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 ...

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...

​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...

​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 ...

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...

Muchas veces escuché esa frase. Que la música no sirve, que el arte no sirve, que tocar un instrumento no sirve, y muchos etcéteras más cual tributo al "no porque no". Si embargo, no por eso me detuve y gracias a no detenerme es que estoy aquí. No obstante, si lo analizamos un poco, esa polémica frase tiene algo que aportarnos ¿pensamos j...

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...

It's interesting to see how many people start playing guitar because they are on their way to fame and fortune. The truth is that the music industry (backed by Hollywood) has made the figure of the guitar player into a semi-divine figure of awesomeness. Today, new guitar players have to suffer from the reputation created by the previous generation ...

 The Classical Guitar is an instrument that requires left-right hand coordination. This kind of complex task demands the brain to utilize the opposite hemispheres in different ways, forcing the performer to focus in a quite particular way. When playing classical guitar, the left hand is in charge of the notes while the right hand is in ch...

An important matter: "Violinist tend to be tedious because they think very highly of themselves"... This is a wide spread popular belief that actually is is far from true and we must stand for what is right. Many say: "I have innumerable violinists in my life that I am proud to call friends" while behind their back they blast them with jealousy and...

- "Before we begin... a special thanks to the business owners and managers of wineries, coffee-shops, restaurants and similar that have opened their doors to my music. My touring in Northern Oregon was blessed by your awesomeness!" Being a Classical Guitar player is a wonderful thing. The versatility and mobility of the instrument is a valuable ass...