Category: Guitar Stuff

This is stuff I’ve not categorised yet. Oops.

Your Chance To Win A Signed Copy of Craig Ogden’s New Album!

Nicole NealLeave a comment

G’day folks!! It has been a while since the last blog post hasn’t it?! That has got to have been the longest hiatus since I started writing the blog four or so years ago (I think we skipped July altogether)! Anyhoo, on with the show. Today’s hiatus-breaking post is a cracker for you with a prize or five up for grabs for some lucky reader from a fab Aussie guitarist. So read on….. UK-based Australian classical guitar whizz, Craig Ogden, has recently released his latest recording, ‘Craig Ogden and Friends’ for the UK’s Classic FM. And it is riding high at the top of the classical charts over there in UK too no less!

Craig Ogden
Craig Ogden

Australian born guitarist Craig Ogden is one of the most exciting artists of his generation. Craig’s previous Classic FM albums; The Guitarist and Summertime both shot straight to number 1 in the UK classical chart. Craig’s latest CD ‘Craig Ogden and Friends’ released in June 2015 went straight to No. 1 in the classical chart (where I believe it still currently resides). It is a collection of beautiful tracks perfect for the summer months (and reminding of those summer months to come down here this way!!), consisting of a variety of pieces from some of the world’s greatest composers including Bach, Ravel and Albeniz, alongside modern pieces from the likes of Einaudi, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Craig has invited some of his very talented friends to perform with him. Not only are there solo guitar pieces, but string quintet tracks and some stunning duets with an array of different instruments and artists including Gareth Davies on flute, Natalie Clein on cello and Ji Liu on piano. Now the kind folks at Classic FM have offered readers of Classical Guitar n Stuff the chance to win one of five signed copies of the album!! Oooooh!! Exciting! For your chance to win a signed copy of this album, answer the question below; Who features with Craig on track No.2 of his new album, ‘Craig Ogden and Friends?’   A: Patricia Calnan B: Ji Lui C: Gareth Davies Email me your answers to classicalguitarnstuff@gmail.com along with your name and postal address for your chance to win. First five across the line win!! Competition closes Tuesday 11th August 2015 5pm AEST. Craig_Ogden_And_Friends_72dpi And, as you know, I always like to leave you with a bit of music. So here’s a clip of Craig and his friends recording the new album – great playing and looks like they had good fun

My “Real Life” Benefits of Playing Classical Guitar

Nicole NealLeave a comment

For those of you who read the blog regularly and follow me on Facebook will know that in the last year or so I’ve been travelling a heck of a lot with my work. That has its ups and downs, but mostly ups because it’s pretty cool work (environmental management and development of sustainable infrastructure in a nutshell), I get to work with some great people and see some nice parts of the world (including 4 Australian states and both islands of New Zealand in the last month alone!). **

On my recent travels over to New Zealand to deliver some training on sustainability I had time to mull over the fact that my experiences in learning classical guitar, playing classical guitar and teaching it really do cross over into other areas of my life, particularly my work life.

Now, don’t get me wrong, the intrinsic value in learning and playing the classical guitar (or any other instrument for that matter) is highly valuable in and of itself. And the title of this blog post is a little bit misleading – music making is definitely a part of “real life”. There’s no denying that from me for sure! But it’s great that there are also added benefits, if you like, that the process of music making can teach or show you and can really help you in perhaps your working life.

During my mulling (which is helped by some quiet down time on various aircraft!), I came to realise that there are some key aspects of the musical journey that have crossed over and definitely shaped (and continue to shape) the way I work. I thought it was an interesting reflection so thought I’d share with you today.

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Here are my top 5 observations of cross over benefits in my journey:

1.There is no substitute for consistent, persistent hard work, or rather smart work – the application of ones energy in the right direction at the right things. Along with the appreciation that new skills take time to master, but can be mastered with the right mindset.

2. Presentation and stage presence – deliver what ever it might be that you’re playing or presenting from the heart, knowing that you’ve put solid work into (you definitely have to number 1 above). Then hold yourself with poise and confidence in its delivery and your audience will be listening.

3. When working with others on new approaches or concepts, show them the ropes but let them hit upon realisations for themselves and find out the best way to do something for themselves (but provide positive guidance along the way).

4. Working with others produces results that just wouldn’t happen playing solo.

5. When working/ playing with others go in with ideas on the outcomes you want, but also be prepared to listen to differing thoughts. The outcomes, musical, work or otherwise, may produce interesting results.

I might come up with some more of these, folks, as I muse on it a little further!

** As a little side note, as a result of my hectic schedule you may notice that I’m not posting with as great a frequency as in the past. Rest assured that I am continuing on with the blog, but for the sake of my sanity and writing posts that are actually useful for you, dear readers, the less regularity thing will continue to be the case for the time being. I’m sure you understand 🙂