Tuesday, February 19, 2013

slow down!


[A link to the audio of the show can be found here  or listen or  subscribe in iTunes]
How was your week?   We had about 12 or 14 inches of snow last week, when I didn’t podcast.  During this week we had a couple more inches.  I love it when it’s newly fallen, but once it’s dirty, yuck!!

I skipped a podcast last week just because there was so much life stuff to which I had to attend, that I couldn’t record and syndicate a show without neglecting something that needed urgent attention.  For the time being, I’m going to try to maintain the weekly show schedule, but it may become necessary to record every other week. We’ll see how things develop. Right now, I’m planning to record Episode 097 next week.

I want to say Hi to Thanh, a prospective new student with whom I will consult tomorrow. He may be joining my schedule this or next week. He already has a guitar and it sounds like he’s an eager student.  

Thanks to her dad, Steve, LeighAnn finally got her appropriately sized guitar, and what a comfort difference it makes for her.  Although she has spent half the week in NC, I expect her improvement with the new guitar will be meteoric.

No, no NEON DRs yet, but I think they’re coming soon.

 



One of the disappointments of last week was that I received an email from the Mahwah Museum that the Gibson Bus was going to be there, again, in March.  Of course I tweeted and made a blog post about it.  A few days later, I received an email to the effect that the Bus was no longer scheduled to visit the Museum because the Lady Gaga tour had been cancelled and I surmise the bus’s visit was linked to that schedule.  So, I posted and tweeted that too.  If you only received the first part, be advised that it’s Lady Gaga’s fault that the bus will not be in Mahwah in March …. or at least that’s the schedule at this point.


 I’m going to continuously post the link for Sandy NJ Relief Fund. It’s the non-profit that will see that your donation, should you choose to make one, will reach NJ survivors. Thank you if you have donated money, time, your talent, prayer or any other way you have attempted to help with the staggering losses, here in NJ.  I can’t even begin to describe it.  My experience with major disasters like this is that as soon as they aren’t in the daily or weekly headlines, they are innocently forgotten by those not affected.  I don’t mean to be annoying, but the very least I can do is mention it.



Remember, if you live in or will be traveling to the NY metro area, that the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit at the Mahwah Museum, in Mahwah, NJ is open for visitors from 1 - 5 Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday.  Even if you have seen the exhibits in his home town of Waukesha, Wisconsin or those created at various venues by the Les Paul Foundation, this Mahwah exhibit is truly extensive in its breadth.  This is a little jewel of an experience waiting for you to discover it.  If there are still openings and you call to reserve a time, you can play one of Les’s guitars.  


While we’re on the subject of Les Paul, check out the wonderful tribute Lou Pallo, the Les Paul Trio and friends have created in  Thank You, Les.  




This week there are 3  students in the Student Spotlight, the Question of the Week is, Why do I have to play slowly?,  News is about extremely limited edition   Pro Customs by our friends at Fender and my Take Note segment is about guitars that are meant to be played, not DISplayed.

Raptor Picks USA

Here are 4 descriptions of genuine Raptor™ “R” Series guitar picks with which  I wholeheartedly agree:

"Tools for the Creative”
From the moment you pick up the Raptor™ "R" Series it's obvious a great deal of thought has gone into its design and from the second you touch a string you can both feel and hear the difference between a Raptor and other picks you’ve tried.

“Beautiful and Tactile”
Genuine “R”  Series Raptors™ have three carefully sculpted picking tips. They’ve been created using the same sophisticated design and modeling techniques employed to produce formula one racing cars and the result of this design effort means they’ve been able to take the humble pick to a completely new level of performance.

“Absolutely Amazing”
Each picking tip forms complex curves designed to glide effortlessly over your guitars strings. Raptors produce clean tones with almost imperceptible attack that range from that of the brightest thinnest pick through to the warm rich tones normally associated with much thicker picks.

"The Pursuit of Excellence”
All genuine “R” Series Raptor™ picks are subject to very strict quality control procedures. Each "R" Series plectrum is precision molded from high grade Acrylic, then individually printed and inspected to ensure it meets their high standards prior to leaving their UK based factory.



Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.




Student Spotlight
In the warm glow of the Student Spotlight are Arno, Bridget and Clairie.  A, B, C!  I hadn’t seen Arno in a few weeks and I heard marked improvement in his work.  Bridget is totally devoted to her guitar and is making beautiful progress nearly every week.  Clairie is among my newest students and I’m still so excited that she’s and aggressive musician.  I like that.  It’s a stark contradiction to her extremely serene demeanor, which makes it doubly delightful.

This is where it’s opportune to encourage you to play aggressively.  That isn’t synonymous with “loud” or “primitively” or “fast.”  In my estimation, an aggressive guitarist has chops and understanding of their music. Those 2 elements allow the musician to play in a declarative, expressive manner.  It’s unusual in a very green guitarist, but I’m picking it up in Clairie.  I like it in all guitarists, and most particularly in chick guitarists.  I don’t like to hear any of my students “play like girls.” 

Nice work, everyone.  Keep it up.  

Question of the Week

This week's question is: What’s the benefit of playing slowly when I can play fast? Does that sound like a question from a young student?  Well, this week it was from a “mature” student.  

There are a few benefits to playing slowly, aside from satisfying your teacher’s perverse desire to torture you. 

First and foremost, I’d say playing slowly allows you some time to formulate exactly how you’re going to play.  By that I mean, if you have some picking options (finger or plectrum), when you’re working through slowly, you can actually allow your training or intuitive sense to guide your choice or choices.  At that juncture, if you’ve made a decision about picking or phrasing or where you will play a section on the fingerboard, make a conscious note and DO NOT DEVIATE from your decision, once you’ve made it.  Practicing consistently is imperative to mastering anything.

Secondly, don’t try to speed your way through esoteric or tricky rhythms.  The faster you play, the less rhythmic errors can be heard.  I can imagine some of you reasoning, what’s so bad about that, if my errors are less obvious?  That’s the wrong question. If you have a flaw in any part of your playing, it will separate you from becoming the best guitarist you can be.  Don’t sweep the dirt under the rug, get rid of it!!!  Okay, so if the swung passage that’s interspersed with triplets always loses the emphasis of a down beat, slow it down. If the odd tuplets sound different every time you play them, and you still don’t have a clue how to really execute them, slow it down!  If you always get caught in a particular part, don’t rush through, hoping just to get past it so you can relax - SLOW IT DOWN.  Painstakingly work through it. (I chose that archaic word on purpose. It does take some pain to do it, but the reward exceeds it.)  Realize, once you’ve overcome the hurdle and have conquered it slowly, increasing the speed will not be so difficult. Increasing the speed when it’s inconsistent or riddled with mistakes is what’s hard. But it pays - trust me.

There’s a third, much less obvious use for playing slowly. Once a week, take your speed studies down to 30 or 40 bpm.  REALLY.   The hidden benefits are 2: you will have to force your concentration. If you zone out, which some guitarists do when they’re playing exercises and studies, the speed you develop will not benefit you as much in an all-around sense, as if you can also play it slowly, with total control and focus.  So that benefit is mostly mental and partly musical.  The second benefit of playing very slowly through your studies is that it will exponentially increase your strength and endurance.

So, slow down when you’re in trouble, whether with a fingering, picking or rhythm.  The reward will overcome the pains you take.

If you have  a question that you would like me to address on the podcast, please email it to me at guitartechnique@gmail.com.  If I use your question, I will be glad to send you a Guitar Technique Tutor Podcast pick. 

News

The news this week is about Fender’s Pro Custom Limited Editions: 

PRO CUSTOM KINGMAN "C" ANTIGUA BURST
Model : 0960216021
$2,890.00MSRP
The stunning new limited edition Kingman C USA Antigua Burst cutaway dreadnought model resurrects Fender's classic and highly distinctive Antigua finish of the mid-1960s. Built in the United States by the skilled craftsmen of Fender's state-of-the-art workshop in New Hartford, Conn., it also boasts a solid Engelmann spruce top with forward-shifted scalloped X bracing and elegant checkerboard rosette, solid mahogany back and sides, and aged white neck and body binding. This special model presents the original Antigua finish, which was a "burst"-type finish that graduated from brown to off-white.

Other premium features include a one-piece maple neck with a vintage-style "C"-shaped profile and Stratocaster® headstock, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with 9" radius and comfortably rolled edges, rosewood bridge with bone saddle and black-dot bone pins, Fishman® Matrix™ Infinity pickup/preamp system with volume and tone controls, and lacquer finish. Special limited edition run of 75 instruments.




PRO CUSTOM KINGMAN™ "C"
Model : 0960213
2,660.00MSRP
With a nod to the Fender Custom Shop in California, the new limited edition U.S.A. Select Kingman C dreadnought is a wonder to behold-let alone play-with beautifully resonant tone and beautifully elegant design distinguished by a Fiesta Red gloss finish, aged white body and neck binding, and vintage-style appointments.
Premium features include a solid Engelmann spruce top with forward-shifting scalloped X bracing and solid mahogany back and sides for unbelievably rich tone; vintage C-shaped maple neck with rolled edges, dual-action truss rod and Stratocaster® headstock shape; 9”-radius rosewood fingerboard with bone nut and 20 frets, stylish checkerboard rosette and three-ply pickguard (white-black-white); rosewood bridge with black-dot bone pins and bone saddle; vintage-style nickel tuners and hardware; and Fishman® Matrix™ Infinity electronics for crystal-clear amplified sound. Accessories include shaped deluxe hardshell Tolex case, deluxe leather strap and certificate of authenticity. Limited to 150 instruments.


PRO CUSTOM NEWPORTER™
Model : 0960215021
$3,100.00MSRP
The Newporter is back! Limited Edition to 150 pieces worldwide, the Newporter is an all solid mahogany orhestra shape body tone machine that will have you reminsicing about the fun and sun '60's fender acoustics but built in our New Hartford workshop with stunning detail and craftsmanship. Other features include, gold pickguard, "viking" style bridge, lacquer finish, Fishman pickup system, and maple neck with Stratocaster® headstock.



PRO CUSTOM CLASSIC KOA AUDITORIUM CUTAWAY
Model : 0960214
$3,899.99MSRP
Fender is proud to introduce the new limited-edition U.S.A. Select Classic Koa Auditorium Cutaway - a U.S.-made, finely crafted auditorium-style acoustic with a tropical touch that produces the tonal characteristics of a dreadnought in a model with a smaller cutaway body.
Ideal for flatpickers, the guitar’s top, back and sides are beautifully fashioned from solid “AA”-grade Hawaiian koa with a gloss lacquer finish for bright, responsive and dynamic tone. Other features include scalloped X bracing, aged Ivoroid neck and body binding, abalone rosette, mahogany neck with soft "V" shape and dual-action truss rod, 20-fret ebony fingerboard with bone nut and block inlays, ebony bridge with bone saddle, bone bridge pins with abalone dots, gold hardware and tuners, and Fishman® Matrix™ Infinity pickup and electronics. Limited-edition series of 150 instruments.


These are big, beautiful guitars.  If your local guitar store gets any of these exclusive instruments, and you’re in the market for something in this price range, I’d get out to play one quickly. With the small numbers  for each of the models I mentioned, they will not last long.

http://www.fender.com/series/pro-custom/pro-custom-kingman-c-antigua-burst/

http://www.fender.com/series/pro-custom/pro-custom-kingman-c/

http://www.fender.com/series/pro-custom/pro-custom-newporter/

http://www.fender.com/series/pro-custom/pro-custom-classic-koa-auditorium-cutaway/

Take Note:
This week, the Take Note is 2 Save-the-Dates:

Play a Les Paul Guitar Night will be held on Wednesday February 27

Les Paul felt that a guitar should be played, not displayed on a shelf. 



On February 27, the Museum is making some of the guitars in the Les Paul exhibit available to be held and played. Guitar lovers and Les Paul fans will have a chance to play some of very special guitars once owned and played by Les.   Among these guitars is a 1969 Les Paul Custom G-2 made especially for Les by Gibson, and a 1975 custom Heritage 3 experimental prototype Gibson made for Les and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin.  Also available is a 1950 Gibson Solid Body guitar with the first "Les Paulverizer" that Les built.  A custom guitar, one of only three, made by Gibson to honor the first responders of Sept 11, 2001 on its 10th anniversary is also available to play.


Four time slots available:
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
8:00PM
9:00 PM


By appointment only. 45 minutes per sessions. $25 per musician Maximum of 5 musicians per session. Maximum audience of 5 at $5 each admission.


Sign up for one session only. First come, first served. No appointment is confirmed until you receive a confirmation email.  

Also, save the date, March 12, 2013 for:

LOU PALLO
Gallery Talk At The Mahwah Museum
Tuesday March 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Mahwah Museum


A founding member of the Les Paul Trio, Lou Pallo first met Les Paul in 1963 and began performing and recording with him almost immediately. Their relationship, both personal and professional, continued until Les's death in 2009. They played together as a duo and a trio weekly for many years at Fat Tuesdays and the Irridium in New York City. For the past two years, Lou has performed in the Les Paul Trio Benefit Concert at Ramapo College, and also at the Les Paul 97th Birthday Gala.

As a tribute to his good friend, Lou recently spearheaded a new CD "Thank You Les: A Tribute to Les Paul," which features Lou, Bucky Pizzarelli and many other music legends, many who were mentored and encouraged by Les. Lou Pallo also produced and performed on the CD "Jersey Guitar Mafia." Lou will play, share  his memories of Les and talk about the making of his new CD, which will be available for purchase and can be autographed after the talk.

The Gallery talk will take place in the upstairs gallery of the Mahwah Museum, 201 Franklin Turnpike. Admission is $15 per person and must be purchased in advance.  Seating is limited, so please reserve early.

You can purchase tickets by credit card or PayPal on the museum’s web site or by check, if you mail it to the museum.


This program and others at the Museum are part of the exhibit “Les Paul in Mahwah: A Tribute” which continues through June 2013. The Museum is open on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.


Raptor Picks USA
Once in a great while, something comes along that's literally revolutionary. The Raptor™ R Series guitar pick is just such a creation. It affords its user a sublime quartet of sounds which can be summoned with a mere rotation of the brilliantly designed Raptor™ pick. Not only is it a beautifully executed, ingenious idea, but the first experience of playing with it is almost impossible to describe because it’s so different from anything you’ve ever employed.
Get past the unusual feel of the Raptor™ guitar pick and the door to faster, cleaner and more creative playing swings wide open.  Your grip will be sure.  Your attack will be silent. Your projection will be enhanced.  Add to that the technology  that enables the pick to glide over your strings, rather than bluntly striking them and the genuine Raptor™ “R” Series pick stands alone as an asset to every guitarist who uses one. 
Seasoned pro? This pick allows for more subtle differences of expression because of the variety of timbres it  produces. 
Intermediate recreational guitarist? Improve your sound by upgrading your pick.
Rank beginner? Prime your creativity right  from the outset.  


Genuine Raptor™ “R”Series guitar picks are available at RaptorPicksUSA.com. Free Raptors with a purchase of 4 or more is just another way of “spreading the excellence, one guitarist at a time.”
Raptor™ picks are a registered design. All rights are owned by Black Carbon.




Outro
Too bad the Gibson Bus’s stop at the Mahwah Museum, site of the Les Paul in Mahwah exhibit, because of  Lady Gaga’s tour plans.  Bummer.  

I’ll let you know if Thanh and I begin to work together.

I’ll also let you know if the NEON DRs make it to my guitar this week.

Sandy NJ Relief Fund will see that any donation you make will get to the needy New Jerseyites who are still living with the November storm’s devastation. Thanks for anything you have done or will do. We appreciate it.

Congrats to my A, B, C Arno, Bridget and Clairie.   There are multiple reasons to slow down your playing: to choose an optional picking, fingering or fingerboard location; to perfect rhythm or correct errors; and to build focus, concentration, endurance and strength.  Fender’s Pro Custom limited editions are pricey but nice.  Play some of Les Paul’s guitars at the end of February. He would want them played, not DISplayed. Save the Date of March 12 to attend a Gallery Talk by guitarist extraordinaire,  Lou Pallo.

If you're seeking expert competent guitar instruction in the Bergen and Rockland County towns in which I teach, such as Airmont, Allendale, Fair Lawn, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Hawthorne, HoHoKus, Hillburn, Mahwah, Midland Park, Montebello,  Montvale, Oakland, Oradell, Paramus, Park Ridge, the hamlet of Ramapo, Ramsey, Ridgewood, River Edge, Saddle River, Suffern, Tallman, Teaneck, Tuxedo, Tuxedo Park,  Upper Saddle River,  Viola, Waldwick, Washington Township, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake or Wyckoff please contact me. For lesson inquires, calling is best and my number is on the web site. If we can coordinate our schedules and you're a good candidate to learn to play the guitar, perhaps we can work together.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist, a gigging professional or at any level in between, a genuine Raptor™ guitar pick will catapult your playing forward.  Visit RaptorPicksUSA.Com to order yours today.

Practice, have a great  week, and until next time, I'm D A Arlaus, doing my part to spread the excellence, one guitarist at a time.









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