The premise of Kitharologus is that Guitar technique is made up of a limited number of procedures with an unlimited number of applications. Therefore, a sound technical methodology is not one that tries to cover all possible forms of a given procedure, but rather one that identifies and trains the essential mechanism which makes the procedure, in all its forms, possible. Covering all grades from novice to expert, this book is certain to be enthusiastically embraced by any classical guitarist wishing to maximize his technique.

The premise of Kitharologus is that "Guitar technique is made up of a limited number of procedures with an unlimited number of applications. Therefore, a sound technical methodology is not one that tries to cover all possible forms of a given procedure, but rather one that identifies and trains the essential mechanism which makes the procedure, in all its forms, possible". Covering all grades from novice to expert, this book is certain to be enthusiastically embraced by any classical guitarist wishing to maximize his technique.

“The aim of this book is to gather in one place a compendium of techniques specific to the classical guitar. Each technique has a written explanation, preliminary exercises and two original compositions, providing the opportunity to use the techniques in a musical context.” Steve Marsh Mel Bay Publications was founded on Mel’s simple pretext of “finding a need, and filling it.” Mel Bay author, Steve Marsh, continues in that tradition with the publication of The Anthology of Classical Guitar Techniques, a highly original concept that fills a distinct need in the guitar study repertoire. Graded from lower intermediate to higher intermediate in difficulty, this anthology avoids fundamental skills known to most beginners and goes straight to intermediate-level techniques such as: arpeggio, barré, campanella, glissando, harmonics, pizzicato, rapid scales, rasgueado, tambour, tremolo, vibrato, and more. Each of the 32 techniques is illuminated with preliminary studies and two original compositions, all written in standard notation only. If you’re ready to take the next step with the classical guitar, this book will improve your technique and musicianship in general, increase your ability to listen to yourself critically, and so lead to more productive practice sessions.

(Book). We proudly present the fifth edition of Maurice J. Summerfield's highly acclaimed ultimate reference book on the classical guitar. This brand new book features all the original biographical entries updated with new photographs where applicable, plus 100 new biographical entries in the players, composers and makers section for a total of over 485. This new edition gives the reader a full and clear picture of the classical guitar's development since the beginning of the nineteenth century. Also included are informative sections on composers, scholars, flamenco guitarists and guitar makers. The book's collection of several hundred photographs is the most complete to be published in one volume. There are extensive listings of the most important classical guitar recordings. The final section, Sources of Supply, guides readers to where they can obtain the books, recordings, music and magazines listed in the book. Without a doubt, this new edition will be the essential work of reference on the subject of classical guitar for years to come! "My sincere congratulations to Maurice Summerfield." Andres Segovia

A guide for intermediate and advanced classical guitarists, addressing technical and musical issues. Any serious student of classical guitar will appreciate this book which covers topics often heard in a lesson, but seldom covered in a book, with appropriate repertoire provided. Topics covered include technical control, study habits, crafting interpretations, tone production, performance anxiety, and much more.Students and teachers alike will appreciate the varied repertoire selections, as well as the annotated repertoire list included for further study. Includes thoughtful discussion of each topic and careful choice of repertoire to allow guitarists to overcome obstacles and reach the next level in their playing.•

Ricardo Iznaola's long-awaited Summa Kitharologica (vol. 1) is the culmination of three decades of deep exploration of the guitarist's playing mechanism and is the most comprehensive presentation of his thinking about these matters to date. Structured in three chapters, Chapter 1 surveys basic anatomy and physiology of the upper limb, with additional sections discussing general pedagogical considerations. Chapter 2, devoted to the right hand, presents detailed information regarding digital joint behavior in general and as applied in actualactivity on the guitar, as well as introducing an analytical system to study anddescribe positional attitudes, or `frames', adopted by the hand in the course ofplaying. Chapter 3 discusses at length left-hand physiomechanics, taking the concepts of shifting and mobility as fundamental categories encompassing all aspects of left-hand technique. Twenty-six anatomical figures, over fifty photosand more than sixty musical examples, with access to online video amply illustrate the text. In the spirit of ground-breaking scientific pioneers, celebrated performer and pedagogue Ricardo Iznaola offers the guitar world the first volume of SummaKitharologica, a comprehensive and highly insightful examination of guitar technique in a remarkable mixture of soaring erudition and down-to-earth practical and applicable approaches to the instrument. Like a modern-day Charles Darwin of the guitar, his insatiable passion for discovery, keen eye of the `naturalist' and relentless analytical mind have carefully and methodically recorded previously little-known or little-recognized observations, relationships and nuances about the natural principles at work in artful guitar playing. For guitar instructors, serious students and even advanced performers who desire to go beyond the `what' ofguitar technique and delve into its `whys' and `hows', this may well be thedefinitive text. Henry Adams, former editor, Guitar and Lute Magazine

Practicing Music by Design: Historic Virtuosi on Peak Performance explores pedagogical practices for achieving expert skill in performance. It is an account of the relationship between historic practices and modern research, examining the defining characteristics and applications of eight common components of practice from the perspectives of performing artists, master teachers, and scientists. The author presents research past and present designed to help musicians understand the abstract principles behind the concepts. After studying Practicing Music by Design, students and performers will be able to identify areas in their practice that prevent them from developing. The tenets articulated here are universal, not instrument-specific, borne of modern research and the methods of legendary virtuosi and teachers. Those figures discussed include: Luminaries Franz Liszt and Frederic Chopin Renowned performers Anton Rubinstein, Mark Hambourg, Ignace Paderewski, and Sergei Rachmaninoff Extraordinary teachers Theodor Leschetizky, Rafael Joseffy, Leopold Auer, Carl Flesch, and Ivan Galamian Lesser-known musicians who wrote perceptively on the subject, such as violinists Frank Thistleton, Rowsby Woof, Achille Rivarde, and Sydney Robjohns Practicing Music by Design forges old with new connections between research and practice, outlining the practice practices of some of the most virtuosic concert performers in history while ultimately addressing the question: How does all this work to make for better musicians and artists?