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VIEWS:
Student articles page to be added as they are submitted A
Love Affair with my Guitar - A Kinsey For me, Guit and I speak a language that is all our own. Apologies to those realists offended by my breathing life into a guitar. Our language is intimate and yet revealing, as if the player and the instrument become one. We even sit fully embraced, absorbing each others vibrations into our bodies. When we engage in the communication of music we are out of reach of the ordinary everyday stuff and touch a place that seems sensitive yet strong and definitely passionate. At these times there is no future and no past just Guit and I in exquisite harmony. It often happens when the caress is soft harp-like and the piece is a slow one with a beautiful melody. It is then that I feel energised, inspired and in tune with who I really am. The tough times of rehearsal pay off abundantly. But all this speaks of years of knowingness, at a level of understanding, which pre-supposes one is compatible with the instrument of one’s choice. Attention to detail a definite requirement, especially with how my specifically shaped right hand nails caress the strings to produce just the right tone quality. A velvet glide guarantees a response of pure dulcet tones. Also I am very analytical, and that has proven very useful, because his nature is such that there are many places on his fretboard where you can finger the same notes. So the ability to choose fingering that suits his response to tone, as well as being true to the composer and style of music, and ones own technical facility has been made easier by the ability to analyse the best choices. Often this is when we are the most creative too. When
I intuitively try out various fingerings, it is noticeable, that
some are more right than others. Three attempts will tell if it
is going to work or not, thereafter, if it is not the best choice
then it will show up in our unity together. There will be a jarring
and the phrasing doesnt flow smoothly, we are seriously compromised
and even lots of practicing doesnt do much to improve things.. One of my fondest memories was a trip around Southern Africa. At the time to forge a cultural link between “African sounds” and the culture of my Eurocentric upbringing. En route I discovered the versatility of Guit, as the numerous “African sounds” I explored included such diversity as bird calls (the Fish Eagle & others), as well as instruments like Bushmen rattles, drums, a gourd harp and the unique Bishmen click sound of their language. All able to be produced acoustically and integrated into my compositions, inspired by the capabilities of Guit and my love of “Africa”. This new language seemed to touch the hearts of many, for wherever we performed we were well received. Thank you to those audiences who bought the recording and for whom we had the privilege of expressing this important cultural fusion during the difficult time of South Africa’s struggle. These days we are passing on the qualities of this love to others eager to embrace such a warm, romantic and individualistic instrument. Through the Cape Town Academy of Music’s courses and lessons we hope that others will discover their own unique intimate language with their guitar and enjoy touching the hearts of those close to them. If my love affair continues into my 90’s as did the maestro of the twentieth century, Andres Segovia, then I will indeed have been a most fortunate woman and privileged to have embraced the wondrous, magnetic, inspiring and exquisite sounds of the classical guitar. Sincerely
Avril Kinsey Click here to email Avril Kinsey This
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