Scott's Studio

[scott]

I'm finding the work of Phase III to be some of the most rewarding in my career as both teacher and player. I'm finding a uniformity in my hand position and finger movement that I've never seen before, in both my own playing and that of my students.

But, what is technique to you? What is it's purpose?

Scott

[Mike]

It's still mostly a mystery to me! As I'm working through Phase III I can see where the end result should be a more stable & consistent right hand, including better freedom of motion with less effort. This in turn should allow for better musical expression and the ability to handle more complex pieces.

I'll posit that technique is the physical means to execute musical ideas. With poorly developed technique it's an unneccessary struggle to communicate those ideas.

After getting to the point of having a reasonable command of the instrument (technique) we're "guitar players" . The next step is take decent technique and know when and how apply it appropriately to various musical ideas.


Mike
Mike

[guitardzs]

I look at technique as a tool. Good technique is like a well sharpened knife that will cut right through the tomato as opposed to a dull knife that leaves the tomato in a splat. As Mike put so well, once good technique is developed we can execute musical ideas; and I'll add to that in that we can execute those ideas very creatively.

Without technique, we will be frustrated in our ability to create good music.

Donna

[Mark]

Technique will allow us to overcome the mechanical details of the guitar, and move more fully into expressing the music.

My hope is that at some point all the work of developing a good technique will recede from the conscious brain to the unconscious level, and I'll be able to think in terms of the pure music. (Lofty goal I know!)

[scott]

One goal of good technique is to execute movements necessary to play classical guitar with the minimal tension necessary.

I'm noticing that students who work through Phase III are moving with more uniformity; the proper relationship between the large and middle knuckles, as well as the ability to initiate adequate but not extraneous motion from both the flexors and extensors to execute the movement required. In addition, with all the "crazy" exercises I'm putting you all through, the right hand stabilizes by being in a perfect position to allow for these movements to take place with the minimum tension required.

Good stuff!

[KenRhodes]

To me, technique is the physical component - the movements that are made. This is both the 'how' and the 'when'. The 'why' is a different topic.

The purpose of technique, to me, is to remove (or at least reduce) the physical limitations involved with communicating the music to the listener.

That's my short answer, before I read the other posts here.
_________________
Ken
http://www.cedarcityguitarlessons.com/
http://www.kenrhodesmusic.com/


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