| The classical guitar solo Cavatina was composed | | | | smaller segments than a bar. |
| by Stanley Myers and became the musical theme | | | | It will speed up your progress tremendously to |
| in the 1978 movie The Deer Hunter played by the | | | | take small segments of Cavatina that you can |
| famous guitarist John Williams. The solo version | | | | memorize and master immediately. Practice slowly |
| has became a goal for many guitarists to learn | | | | and try to play correctly as you memorize the |
| but the composition is quite difficult to play and | | | | notes. Mistakes has the tendency to slow down |
| even more difficult to play well. Here are some | | | | your progress! |
| useful tips on how to practice this beautiful piece | | | | I suggest that you commit the bars and the even |
| of classical guitar sheet music for motivated | | | | shorter parts you practice to memory as you go |
| students. | | | | along. You will probably not anyway be able to |
| What guitar teachers will tell you | | | | play this classical guitar solo with the guitar sheet |
| If you are a classical guitar student I assume that | | | | music in front of you! |
| your guitar teacher would admonish you from | | | | As you master the bars you will be able to |
| trying to learn this piece before you are prepared | | | | connect them and gradually play longer segments |
| musically and have the basic guitar skills necessary | | | | of the composition by heart. As there are many |
| to play it. | | | | barre chords to play in the piece I strongly advice |
| For a start it is challenging to get the balance | | | | you to be careful to rest your left hand when |
| between the melody and harmony. There are also | | | | you experience fatigue in order to prevent |
| many barre chords throughout the piece difficult | | | | injuries. Playing barre chords is not related to |
| for an untrained left hand to execute in a relaxed | | | | weight lifting but rather to the art of relaxation! |
| way without fatigue. The chords also make it a | | | | Two methods |
| challenge to play and sustain the melody smoothly | | | | When you practice memorized bars together you |
| and with legato. | | | | should practice using both these methods: |
| The following suggestions are based on the | | | | 1. Practice level. Practice with musical feeling but |
| challenge how to learn Cavatina if you are an | | | | when you spot a mistake or a technical difficulty |
| inexperienced note reader but a classical guitar | | | | you will stop and concentrate on polishing these |
| player with a lot of motivation! | | | | notes until you have mastered this musical |
| Sight reading skills | | | | passage. |
| Cavatina is usually executed in a slow tempo and | | | | 2. Performance level. Play as you would do in |
| to a listener it might sound like an easy piece to | | | | front of real people trying to create enjoyable |
| play. But the first challenge is to read the guitar | | | | music. When performing you will not stop when |
| sheet music score. It is quite complicated as you | | | | you make a mistake but instead you will minimize |
| have the melody line interwoven with the | | | | the effect of a mistake and proceed with |
| harmony and you have to spot the melody line | | | | enthusiasm and self confidence. |
| among all the music notes. You will also play the | | | | Practicing using both these approaches will help |
| music in positions high up on the fretboard making | | | | you be more prepared to play in front of people |
| note reading even more difficult. | | | | and you will reduce stage fright having the |
| To help you with the note reading challenge you | | | | confidence that you can master mistakes. This will |
| can buy a version of Cavatina with both the | | | | help you play more relaxed and concentrate on |
| sheet music and guitar tablature notation | | | | creating music! |
| displayed. This way of notating guitar notes has | | | | Cavatina is music |
| become very common and there are some | | | | Cavatina is a very beautiful piece of classical |
| advantages with this type of notation as poor | | | | music but it has to be performed musically |
| sight reading skills can prevent guitar students | | | | otherwise it is just a row of notes. You have to |
| from playing pieces that they otherwise are | | | | create music when you play and in order to be |
| prepared to play. | | | | prepared for this endeavor you need to listen to |
| The disadvantage with guitar tablature is that you | | | | a good interpretation of the composition. |
| might never learn to read guitar sheets very well | | | | There are many recorded versions of Cavatina |
| having this help below the notes. Another | | | | available and I suggest that you find a version |
| approach is to use only the sheet music version | | | | you like yourself and listen to it many times first |
| and solve the note reading problems one bar at a | | | | of all for you own enjoyment. Listening to the |
| time as you practice learning Cavatina and | | | | classical guitar sheet music interpreted by a good |
| memorizing the melody. | | | | guitarist will also help you be aware of the musical |
| One bar at a time | | | | context. |
| If you learn each bar of the melody separately | | | | This consciousness will make it easier to practice |
| you will experience a visible progression that will | | | | music from the start which will make your |
| create enthusiasm and help you hold out to the | | | | practice sessions more enjoyable. You will |
| end. Sometimes you will come across note | | | | constantly be reminded of your musical goal and |
| reading challenges and technical difficulties that will | | | | will enjoy the journey as much as the |
| make it necessary to concentrate on even | | | | accomplished goal! |