Started a new blog about learning classical guitar
 

Hi Everyone

I started a new blog about learning classical guitar as an (older) adult. Not many posts yet, but I'm having a lot of fun writing about it. Take a look if you're interestedhttp://adultguitarjourney.blogspot.com/

Thanks for your "Blog", I spent like an hour enjoy reading it:)

Thanks so much for reading! I put up a new post on e-newsletters -

Thank you for the your blog

What you have described in your blog is were I am now except, still can't bring myself to play in front of anyone. Started late in life 65, have been playing for 2.5yrs. Started the journey with a $80 squire fender, so I could practice and not disturb my wife. A year later I bought a steal string acoustic Om/SE 000 Breedlove and started to teach myself finger style, can't sing so playing cords didn't make a lot of sense.

Fell in love with the sound of the classical guitar, and wanted to learn how to read music, and about 5 months ago bought a used Contreras C7, also started taking classical guitar lessons last month.
What you have described is exactly what I am going through, I can play without mistakes all the pieces that are part of my lessons, but when the teacher shows up it's like I never practiced at all. Very frustrating.

Thanks for reading! I think a lot of people struggle to play when put under a microscope. I can't say I have mastered the problem yet but hope to eventually. However I can say that I have finally managed to take the first few baby steps. It did take me 2.5 years to even get there, so I hope you manage better than me! The key for me was finding something that was sufficiently easy and non threatening that I had some success. I think both components are important - you have to play something that is incredibly easy for you and in an environment that is only very mildly stressful. At least that was how I finally managed to play for an audience. I recently played background music for about 25 mins before a memorial service in a large auditorium. The secret there was I started playing before people began to arrive so I had time to settle down and get used to playing. Good luck!

very nicely done! :)

i loved the part about playing for alzheimer's patients. practical on a lot of levels.


"one must practice slowly, then more slowly, and finally slowly"
- camille saint-saens

Have you done the classical guitar corner course, and if so how would you rate it

Dave

Classicalguitarcorner course, short scale guitars
 

I haven't done the classicalguitarcorner course, but seriously considered it for this summer. I am fortunate in living in a place where I have easy access to classical guitar teachers though, so instead decided to change things up by taking lessons with a different teacher. I would expect it to be useful though based on Simon Powis' other offerings. Keep us posted on how it goes if you take it!

btw I wrote a new post on short scale guitars
http://adultguitarjourney.blogspot.com/

I commented on one of your posts.

I have just gone to your site and scanned through all your "blogs". Great! I found them entertaining, educational, informative and generally enjoyable to read. I also identified with many of your experiences. Thank you. I am an older adult who is also in journey toward learning classical guitar. I don't know where I will end up but I'm traveling one step at a time and one day at a time!

Thanks for reading! I tell myself I don't really mind if no-one reads it, but it's always nice to think of someone reading it and identifying (or not!) My next goal is to post more recordings, - gotta get over the irrational fear of being judged and found wanting. Thought I'd get over that after the age of 12, or so...

http://adultguitarjourney.blogspot.pt/
Very nice blog. Good reading material.