PLEASE TURN YOUR SPEAKERS UP TO HEAR AN MP3
of my playing in the background on this page.

Technique is not about speed...it's about control !

This Web Site is not about my playing abilities, past, present or future.

It's about how you can become the player you want to be.

So I don't talk about how to interpret music, perform it or recommend
what pieces to play or practice.  That will be up to you.

The pursuit of my technique was always very personal to me and my music
as it should be for you as well.

In fact, my entire method revolves around self discovery and the excitement of it all.
I merely give you the tools so that you don't waste time.

You can replay the audio clip with the player below.

Click on the Play button to play the clip if it doesn't play automatically.








Sakari Playing "Fantasia de Consonancias y Redobles" by Renaissance Composer Luys Milan



"Sakari, I was on YouTube to see if I could find anyone playing
that piece you were playing on your website, boy was that a 
mistake!   It was sad to hear how butchered it was, so I went on iTunes 
and found two professional recordings I downloaded. But those were 
both disapointing also, I believe that you have in my opinion played 
that piece about as beautifuly as it could be done. And I was 
wondering if it was possible to get an mp3 of it for my iPhone."

Thanks,
        Lyle R. from Oldsmar Florida

Ps after your recent emails, I have decided to follow your course as 
prescribed. NO MUSIC. For me this is a hard decision but I feel it's 
the right one. I'll just play the lessons like they were great 
compositions :)

Sent from my iPhone


 
Growing up, I used to listen to Segovia's recording and then sit for hours
playing single notes over and over on my Guitar, dreaming about his
unbelievable sound and expressiveness.  My family members still
comment on how they could never understand why I was practicing
in this way.

"Why don't you learn some pieces of Music ?"  They would ask.

To tell you the truth, I didn't know myself.  All I knew was that it
was important somehow to continue in this way.  It wasn't until
years later that I realized that I was trying to unlock my
Creative Spirit.  It was a need for me and I dare say that if the
Classical Guitar represents some need for you, then you have
been wanting to unlock your Creative spirit on some level, too.

Anyway, in my day, I was so thrilled about my practicing techniques
and the results I was seeing while using the exercises I rather naively
developed, I was practicing 7 hours a day, 7 days a week, for years.



1970's

I couldn't  wait to get up in the morning, run to my practice studio,
pick up the Guitar and see how much further I could get than the
day before.  Why ?

So I could interpret my pieces the way I heard them much like
an Architect can't wait to walk in the building he or she has designed.
Yes, Yes, I know many Architects say they don't need to see
the physical building because, after all, they designed it, but
I don't believe them.  I have had a number of Architect friends
and I stand by my opinion that they are thrilled to touch and
feel the culmination of a design.

I would like to share with those of you, truly dedicated to developing
their Craft and Artistry on the Classical Guitar, what I think is the
definitive way to get closer to your Creative Spirit and expressing
your true feelings through the vast array of Literature available
to us all now in the year 2007.

BUT IT WON'T HAPPEN WITHOUT EVEN TECHNIQUE.

Understand that my role here is not universal to the tasks at hand
when it comes to becoming a Player.  We are all born given a
unique "jigsaw puzzle" to figure out and that is your responsibility.

I only wish to plant the seed so that you'll proceed correctly when it
comes to Classical Guitar Technique.  I would also like to point out
control and accuracy should be more important to you than blinding speed.

Let me explain.  Much of my favorite repertoire is from the Renaissance Period
where the pieces are rather through composed, meaning that seldom does
a phrase repeat itself, and great rhythmical control is required due to
the long phrasing and slow tempos.

If you don't have control of your hands then you don't stand, what Julian Bream,
calls " A dog's chance in Hell " when it comes to audience enjoyment
and their ability to follow the composer's thoughts and counterpoint
through the conduit of your playing. 

The "Art" of technique is how well you control the voices of the piece,
the inner line, the melody line, dynamic control, tempo cadencing and all
of the various elements that makeup your viewpoint of the Composer's thoughts.

The "Art" of teaching technique is simply to give you the proper tools
to launch your self into the world of your vision of playing.

The point is that you don't want to impress the listeners with your technique,
you want to impress them with the Music and the way one accomplishes
that is to practice technique in a meditative manner so the Creative
Spirit has time to awaken.  Unlock your Creative self and the Music will
flow out of you in a moving and inspirational way.


PHOTO BY K. SAKARI HEIKKILA



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