Classical guitarist teaches master class
Saba Naseem
Issue date: 10/27/08 Section: Lifestyles
Students lined the benches outside the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall on Thursday afternoon, guitars in hand, waiting for the master class with internationally renowned classical guitarist Pablo Sáinz Villegas.
Villegas first began playing the guitar when he was 6 years old.
"I was really excited before my first lesson," Villegas said. "I had been anticipating it for weeks."
At the time, he was inspired by Andres Segovia, a Spanish guitarist who is considered the father of modern classical guitar by many modern scholars. Villegas studied guitar for 18 years in Spain before he moved to Germany and eventually to New York.
Villegas received the Gold Medal Stotsenberg Prize at the Parkening International Guitar Competition, and shortly after, he established himself as one of the world's leading guitarists. He has performed in more than 20 countries and has been honored with 28 international awards.
"There is a lot of discipline in leading a life of a musician," said Villegas, who practices about six hours a day. "I really enjoy my life as a guitarist. When I perform I can feel a deep connection between the audience and me. It's like we're spiritually speaking."
About 20 people attended the master class, some who wanted to simply listen and many there to learn. Villegas spent about 25 minutes with each person, first asking them to play the piece they were working on and then providing tips.
Villegas emphasized posture, explaining to the students that they need to relax. He also gave exercises for improving the technique of plucking the string.
"Sound production is a result of the flesh in contact with the string," Villegas said. "The more contact, the better the sound."
Villegas has given many master classes at distinguished universities such as the Royal College of Music in London and the National University of Australia.
He was invited as a special guest to the UA. The master class, sponsored by the Fulbright College Department of Music, is given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline and is usually musical in nature.
The students were glad they had the opportunity to learn from Villegas.
"The most important lesson I learned from this class was how to pool together different aspects to make everything sound more musical," said Patrick Sallings, a junior music major.
Villegas performed the "Concierto de Aranjuez" by Joaquin Rodrigo this weekend with the Fort Smith Symphony in Fort Smith. His next performance is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7, at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.
Villegas first began playing the guitar when he was 6 years old.
"I was really excited before my first lesson," Villegas said. "I had been anticipating it for weeks."
At the time, he was inspired by Andres Segovia, a Spanish guitarist who is considered the father of modern classical guitar by many modern scholars. Villegas studied guitar for 18 years in Spain before he moved to Germany and eventually to New York.
Villegas received the Gold Medal Stotsenberg Prize at the Parkening International Guitar Competition, and shortly after, he established himself as one of the world's leading guitarists. He has performed in more than 20 countries and has been honored with 28 international awards.
"There is a lot of discipline in leading a life of a musician," said Villegas, who practices about six hours a day. "I really enjoy my life as a guitarist. When I perform I can feel a deep connection between the audience and me. It's like we're spiritually speaking."
About 20 people attended the master class, some who wanted to simply listen and many there to learn. Villegas spent about 25 minutes with each person, first asking them to play the piece they were working on and then providing tips.
Villegas emphasized posture, explaining to the students that they need to relax. He also gave exercises for improving the technique of plucking the string.
"Sound production is a result of the flesh in contact with the string," Villegas said. "The more contact, the better the sound."
Villegas has given many master classes at distinguished universities such as the Royal College of Music in London and the National University of Australia.
He was invited as a special guest to the UA. The master class, sponsored by the Fulbright College Department of Music, is given to students of a particular discipline by an expert of that discipline and is usually musical in nature.
The students were glad they had the opportunity to learn from Villegas.
"The most important lesson I learned from this class was how to pool together different aspects to make everything sound more musical," said Patrick Sallings, a junior music major.
Villegas performed the "Concierto de Aranjuez" by Joaquin Rodrigo this weekend with the Fort Smith Symphony in Fort Smith. His next performance is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7, at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City.
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