

    It’s one of Niccolo Paganini’s 43 Ghiribizzi (also known as fantasies) for guitar.

    Niccolo Paganini (1782-1840) was not only a famous virtuoso violinist but also ano utstanding guitarist and composer of numerous works for guitar.

    ​You can download the PDF with the score in standard notation and tablature, along with the MIDI-generated audio files, from the link below:
    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xmXan7wvJBaxVpMuwZykZodmDxEvF6cA/view?usp=sharing

    Happy practicing!

  • How to practice effectively

    How to practice effectively

    Through practice, we can improve and perfect any movement, whether it’s walking, cycling, crocheting, tennis, or playing an instrument.

    But how does it actually work?

    In the wonderful TED-Ed video “How to practice effectively… for just about anyting” Annie Bosler and Don Greene illustrate the principles of effective practicing. We learn about the plasticity of the brain* and how myelin builds our neural pathways into super-efficient data highways.

    *) Neuronal plasticity is the ability of synapses, nerve cells or even entire brain areas to change their anatomy and function in order to optimize ongoing processes. Depending on the system in question, this is called synaptic plasticity or cortical plasticity, for example.

    They describe how to practice effectively and how to “master” a movement through thousands of conscious, slow, and controlled repetitions.

    Mastering any physical skill takes practice. Practice is the repetition of an action with the goal of improvement, and it helps us perform with more ease, speed, and confidence.

    Have fun upgrading your brain!

  • Fresh from the press: Mauro Giuliani‘s Study for the Guitar: Studio per la Chitarra, Op.1 – In Standard Notation and Tablature

    Fresh from the press: Mauro Giuliani‘s Study for the Guitar: Studio per la Chitarra, Op.1 – In Standard Notation and Tablature

    I’ve just published my new book “Mauro Giuliani‘s Study for the Guitar: Studio per la Chitarra, Op.1 – In Standard Notation and Tablature”.

    Mauro Giuliani (1781 – 1829) was an Italian guitarist and composer. In his youth, he studied guitar, violoncello, and flute; however, he devoted himself exclusively to playing the guitar over time. Giuliani became one of the most renowned guitar virtuosos of the 19th century, known for his artistic temperament that always impressed and excited his audiences.

    Mauro Giuliani composed over 200 works for guitar and is considered the „Mozart of the guitar“. He also changed the notation: Giuliani was one of the first guitar composers to use polyphonic notation for the instrument, in which the parts are distinguished by the direction of the stems of the notes.

    Giuliani, unlike other first-generation classical guitarists, did not publish a method. Nonetheless, he left behind a vast collection of studies and exercises that are still utilized in guitarists‘ practice today.

    Op.1 Study for the Guitar – Studio per la Chitarra includes:

    • 120 Exercises for the Right Hand
    • 16 Exercises for the Left Hand
    • Techniques and Embellishments
    • 12 Progressive Lessons

    ​Get your copy of “Mauro Giuliani‘s Study for the Guitar: Studio per la Chitarra, Op.1 – In Standard Notation and Tablature” in the Amazon shop of your preference:
    Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/3950550208
    Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/3950550208
    Amazon Deutschland: https://www.amazon.de/dp/3950550208
    Amazon France: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/3950550208
    Amazon Espana: https://www.amazon.es/dp/3950550208
    Amazon Italia: https://www.amazon.it/dp/3950550208
    Amazon Nederland: https://www.amazon.nl/dp/3950550208
    Amazon Polska: https://www.amazon.pl/dp/3950550208
    Amazon Sverige: https://www.amazon.se/dp/3950550208
    Amazon Japan: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/3950550208
    Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/3950550208​
    Amazon Australia: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/3950550208

    ​As always, MIDI-generated audio files of all pieces are included for download.

    Enjoy!