...as a writer she cuts through the categories of style and genre just as she does as a player. Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

John Duarte Appalachian Dreams suite for solo guitar edited by Sharon Isbin Published by G. Schirmer, Inc. Hal Leonard, Distributor Order Online from MusicDispatch.com

Table of Contents

Foreword by Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers Introduction by Sharon Isbin Equipment     Auditioning a Guitar     Choosing the Right Scale Length     Cedar vs. Spruce Tops     Instrument Care and Repair     Locating Rattles     Testing Strings     Changing Strings     Footstools     Amplification Setups     Traveling with a Guitar Starters     Tuning Up     Finding a Comfortable Playing Position     Playing Lefty     Lessons for Children     Singles Notes vs. Chords for Beginners       Finding the Right Teacher     Studying with a Teacher vs.       Using Method Books     Studying Multiple Systems     Choosing a Guitar Program Fingernails and Calluses     Playing with Fingernails     Fingernail First Aid     Caring for Calluses     Bass-String Squeaks Practicing     Structuring Practice Time     Using a Metronome     Warming Up for Performance     Taking a Vacation from the Guitar Repertoire and Interpretation     Basic Repertoire     Keeping Abreast of New Music     New Music for Classical Audiences

5 7 9 9 10 11 11 13 14 14 15 16 18 19 19 20 21 21 21 22 23 23 24 25 25 26 26 26 29 29 29 30 30 33 33 33 34

Embellishing Composed Music     Ensemble Playing     Using Altered Tunings     Handling Rests in a Score Refining Techniques     Harmonics     Free Strokes and Rest Strokes     Tremolo Exercises     Stopping Open Strings     Cross-String Ornaments     Percussive Techniques Roadblocks     Breathing     Making Faces     Reading High Notes on the Staff     Hand Fatigue     Rebuilding Hand Muscles after Injury Where Mind Meets Music     Memorizing Tips     Relaxation and Visualization for Performing       Tripping Over Mistakes Making a Career     Approaching Music Publishers     Finding a Niche in the Classical World NEW CHAPTERS IN THE 2nd EDITION Notes on Concert Programming         (includes sample concert programs) Concerti for Guitar and Orchestra         Performed by Sharon Isbin Nylon-String Guitar Makers Salons & Shops Specializing in         Classical Guitar Organizations Classical Guitar Education Programs Books Periodicals About the Author Selected Recordings by Sharon Isbin

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When Sharon Isbin reaches for her guitar, closes her eyes, and begins to play, her music casts a spell. From the very first notes, her deep immersion in the music and her practiced and precise touch on the instrument allow her to cut right to the heart of the piece she’s playing—and of the listeners themselves. In those moments, it doesn’t matter who the composer is or what style or genre the piece is in; the communication is pure, visceral, and transporting. In addition to hearing Isbin perform, I’ve had the good fortune to work closely with her in my role as editor of Acoustic Guitar. Her Master Class column, in which she answered readers’ questions, appeared in our premier issue in the summer of 1990 and in every issue for the next four years. Although Isbin is a "classical" guitarist, it became clear right away that as a writer she cut through the categories of style and genre just as she does as a player. Many of the issues that she discussed are equally applicable to a steel-string strummer and to an aspiring classical player. The readers of Acoustic Guitar picked up on this quality in Isbin’s work right away, and what ensued were four years of wide-ranging and thought-provoking exchanges that form the basis of this book. Reading over the 50 collected questions and answers in the Classical Guitar Answer Book, I’m struck by how much Isbin’s commitment and caring shine through. There’s a lot of inspiring advice to be found in these pages—as well as plenty of calls for hard work and dedication—that make me want to open my guitar case and get on with the quest of becoming a better musician. Onward and upward... - Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers

When you have guitar questions, reach for the book that has the answers. ‘How can I memorize pieces more effectively for performance? How often should I change strings? What’s the best way to structure practice time? What are the differences between spruce and cedar guitar tops?’ Sharon Isbin, the virtuoso concert artist who heads the guitar department at the Juilliard School of Music, has answered scores of questions like these in her acclaimed Acoustic Guitar Magazine Master Class column. Now Sharon Isbin and Jeffrey Pepper Rodgers, editor of Acoustic Guitar Magazine, have chosen 50 essential Master Class questions and answers for the Classical Guitar Answer Book. This is a book for every guitar enthusiast, teacher, and student. No matter what styles of music you play, or the kind of guitar you play on, you’ll find a wealth of information and tips in the Classical Guitar Answer Book. Answers that will help you learn new music more easily. Use your practice time more productively. Evaluate a new guitar more knowledgeably. Avoid fatigue and injury. Take a more balanced and thoughtful approach to all the music you play and listen to. Order Online from BarnesandNoble.com or use the free number: 1-800-637-2852. Indicate that it is item #330443. If you are outside of the United States or Canada, phone: 414-774-3630 and request the Music Dispatch department. If you are a guitar teacher or dealer, please inquire on the phone about special prices for multiple copies for your students or your store.

 

The Lute Music of J.S. Bach Researched, edited and transcribed for classical guitar by noted Baroque musicologist Rosalyn Tureck. Fingered by Sharon Isbin. These two editions have received rave reviews from guitarists around the world, being called ‘the most comprehensively scholarly edition to date of any guitar version of a work of Bach’ - Guitar International. Complete with critical notes, manuscript references, embellishments, and performance practice information. Invaluable editions for the Bach/Baroque enthusiast. BWV996 (E Minor) 50336540......$9.50 BWV997 (A Minor) 50504280......$9.50 G. Schirmer You can order all of these publications from: 800-637-2852 If phoning outside the U.S. or Canada, phone 414-774-3630 and ask for the Music Dispatch department. Or from: Guitar Solo Publications, 230 Townsend Street, San Francisco, CA 94107-1720 USA Tel: 415-896-1144   Fax: (415) 896-1155

Table of Contents
Lute Suite BWV 996

I. SOURCES     A. MANUSCRIPTS     B. THE FACSIMILE OF THE GERBER MANUSCRIPT     C. THE GERBER AND WALTHER MANUSCRIPTS -         Agreement and Variance         1) Title         2) Instrument Designations         3) Titles of Movements         4) Clefs         5) Music Text         6) Stemming II. FORMAT OF EDITION     A. MUSIC TEXT -- VARIANTS     B. EMBELLISHMENT AND FERMATA SYMBOLS     C. PHRASING AND ARTICULATION     D. ACCENTS     E. TEMPO     F. REPEATS     G. FINGERING     H. TECHNICAL INDICATIONS

III. PERFORMANCE     A. PART-WRITING AND ARTICULATION     B. DYNAMICS     C. EMBELLISHMENT         1) General         2) Variants in Manuscripts         3) Added Embellishments         4) Embellishment realization         5) Extended list of ornaments; Trillo, Long Trill,             Appoggiatura, Schleifer, Arpeggiated chords         6) Performance of Embellishment figurations             a) Nuances in Dynamics             b) Rhythmic Fluidity             c) General requirements IV. BACH ON THE GUITAR     A. STYLE     B. EXTENSION OF TECHNIQUES FOR STYLISTIC         GUITAR PERFORMANCE         1) Playable notes         2) Sonorities         3) Cross-string Fingering V. PERFORMANCE OF THE SUITE MOVEMENTS

BOOKINGS: Columbia Artists PRESS: Jay K. Hoffman

Updated 9/02/05 by Stephen Linhart Copyright Isbin, Linhart Answer Book cover: Jerry Simon Button Photo: O’Shields

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