Guitar Lessons Auckland

01/07/2026

Flamenco Style: Guajiras

This music is an introduction to Guajira style from Anita and Berlow. In 3/4 time like the Peteneras the style is by contrast lighter and pleasant. The melody sounds for many of us, on the first listening, like we have heard it before.
Flamenco style is a living musical art form, and this example we hope would inspire a deeper appreciation of, and participation in the improvised and creative experience of the music.

This music is an introduction to Guajira style from Anita and Berlo...

29/05/2026

Many years ago I discovered the Real Book, a collection of simplified jazz tunes in sheet music form. I used this to learn to read music, but also to understand how chords and melodies go together. The 'charts' as they were called were just sketches of the tunes usually with rhythms simplified but that is how jazz was made in those times. Each musician would take the sketch and change the rhythm, chords, and notes to customise it. Hearing Carmen McRae sing a bossanova tune we recognise it as the same tune say Sinatra sang, even though her notes, rhythms and even the words sometimes were different.
Anyway here is Boplicity from the Real Book. Great fun.

Music by East St. Louis trumpeter Miles Davis (1926-1991) and Toron...

23/05/2026

Following on from the Flamenco guitar posts of Malaguena, Farruca and Sevillanas here is a brief example of the Peteneras style with its minor key and alternation of triple and duple metre. Add to that a sense of drama that comes from its unpredictable stops and silences. As with the other examples this particular example is attributed to Carlos Montoya (1903-1993) although the style is you know part of our heritage, wherever we come from.

This example of Peteneras style attributed to Carlos Montoya Follow...

29/04/2026

Music by East St. Louis trumpeter Miles Davis (1926-1991) and Toronto-born Gil Evans (1912 – 1988).
The music is based around F major, uses a thirty-two bar form AABA, and modulates to Bb and Ab in the middle eight. The melody uses seventh-chord arpeggios, rhythmic dislocations and notably finishes the A sections on a 'wrong note' B natural played over the tonic chord F major. The F major seventh-chord uses a sharpened-fifth *F7 #5) which contributes to the chromatic colouring of the harmony. To my ears this music sounds like cartoon music, capricious and almost comic.
Although played on a gypsy-jazz acoustic guitar the guitar sound in this recording is slightly muffled, emulating a mellow semi-acoustic in traditional jazz-guitar style.
Boplicity is often played very fast. This recording has a moderate tempo and I aimed to tease out some of the rhythmic possibilities of the phrases.

Boplicity - Bebop

27/04/2026

Here is a short example of Malaguena Style from Chris Bayne, fellow guitar-player and teacher who introduced it to me.

1 like. "Malaguena - An introduction"

03/01/2026

Just reading about a Music education programme, started in Venezuela that has operated in Otara.
"Abreu said that "music has to be recognized as an agent of social development in the highest sense because it transmits the highest values – solidarity, harmony, mutual compassion," crediting it with the ability to "unite an entire community and express sublime feelings."... "

El Sistema (The System), officially National Network of Youth and Children Orchestras of Venezuela is a publicly financed, voluntary sector music-education program, founded in Venezuela in 1975 by Venezuelan educator, musician, and activist José Antonio Abreu. The curriculum is built on the belief ...

29/07/2024

This music is loosely based upon the lullaby 'Summertime' by George Gershwin (1868-1937). Gershwin grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Aged ten, Gershwin's Russian parents encouraged him to learn piano and to participate in local theatre productions. More:

Sometimes Summertime Parnazzwww.parnazz.comThis music is loosely based upon the lullaby 'Summertime' by George Gershwin (1868-1937). Gershwin grew up in Broo...

21/03/2024

This guitar in the accompanying picture is in a park in Grodno, Belarus, near the Polish and Lithuanian border. It is permanently attached to the seat and available for anyone to play. Being bronze, it really does not feel or play like a guitar, however such is the nature of art.

04/02/2024

Notice:
The management for this event has said we can no longer use the venue. They cite complaints that by hosting the event the RSC would be 'taking sides'.
We have made it clear that we are simply acting to support the Red Cross in providing humanitarian relief.
This means that unless we can find another venue we would need to cancel.
Jazz for Gaza: New date: 25th February 2024 at the Parnell RSC. Join us for music from 5p.m. Tickets from $0 to $500. All proceeds to the Red Cross in Gaza. Tickets on Eventfinda.

13/12/2023

To my friends:
Sharing a recording of this track the modest Havana Syndrome.

Havana Syndrome - Bass, Drums, Guitar, Voice, Piano, Congas, Shakers. Saxophones, Trumpets. Stephen GalvinMusicianwww.abcstudios.co.nz