GP Online Courses |
GP Online Courses & Downloads
*Stairway To Heaven: Note by Note
*Classical/FingerStyle Foundation Course
The Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar
The Path Level One: Chords & Rhythm
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Announcing "The GuitarPrinciples Classical/Fingerstyle Foundation Course"---ONLINE! |
New ONLINE Course Makes Great Classical/Fingerstyle Playing Possible For Everyone!
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Ray Dempsey is developing a strong fingerstyle technique from the GuitarPrinciples "Online Classical/Fingerstyle Course", as shown in his aggressive approach to "Moorish Dance".
This piece, as simple as it seems, causes most students (those not taking my course, that is!) to stumble and fumble. Ray plays it with assurance and relaxed technique. |
Richard Gordon has finished the GuitarPrinciples "Online Classical/Fingerstyle Course". Without ever having had a "guitar lesson", the results are astounding! Here is an mp3 of Richard playing one of the most difficult and musically appealing pieces contained in the textbook used for the course. Richard's recording is a testament to the diligence and excellent study habits he applied to this course. |
Hear Richard Gordon play "Allegro in Am" by Mauro Giuliani...
Imagine Learning At The Beginning What It Took Me A Lifetime To Learn!
I am overjoyed to announce to you the new course of study available at GuitarPrinciples, "The Classical/Fingerstyle Foundation Course". This course is unlike anything you have ever seen, or will see. It will train you, right from the beginning, in all the essential skills and knowledge that you need to become as much of a master of the classical or fingerstyle guitar as you wish to become, and work to become.
Using "Aaron Shearer's Classic Guitar Technique Vol. 1" as a basic textbook, I am giving you note by note guidance through every page, telling you the playing and practicing secrets that will make the difference between great playing and great struggle. And the best part is that all the concepts and techniques that you learn here will not just enable you to master what is in this book, you will use it for the rest of your life to go as far as you want on the Classical or Fingerstyle guitar.
Anyone, from beginner to advanced classical player, who wants to finally find out "how all the great players play the way they do!"
Anyone, beginner to advanced player, who wants to master the use of the right hand on the acoustic guitar.
Anyone who is simply curious as to what it is all about!
The course is divided into 6 Groups of lessons. Each group costs $29.95. Although this is the price of an average guitar lesson, what you will learn here is far superior to anything you will ever learn anywhere else!
What Kind Of Guitar Do I Need?
You can use either a classical, nylon string guitar, or a steel string acoustic. You can play with or without fingernails. Fingerpicks are not recommended.
Are There Any Pre-Requisites For Taking This Course?
Yes, you should be familiar with the basic concepts of how to practice as taught in "The Principles".
And, you should be able to, or well on your way to being able to:
Play all Walking Exercises from "The Principles" with perfect form, perfect rhythm, good volume and tone, up to 60 bpm in quarter notes, using index and middle rest stroke.
Play 4 and 6 note arpeggios with good form, and independent control of each finger-free stroke.
You must have a firm grasp of the Basic Practice Approach from "The Principles", as well as all the Understandings upon which it is based.
This is a Principled Approach to Aaron Shearer's book, and to classical/fingerstyle guitar. You will constanty be using everything taught in The Principles, as well as learning new concepts and approaches based on The Principles.
Course Outline
The 78 pages of this book are covered in 6 sections, or Groups. The 1st Group covers:
Reading your first notes.
Rest Stroke with Fingers In Combination with the Thumb.
Here is one of the pieces you will learn to play in Group1: Etude #1 (p. 26)
Note: You must purchase this book separately. Here is the order info...
Without the "intervention" that I provide, this book truly would be what Segovia called it when Shearer first showed it to him "useless". That is because without knowing how to practice, and without knowing the ins and outs, and the micro-details of how exactly to approach hundreds of separate movements needed to play this and all other classical/fingerstyle material easily, this book will be just another addition to the mountain of guitar "instructional" material you have struggled through, and can "kinda play".
But, with my guidance, and with all of the added material I am giving you, anyone using this book will gain a solid entrance into the entire world of classical/fingerstyle guitar.
The reason I have chosen this book is because the exercises contained therein, if practiced correctly, give you a complete, step by step training in the most intricate part of classical/fingerstyle technique: the sophisticated use of the right hand. It is this element, which makes contrapuntal (many voiced) parts possible, that distinguishes this style from all others, and gives it such great appeal. There is nothing like being able to play ALL the parts of a song, melody, accompanying chords, and bass line, all at once, on one guitar! Even if you don't pursue the full classical repertoire, you will have an incredible advantage as a guitarist that will last a lifetime.
In 33 years of teaching I have met many people who studied the Shearer book with other teachers. I have never met anyone who could actually play any of the material without serious technical troubles, bad sound, broken rhythm, etc.
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You need to order the textbook for this course, but while you are waiting for the book to arrive, you can get started on the first couple of pages of study! |
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What Is GuitarPrinciples Adding To This Course?
Here are the major innovations in guitar learning technology that you will learn in just Group 1 of this course:
Concepts Covered In Group 1
| Finger Leaves | A vital right hand technique, vastly improving the playability of passages. |
| The Cycle of the Note | A sophisticated, heuristic model for the understanding of the physical process of playing the guitar. Contemplation of it, and use of it during practice brings your awareness to a new level, and unleashes your own ability to diagnose, understand, and solve, your playing problems. |
| Action Cues | A new fingering system. A major innovation in guitar learning technology that makes it possible to fulfill the true meaning of “perfect practice”.
You will learn the inherent deficiency of current fingering systems, and the logic behind them. You will learn how to overcome this deficiency by the use of “Action Cues” to optimize the movement process. |
Throughout the entire course, many more concepts and practice approaches will be introduced, which will make an amazing difference in your guitar playing. You will use this knowledge for the rest of your guitar playing life.
Knowing and using these concepts and tools, like The Principles themselves, will give you an unbelievable advantage in learning the classical/fingerstyle guitar. They are developments that have occurred in my work in recent years, and up till now, I have only taught these to private students. I am happy to make them available to everyone.
Taking this course is as close as you can come to sitting in front of me and receiving my detailed, note by note instruction on how to master the techniques and music in "Aaron Shearer's Classic Guitar Technique Vol 1".
Play The "Music Of The Masters"
At the end of the book, in Group 6, you will be playing some of the "Music Of The Masters", such as this "Allegro in Am" by Mauro Giuliani.
If your tastes do not exactly lean towards the Classical repertoire, I am sure you realize that if you can play this, you can play just about any fingerstyle piece your little heart desires!
And remember, this is just the beginning of an entire course of development I will be publishing over the next few years, making available to anyone who wants it, Mastery Of The Classical/Fingerstyle Guitar!
Forum For Students
As with all GuitarPrinciples products, my goal is to help all players get past their present obstacles to development, and to create great players! So, this course will have what all effective courses need: Performance Standards!
When it comes to guitar playing, good playing talks, and everything else walks. I want to make sure everyone is really learning to play this material as it should be played, and I will do whatever can be done to that end.
I have set up a forum which will be for students of this course only. Students will be invited to submit mp3s as they go through the course. I will personally listen, and give my "yea or nay" for your work. This will also help to identifiy any problem areas that students may have in common, which I can then address.
The forum is located on the main forum page at GuitarPrinciples, it is the third forum listed. To be able to post, make sure you are registered in the forum, and then send your forum user name with a request to be admitted to the forum to jamie@guitarprinciples.com. I will give you access.
Will GuitarPrinciples Always Be Offering This Course, Or Is It A Limited Time Offer?
This course will remain a permanent part of GuitarPrinciples' educational offerings. You may enroll at any time.
