Your Classical Guitar Input Here

A Dream

by Cliff
(Colorado)

I always wanted to play classical guitar from the time I was a child. I lived in Venezuela in the 1950's and my parents didn't realize my desire to play guitar. They actually got classical piano lessons for me from a close family friend when he saw my fingers move over the keys. He actually volunteered to teach me. It didn't last.

In those days in Venezuela, there weren't any classical guitar instructors, at least not where I lived.

It wouldn't be until the early 80's I was given the opportunity to take lessons from a close friend who was classically trained in guitar, specifically, the classical guitar. This only lasted about a year when he moved. Since there weren't any classical instructors close enough in distance or in the price range I could afford, I stopped playing again.

It wasn't until the mid to late 90's that I decided that if I was ever going to learn to play classical guitar, I would have to teach myself. I read everything I could on Segovia, Parkening, and technique, etc. I bought a very nice Pavan classical guitar and started teaching myself.

First I learned the fretboard, posture, finger and hand position using a mirror and then taught myself exercises and then started teaching myself small pieces of music. For a few years, I was practicing 4 to 5 hours a night, breaking each period of study into something different, whether exercises, or hand and finger rests, etc., etc., etc..

It was wonderful to watch myself actually progress at something I loved to do. The classical guitar is a wonderful instrument to play. It's a wonderful hobby if nothing else, and it does make you smarter, I believe.

Regrettably, I have had terrible difficulty getting my fingernails to grow properly and haven't played for a couple of years now. I take solace in the fact that I did accomplish a lifelong dream of learning to play this wonderful instrument, the classical guitar.