This is a great weekend for instrument lovers of all kinds. There are exhibitors showing their handmade instruments and performances all weekend, (including yours truly on a brand new Jeffrey Elliott instrument. (See sidebar under ‘Upcoming Events’ for my performance date and time.)
For more information please go to 2012 NW Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit
Please join me at Classical Millennium in celebration of Record Store Day this Saturday, April 21st from 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM at 3144 E. Burnside, Portland, OR 503-231-8909. I’ll be performing a short set from 2:30-3:00 PM.
Michael Parsons, manager at Classical Millennium
In-store performances, which are free and open to all.
2:30 – 3:00 – Scott Kritzer, classical guitar
Scott is easily the Northwest’s finest classical guitarist, and a Portland audience favorite. Please join us for his performance of works by J.S. Bach and Fernando Sor. Here is what New York Times critic Bernard Holland has to say about Scott, “…an intelligent and self-assured musician with a sure technique and a rare musical sensitivity.” Scott’s most recent CD release is called “Romance for Guitar.” Continue reading
David Tanenbaum
I’m excited to announce the next installment of my Fireside Chat series (via SKYPE) with guitarist David Tanenbaum. As a recording artist, concert artist, arranger and educator, David is one of the most important guitarists of the day.
His contribution to the guitar’s repertoire through commissions are unparalleled as evidenced by his recordings (over 25) featuring newly commissioned works by composers such as Steve Reich, Terry Riley, Hans Werner Henze, etc. Continue reading
As we prepare for the upcoming Kritzer Studio Recital and Classical Guitar Immersion I thought I would let you in on how I like to prepare for performances. I hope you find this blog helpful. Part of what will make this work is if you add your comments on some of the ideas that I’ll be throwing out there. So please go on this journey with me. And those participating in the upcoming Kritzer Studio Recital, (more on that in a few days) and/or Classical Guitar Immersion should find this helpful for your upcoming ‘moment on the stage’.
Kritzer Bros at Euphoria Studios
I hope to post every few days – I hope you’ll follow along and keep up….I know, you’re busy, so am I….
So let’s jump ahead. I’d like to ask you what you’d like to get out of your next performance, (and let’s say it’s a minimum of 8 weeks away, any shorter and I can only throw you a lifesaver, at best, and the closer the performance the smaller the flotation device). But let’s say you’ve just finished your performance, what could you realistically hope for? Go ahead. I’m looking forward to hearing your response! And if you could add one skill to that to your playing between now and your performance what would it be; vibrato? Clean slurs? Phrasing, (through dynamics and rhythm)? Left hand thumb placement? Tone? Accuracy, relaxation? Let me know that too – pick one! Continue reading
Performance anxiety affects nearly every performer, some learn to overcome it, others continue be subject to it’s affects. I suffered greatly from the affects of PA and finally found solutions that are simple and consistent.
PAR Workshop
Join me on Saturday, March 24th from 2:00-3:00 PDT for an informal open discussion on the topic. All instruments welcome! Have you experienced PA? Have you found any solutions that you’d like to share? Please join me then to discuss these issues and your experiences. (SKYPE attendees welcome.)
And if you’d like to work more on this issue then please consider attending my Performance Anxiety Rehab Workshopthis spring from April 7-May 19th, 2-4 PDT. For more information or registration please go to my Workshops and Master Classes page and see Performance Anxiety Rehab.
Michael Lorimer
Jeffrey Elliott and Cyndy Burton in the new Kritzer Studio
It was an exciting night – thanks everyone for your participation. It was a nice mix of students, friends, and fans! I welcomed everyone in the main area of the building, and shared some of the upcoming events.
Part of what made this evening special was the performance I was able to share with my first teacher, my brother Jack Kritzer. Beginning a week-long family visit was a nice way to share some exciting studio news and at the same time give my brother the nod he deserves for igniting my interest in the guitar, an interest that grew into an obsession and eventually a career. When I began my classical guitar lessons, Jack joined me, and for a year we’d drive and study together, working on the same technical exercises and assignments. Continue reading
One of the great benefits of Classical Guitar Immersion is the collective knowledge and experience that the participants add to the week-long event. In fact, it’s an integral part of the ‘immersion’ experience. This happens informally, with chats on the way to the dining hall, or at night by the fireside, or in our ’round tables’ where we discuss a particular subject.
One day Tom Page was telling me his thoughts on the effects of adrenaline on performance anxiety – which I found very revealing – so I asked him and Doug Campbell (an MD) to lead a discussion on the subject. Tom explained that his expertise was what he could garner from his wife (she does research on stress and immunity at Johns Hopkins University), and Doug shared that he’d retired from practicing medicine years ago, but that he had a brain iPhone app (funny guys, to boot.)
CGI Attendees
In our last installment, we discussed how to get more out of your practice time. Next, we’ll discuss how to get more out of your guitar lessons. While lessons can be expensive, they can also move your playing forward much more quickly than if you study on your own. This post will cover how to get more for your money. Also, I’ll briefly cover supplemental forms of study that the Kritzer Studio provides which will work as a substitute for those who can’t afford private lessons. Continue reading
Here’s a short interview of me from the Portland show Artclectic PDX with host Dennise M. Kowalczyk.
