String action is not about the guitar is about the musician playing the guitar.The string height of a classical guitar affects both the sound and play-ability of a classical guitar. The lower the string height (or action) the easier the guitar is to play. If the action is adjusted too low, then volume, sustain, and clarity of sound are reduced.The ...

If you are into classical guitar, and you know anything about Misael Barraza Diaz, you probably already know that he keeps winning international classical guitar competitions at a fascinating (and scary) rate. So far he just got his 10th international first prize and he is not looking to stop there at all. But still, his passion does...

A lot of people say, get confused about Art Songs... many will say "Isn't that opera?". Well... no... Art Song Colorado is a good place to start and understand what is an ArtSong and why does it matter so much. It is important to remember that ArtSongs are originally POEMS set to MUSIC... for this process, you need a poet, a composer...

Working with musicians from all over the world has always been a pleasure. I personally met Julio in early 2019 as we organized a concert and master class. The experience was out of this world! Seeing Julio Cristaldo deliver a true royal master class on Agustín Barrios reminded me of the master classes I took with Eliot Fisk, David Russell, and man...

​Imagine you're under the microscope of the musical elite in Vienna and you have to produce a whole sonata in very little time. This, for Mozart, was probably the norm. But for this one, the sonata also was to be presented with the most popular violinist at the time in a special concert for the Austrian nobil...

​Many musicians avoid Paganini because of its difficulty and the responsibility it requires. This however is not the case for Nuné Melik. Paganini is one of the most relevant virtuosi composers for violin and his music does not only requires the skills to play the notes. If you are going to even try to play Paganini, you know you first need the gut...

The magic of Handel's Alcina can only really be unlocked when certain practices are put in place and this is a phenomenal example on how "tornami a vagheggiar" can (and should) be interpreted. In this performance, Amanda Forsythe adds her quality, expressiveness, and tact to the melody but also leverages the quality of the ensamble to mul...

​We heard innumerable stories of composers gathering inspiration from nature and yet we make so much effort to perform in concert halls and many other venues that we believe to be a source of inspiration. Khatia Buniatishvili made a huge statement with her Waldkonzert as she broke the barriers and the walls we put between our us and the r...

Sometimes, in our daily life, we get stuck in normal routines where basic rules are never questioned. But Art will come by sometime and challenge our perception of reality in a subtle way. Are you paying attention? Most of the time, we know the difference between up and down. It is easy to remember that buildings stand still and have a specific&nbs...

​If you think you have no opportunities because you're in the middle of nowhere, you have already lost your battle and you should stay home and stop trying. The honest truth is that in this world, talent and $3 will get you a cup of coffe at Starbucks. Talent does nothing by itself. One needs to work hard and be ready for o...

​Being afraid is a natural human response to situations that in our brain appear to be life threatening. Statistically speaking, people fear public speaking far more than death. This seems irrational. Nevertheless, the social implications of public humiliation could carry everlasting repercussions. Public opinion after death is ...

All of us come to moments of truth where we realize that our past does not reflect who we are. Change is not an option: it becomes a responsibility because we have learned that it is time to step hard and say "this is who I am". Serene had that realization and left her job at Google to be who she really is: a professional concert pianist....

Stranger things is a show that personally did a lot for me. This is a great surprise because this video is pushing even more buttons that what the TV show did. First of all, as I was talking with Nathan about the blog, I was excited because of the value and variety he is bringing to the world of nylon strings. However, things accelerated quite...

Being a musician is one of the hardest things because of the nature of the art: anything we ever do we have to be able to reproduce over and over again. The sad news is that the key to success is endless boring repetition.  This sounds like a terrible idea for many but as a musician, there's no way to sugarcoat this... ...

Many young musicians dive into a school, conservatory, or institute because they feel music as a path to live life and unfold oneself. I will say that this is a normal path because it coaches us structure and good habits. But as everything in life, it has a negative side because they stifle your versatility. Vincent Corver is an inspiration because...

Being a Music Mentor is a challenge because it takes a lot of work and dedication. This past weekend we came across the studio of a very talented violinist in the Bay Area who asides of being an incredible musician, has built a very good studio. And this is why I am blogging today.  By a very good studio, I mean that Jennifer Tzeng has a ...

Astor Piazzolla was a composer of incredible talent that figured out a way to navigate both worlds of Tango and Classical Music. As a Classical Pianist and composer, he was winning world-renowned competitions and had the privilege to study in France with Nadia Boulanger (one of the best piano teachers at the time). On the other side, as a ...

The 2018 Sierra Nevada Classical Guitar Festival & Competition is right around the corner and it's time to get signed up and ready to compete. As a classical guitar player myself, entering in competition mode is fun because it helps you focus and become a better player. No matter how the results unfold, you already know that if you sign up, you...

We all know it and we all say it: Social Media is an addiction! But how many of us really simply shut it off? The honest truth is that we musicians have to use it for business purposes but keeping some important issues at bay. Social Media is a tool. Obviously, you will not be making money directly from social media but there is an art on how ...

Everyone (including myself) has fallen into the trap of "purchasing" a music degree via an established institution. It took me a verry long time to realize that the cost in "Time and Money" had no tangible Return of Investment. This is is main topic of the article. The schools are not properly educate us musicians in the business of music...