Playing with Ease: A Healthy Approach to Guitar Technique

177 Pages·2018·23.561 MB·English

by  David Leisner

Playing with Ease
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Playing with Ease
A Healthy Approach to Guitar Technique
David Leisner
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Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Names: Leisner, David, author.
Title: Playing with ease: a healthy approach to guitar technique / David Leisner.
Description: New York, NY: Oxford University Press, [2018] |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017047703 | ISBN 9780190693305 (hardcover) |
ISBN 9780190693312 (pbk.) | ISBN 9780190693343 (oxford scholarly online)
Subjects: LCSH: Guitar— Performance— Physiological aspects.
Classification: LCC MT580.L35 2018 | DDC 787.87/ 193—dc23
LC record available at https:// lccn.loc.gov/ 2017047703
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Paperback printed by WebCom, Inc., Canada
Hardback printed by Bridgeport National Bindery, Inc., United States of America
To my students, past, present and future, whose probing questions
and open minds teach me more than they can ever know
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When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.
Lao Tzu
CONTENTS
Photo and Illustration Credits ix
Acknowledgments xi
About the Companion Website xiii
Introduction 1
1.  Your Body and Your Instrument: Principles 11
2.  Your Body and Your Instrument: Specifics 32
3.  Basic Right- Hand Mechanics 65
4.  Basic Left- Hand Mechanics 83
5.  How to Play with the Large Muscles 102
6.  Suggestions for Relaxed and Effective Practice 117
7.  Preparing for a Concert 142
Index 153
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PHOTO AND ILLUSTRATION CREDITS
Photos by Simon Powis, simonpowisphotography.com
Illustrations by Jay Kauffman, jaykauffman.com