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Practicing Music by Design

Written by classical guitarist Christopher Berg, 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… Read More

By Stacy Arnold, ago

Giuliani Revisited

Giuliani Revisited is a publication by Christopher Berg. If Mauro Giuliani (1781-1829) were alive today, how might his famous 120 right-hand exercises from his Studio per la chittarra, Op.1, be different? Along with about forty of Guiliani’s right-hand exercises from his Op. 1, this book contains about a hundred original exercises by Christopher Berg based on pieces composed since Guiliani’s time and other exercises considered helpful for developing a well-rounded technique and for meeting the… Read More

By Stacy Arnold, ago

The Classical Guitar Companion

Published by Oxford University Press in November 2019, The Classical Guitar Companion, by Christopher Berg features over 200 examples, etudes, and pieces organized to help serious guitar students better navigate the shoals of becoming well-trained and expressive artists. Rather than try to shepherd each student down the same path, the book allows students to approach their training within a flexible and personal curriculum based upon their weaknesses and strengths. The work is organized into eleven… Read More

By Stacy Arnold, ago

Robert Guthrie | An Honorary Tribute

Robert Guthrie | An Honorary Tribute Robert Guthrie (December 26, 1943 – January 17, 2023) Professor of Classical Guitar | SMU  | 1973-2022 Robert (Bob) Guthrie was a world-class guitarist, international concert artist, teacher, and composer who was the second person in the United States to receive a degree in classical guitar performance in the 1960’s under a scholarship recommendation of Andres Segovia to study with Jesus Silva. He studies also included Andres Segovia, Jose… Read More

By Stacy Arnold, ago

Study Concepts & Study Plans

Study Concepts & Study Plans by Robert Guthrie View the Documents: Study Concepts & Study Plans    This documents on Study Concepts and Study Plans are written by Robert Guthrie, the professor of classical guitar studies at Southern Methodist University. These documents serve to guide both students and professional concert artists alike in the practicalities of study (practice) and how to achieve superior results for each study session to perform concerts at the highest level… Read More

By Stacy Arnold, ago

Mastering Guitar Technique: Process & Essence

Mastering Guitar Technique: Process & Essence by Christopher Berg has an  incredible amount of detail regarding technique that I have not encountered in a technique book for the classical guitar. The first part of the book includes 24 pages of detailed research from various doctors and professionals in the fields of physiology and neurology and Christopher’s own decades of teaching experience to substantiate the details that would be given in regards to a musically sensitive… Read More

By Stacy Arnold, ago

Three-Finger Right-Hand Scale Fingerings

Three-finger Right-Hand Scale Fingerings by Robert Guthrie View the Document Three-Finger Right-Hand Scales This document on Three-Finger Right-Hand Scales fingering is written by Robert Guthrie, the professor of classical guitar studies at Southern Methodist University. This fingering system uses an advanced a-m-i scale fingering for right hand scales. This fingering system gives more fingering possibilities for fast scales in the repertory of the classical guitar and, in general,  gives more agility and speed as well… Read More

By Stacy Arnold, ago