Saturday, January 14th to February 18th, 2-4 pm
The serious classical guitarist who wishes to study, play, and ultimately perform, will find the need for a strong technical foundation. A strong technical foundation can be achieved when our hands are working with optimal strength and coordination, which is best achieved by adhering to bio-mechanical principles.
'I' in the flexed position, 'M' extended position. Illustration by David Kritzer
The benefits of playing with a good technique should be obvious: strong scales and arpeggios provide a basis for establishing strength and coordination, or what we call the primary skills. Another benefit of good technique results in the ability to perform our repertoire with fewer mistakes. Yet another advantage is longevity. While poor technique will cause more errors and require more effort than necessary, equally inhibiting can be the effect of the wear and tear resulting from improper technique, often shortening the careers of even the most talented of players.
Technique Class
This six-week course, available to remote (via SKYPE) and local students, is designed to impart this information in a small classroom setting. In addition to the personal instruction, students will get clear written instruction, technical exercises, and video instruction to take home! And at the end of the class you’ll get your own Practice Along with Scott video.
A Performance Component
The class format will be one hour of instruction followed by some social time and a 30-minute time slot for performing.
Players can get a chance to try out some new works, works-in-progress, or some new ideas on old works in a safe, comfortable environment. Those with more performing experience can also get a chance to play up 10 minutes of music.
Class Outline
• Week 1 – Principles of positioning and movement are explained. Sitting and right hand position are covered, as is the analysis of finger movement. One of the major primary movement forms, alternation, in its simple and complex forms, will be introduced.
Calm and Cool Charlie S.
• Week 2 – The second primary form, sympathetic motion, will be explained. String Crossing, a critical component in playing scales, will be covered.
• Week 3 – We’ll review all previous materials and add some simple scale forms that will allow us to explore left-hand technique, primarily left-hand thumb placement and shifting.
• Week 4 – Compound motion (abundant in the guitar’s repertoire), is the combination of sympathetic motion and alternation. These patterns (and their analyses) will be explained.
• Week 5 – As important as all the previous material is, mastering the guitar will require the tools for technical integration into our repertoire (called Right-Hand Mapping). You’ll be assigned excerpts from repertoire, given the ‘mapping’ for some, and asked to determine your own mapping in others.
• Week 6 – We’ll take this week to review the previous week’s material. We’ll also forecast your technical work for the next 3 months — a practice plan that includes a Practice Along with Scott video.
Class Particulars
The Scott Kritzer Technique Class is open to players of all levels and experience. It takes place on Saturday afternoons from 2:00-4:00 p.m., from Saturday, January 14th to February 18th 2012 at the Kritzer Studio, located at 1235 SE Division, Suite 102, in Portland, Oregon 97202.
Cost for the class is $195.00, and a non-refundable deposit of $75 will hold your spot. Full payment is due by December 17th. Class size is limited, so those who register after the class is full will be put on a waiting list. You can make a payment to my PayPal account or by sending a check to the address below.
Please feel free to leave a reply below or Contact me directly.
Scott Kritzer
1235 SE Division Street, Suite 102
Portland, Oregon 97202-1055
