La Guitarra Clasica

We found a bunch of ancient film the other day and had it developed.  This picture was taken in 2003- I was 13 or 14 when this recital took place; at this time I had probably been playing for about 5 years.   Brady and I began taking lessons at nearly the same time; our first teacher was Norma McNamara and she was the ultimate perfectionist.

Sometimes her perfectionism would drive me crazy because she'd drill certain things over and over and over again- I spent the first two months of lessons learning how to carry the guitar, walk to my chair, and sit in the correct position.  Last semester Brady and I played in the BYU classical guitar ensemble (he is majoring in music and is way good... probably the best guitarist at BYU)- we both owe Norma a HUGE thanks for demanding we learn everything correctly.  

When I heard some of the other guitar majors play in ensemble, I completely cringed! I am a biology major/music minor that practices a tiny-smidgen-of-a fraction of what the majors do, and have way better technique than some of them (not to toot my own horn). Technique in classical guitar- in any instrument- is vital.  The guitar majors may be able to play 20 min sonatas by big-whig composers, but what good is it if they don't sound good? 

I am not taking my guitar with me to Argentina...

Because I plan to buy another one!!!

There is a classical guitar shop in Buenos Aires that has been around since the late 1800s- I've heard that they made two guitars for Andres Segovia that he played on his Latin American tour (he's pretty much the father of classical guitar).  The guitar I'm playing in the picture above is the one I have to this day- it's a cedar guitar- I love this guitar and would die if I had to sell it. Though I love this guitar, I think it's time to buy a spruce guitar; spruce guitars have different sound qualities than cedar.  More on my next guitar purchase later...