Tag: music

Oud Virtuoso Joseph Tawadros – Solo Live & Intimate at MRC March 28th

Nicole Neal1 Comment

Howdy folks! Apologies for being off the radar a bit recently – I’ve been a tad on the busy side travelling, setting up my new music room in my new house, building gates, cleaning out ponds and the like! I’ve not forgotten about you (or my own practice for that matter!) and things will be getting back on track in the next week or two.

Aaaaanyhoo, on with the show! There’s a very exciting event coming up the weekend after next in Melbourne. The ARIA award-winning, mind-bogglingly virtuousic (and wearer of a glorious moustache!) oud player Joseph Tawadros is playing an intimate solo recital at the Melbourne Recital Centre on March 28th (4pm and 8pm).

Tawadros’ latest recording, Permission to Evaporate, has been hailed as ‘a masterpiece’ (5 stars) in The Australian and earned a 2014 Independent Music Award nomination. And did I mention he’s won an ARIA award or three? Joseph won ‘Best World Music Album’ in 2012, 2013 and 2014,  not to mention 11 ARIA-nominated albums. Not too shabby eh?

The March 28th gig will be a very rare opportunity to hear Joseph up close and intimate in the Salon. And I promise you, if you’re in Melbourne you need to check it out!!

Head here for more info and tickets:

http://www.melbournerecital.com.au/events/2015/joseph-tawadros/

Joseph is somewhat prolific too. He has another new recording coming out April 17. For a little taste of Joseph’s amazing playing (and a taste of his new album) check this out:

The Benefits of Playing In Ensemble for Classical Guitarists

Nicole Neal6 Comments

The classical guitar tends to be rather a solo instrument with seemingly fewer opportunities for group playing than our orchestral or band-focussed buddies.  Well, perhaps, but only to a degree I think (depending on where you live I suppose). Where there are two or more guitarists, or yourself and another musician there lies an opportunity to play together, learn from and experience a new form of playing and of course have fun.

I was reminded this weekend by the first rehearsal of the season for the CGSV Classical Guitar Orchestra that by playing music with others is a wonderful experience. And playing with other musicians, be they at a similar level or a peg or two above or below you in their technical development can really present some excellent developmental opportunities.

CGSV GO

Playing with others, be it in a duo, trio, ensemble or orchestra, can deliver a umber of benefits to a guitarist. These include:

  • Encouraging you to listen to how others play and exposing you to different sounds and approaches.
  • Encouraging you to listen harder to your own sound.
  • And in combination of the first two dot points, encouraging you to listen to how your sound blends with others in terms of quality, tone colour, volume and dynamics
  • Encouraging you to listen and “feel” the music in synchronisation with others. That pause, that placement, the movement of a line. Of course the conductor helps in this regard, but there are somethings which are definitely “felt” and playing with others helps exercise this.
  • Getting you to look up from your score and watch someone else for cues, timing and pulse.
  • Picking up a pulse and taking it on (whilst watching the conductor of course) and exercising keeping a steady and even pulse, resisting the urge to push on or pull things back.
  • Pushing you a little beyond your comfort zone in playing stuff you wouldn’t otherwise play on your own
  • Improving your sight-reading and fretboard geography
  • Increasing your musical understanding and appreciation of working with others to achieve a musical outcome.
  • And, one of the most important of all, having a lot of fun!!

So, its well worth seeing if there’s an ensemble in your area (just classical guitar or mixed) or playing some duets or trios with another classical guitar (or other instrumentalist) friend. Playing classical guitar is good fun, but it’s even better when shared with others, in my opinion.