Mark Featherstone

Hi Simon,

Thank you so much for looking into this so carefully. Yes, you’re quite right that ultimately a flat first finger just doesn’t work for me. I’ll bust a tendon if I do this too much. One problem is that barring on the higher frets, such as fret IX in Un Dia, almost demands a flat first finger (for me). If I really dip my left shoulder I…[Read more]

PS: After re-reading my post immediately above, I see that I must appear to be belabouring my position rather overzealously. Please chalk it up to something like “once a professor, always a professor”. Or too much grant writing.

Hi Simon,

Thanks for looking at this. Let me clarify as follows.

1) Most of video section 1.4 is spent on the barre and so there are multiple opportunities to watch him doing so. Whenever Rene applies the barre, it is almost always (though not quite 100%) with the first finger placed very flat against the string, meaning fleshly side squarely…[Read more]

Thanks everyone!

CORRECTION: I incorrectly referred to Simon’s video tutorial on Brouwer’s Un Dia de Noviembre. In fact, I should have referred to his barre tutorial (L213 The Barre CC). The time is correct, namely 4:26.

Thanks, Cindy!

Thanks to all for your kind welcome. And it’s great to see I’ve got some neighbours in Alameda and Sacramento!

Best,
Mark

A fun and interesting video. Thanks!

Thank you, Richard. One of the best vacations of my life was in New Zealand. Queenstown and thereabouts.

Mark

I hear you, Tom. I almost always feel the same way. Particularly frustrating is when I think I have really got a piece under control one day, only to return the next day and have it fall apart. All the above advice is great. I would also add that progress seems to be aided by experience with other pieces and exercises (at an appropriate level).…[Read more]

Wow, Linda, so beautiful! I just love the fluidity of your playing in both pieces. You know that Kimi Wo Nosete is near and dear to my heart, and it is a great pleasure to hear it played so well. Thank you so much.
Mark

My thanks too, Simon!

Great job, Roger.

Bravo, Johannes. You brought out the voices very well.