Reflections On The Marten Falk Master Class.

“Information overload”

I think that is how we all felt after attending the 2 plus hour session.  Marten was an encyclopedia of knowledge and I have become a better guitarist since his visit.  Also, I would like to mention that the three students who returned after our first master class with Victor Villadangos made considerable gains in confidence and development in their guitar playing.

Marten especially focused on colouring the tones of the guitar.  He would often ask the students to use different tones in sections and even within the same phrase.  Once he asked the student to caress the string to achieve a warm softness in the opening melody.

Another exercise was for developing all the fingers in the right hand to bring out the melody.  Try playing a D chord, while emphasizing a different string each time, as if that string was the melody.  So the first time it would be the first string, then the second, the third and last the fourth string.  It is really difficult to bring out the middle strings, but a very good exercise for warming up.

One thing I noticed about Marten’s playing and approach to the guitar was that he had phenominal technique in both hands.   He proved this to be true by opening up his concert with 30 straight minutes of Villa Lobos music.  That was an incredible demonstration of endurance and all done so musically as well!  The concert is available on CD for only $10.00 and you can order it from The KW Chamber Music Society at kwcms@yahoo.ca

Stephen Zurakowksy

Artistic Director