The
Stretcher
Well,
the heat hasn't let up in
that hell I call home.
Torture quickly comes to
mind, so I decided to throw
this little gem at both you
students as well as you
teachers looking to torment
your victims.
All
the chromatic scales played
in half step increments won't
do one thing for you. No,
that doesn't sound right...
they do lots of good things
for the student, but there is
one thing they don't
accomplish. There, that's
better!
While
reading through some fairly
easy stuff for a small gig
I'm doing in a few weeks, I
noticed some measures that
made me feel a tad awkward.
My fly wasn't down, yet I
still felt a bit
uncomfortable. Why? There is
a melodic figure that is best
executed with a slide of the
second finger -- while
holding some other notes with
the other digits. Yeah, I
could play it, but it was
like taking a bath with socks
on -- something was wrong. I
don't like feeling
uncomfortable with an
instrument I've been playing.
performing on, and teaching
for the past thirty odd
years, so I went back to my
file folders of scribbled
student exercises and found a
little ditty called The
Stretcher.
High
art it ain't, technically
difficult? Nope. Beneficial?
Definitely! You see it isn't
that the stretches are
difficult, no, it's just that
we don't usually USUALLY
slide fingers
aside from four and one.
(Everyone will be sending
snips of the standard rep.
containing finger two and
finger three slides and
stretches just in an attempt
that to make me look foolish,
I just know it...)
Enough
about me... Let's talk about
you. Look at my exercise.
Then we'll talk about the
limited lifetime guaranty.
No, it doesn't come with a
Ginsu knife or a Pocket
Fisherman either.
As
you can plainly see, I have
used my infamous chromatic
pattern once again. You must
understand this: I like
brainless exercises that the
student can work and benefit
from while watching
television. Actually, there
is no need to create a
beautiful melodic passage
that forces the student to
concentrate on something
other than the lesson at
hand. It's nice, but not
necessary all the time. So we
plant the first finger on the
fifth fret and begin our
workout. It is critical to
the exercise to leave the
fingers planted at all times
whenever possible. If the
student is performing measure
one using the first line of
left hand fingering, the
first, second and third
fingers stay down as the two
notes played with finger four
are being executed. Why?
Without planting, the
stretches won't happen!
Obvious. The first line of
left hand fingering is a
'gimmee' -- the exercise
doesn't get interesting until
you've got the stretch
between the second and third
finger and the first and
second finger. The fourth
finger seems to naturally
want to get away from the
third finger for most people.
Try
alternating where the quarter
note falls so that the longer
duration falls on the
stretch. I've written it out
his way in my new Classical
Guitar Method
book, but I leave it here in
abbreviated form as an
inspiration to look for the
book and maybe even buy a
copy! Mercenary, eh?
I
guaranty that this exercise
will get your second and
third finger moving more
independently and you will
not have a hard time
committing this little
brainless exerciose to memory
and using it at odd moments
when your brain wants to shut
down but your fingers need to
move!
Want
info? Want lessons? Lonely?
Just drop us a line at information@pellegrinlowend.com
.
AVAILABLE NOW !
The Classic Guitar Method: Now in one volume, much
of what the novice classical guitarist will need to
know to lead him or her to the recital stage. From
proper instrument care and maintenance to the
necessary technical skills, musical mind-set, and
the standard repertoire—all exposed and explored
with enough detail and insight that the student will
wish to keep this book handy years to come as a
ready reference source.
With the aid of a good teacher, the student will
rapidly progress through The Classic Guitar Method
attaining technical proficiency and musical
eloquence.
This method stems from the need to incorporate a
number of schools into a single cohesive curriculum.
Years of honing a logical approach to the guitar and
the creation of music culminate in this volume. As a
self-proclaimed Disciple of Valdés-Blain , much of
that famed teacher's focus can be found in Mr.
Pellegrin's method.
ISBN: 978-1-4116-9442-2
Published by PAB Entertainment Group, P.O. Box 2369
Scotia, New York 12302
Please go to www.lulu.com to order.
Hear
selections from my new album,
Reflecting Pools. A departure
 for
me, it is a keyboard album.
The music is a series of tone
poems written for relaxation
and meditation. Reflecting
pools is the perfect
companion for a rainy
afternoon or a winter
evening. Actually, it is a
great stress-reliever at
work!
Click
the album cover to find links
for samples of all the pieces
on my album.
-
Harry Pellegrin
May
12, 2005
Available
NOW!!!
through
www.BathtubMusic.com
 
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