The guitar is one of the most popular instruments in the world, but what does it take to become a fully rounded classical guitarist? In a systematic sequence of chapters, Jonathan Leathwood and Richard Wright offer a fresh perspective on technique, interpretation, learning, practising and repertoire, drawing on a huge variety of composers and works, including a separate exploration of Bach. A final section explores the guitarist as collaborator, with advice on how to make the guitar sound at its best in the company of other instruments and how to work with non-guitarist composers. Throughout the book, musical examples from key works illuminate the points discussed. The authors bring their vast experience as teachers and performers to this book, which will intrigue and inspire anyone interested in the art of the guitar. An invaluable addition to the immensely successful Yehudi Menuhin Music Guides, this book brings exciting new insights into the study and performance of the classical guitar repertoire.
Leathwood, Jonathan: - As a performer, Jonathan Leathwood has appeared in many venues in Europe and both American continents. Equally known as a collaborator with both performers and composers, he has recorded with the legendary flutist William Bennett and collaborated on works for six- and ten-string guitar from composers such as Param Vir, Stephen Goss, Robert Keeley, Chris Malloy, Harrison Birtwistle and Roxanna Panufnik. He gave the Julian Bream Trust's inaugural concert at London's Wigmore Hall, at the personal invitation of Bream. As an educator, Jonathan is passionate about integrating different types of skill, knowledge and understanding. He has a PhD from the University of Surrey and a bachelor of music from King's College London, and he is an internationally certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. He teaches guitar, music theory and the Alexander Technique at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music, where he is chair of guitar. He is the editor of the Guitar Foundation of America's peer-reviewed journal of guitar studies, Soundboard Scholar. Since graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music, Richard Wright has pursued a highly varied career in both classical and popular music. As a performer, his work has encompassed everything from contemporary music groups such as the London Sinfonietta to membership of the critically acclaimed rock group Latin Quarter, best known for their 1985 hit Radio Africa. He has worked with musicians as diverse as composer John Adams and guitarist John Williams and appeared everywhere from New York's Lincoln Center to the pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival. Above all, Richard is an internationally recognised teacher of the classical guitar and its pedagogy, with a special interest in the problems of early learning. He designed and delivered a teacher-training course for guitarists in Venezuela and has lectured on guitar pedagogy in the United Kingdom, Holland, Germany and the United States. In 2004 the guitar was added to the roster of instruments taught at the Yehudi Menuhin School, and Richard became its first teacher.
Wright, Richard: - As a performer, Jonathan Leathwood has appeared in many venues in Europe and both American continents. Equally known as a collaborator with both performers and composers, he has recorded with the legendary flutist William Bennett and collaborated on works for six- and ten-string guitar from composers such as Param Vir, Stephen Goss, Robert Keeley, Chris Malloy, Harrison Birtwistle and Roxanna Panufnik. He gave the Julian Bream Trust's inaugural concert at London's Wigmore Hall, at the personal invitation of Bream. As an educator, Jonathan is passionate about integrating different types of skill, knowledge and understanding. He has a PhD from the University of Surrey and a bachelor of music from King's College London, and he is an internationally certified teacher of the Alexander Technique. He teaches guitar, music theory and the Alexander Technique at the University of Denver's Lamont School of Music, where he is chair of guitar. He is the editor of the Guitar Foundation of America's peer-reviewed journal of guitar studies, Soundboard Scholar. Since graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music, Richard Wright has pursued a highly varied career in both classical and popular music. As a performer, his work has encompassed everything from contemporary music groups such as the London Sinfonietta to membership of the critically acclaimed rock group Latin Quarter, best known for their 1985 hit Radio Africa. He has worked with musicians as diverse as composer John Adams and guitarist John Williams and appeared everywhere from New York's Lincoln Center to the pyramid stage at the Glastonbury Festival. Above all, Richard is an internationally recognised teacher of the classical guitar and its pedagogy, with a special interest in the problems of early learning. He designed and delivered a teacher-training course for guitarists in Venezuela and has lectured on guitar pedagogy in the United Kingdom, Holland, Germany and the United States. In 2004 the guitar was added to the roster of instruments taught at the Yehudi Menuhin School, and Richard became its first teacher.
