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(More customer reviews)In my late twenties, I decided that I wanted to teach myself how to play classical guitar. The inspiration came to me long after I had abandoned a frustrating, embarrassing, and futile struggle to learn trumpet as a youth.
I bought a bunch of books (I still have them -- the stack is six inches tall), studied with a class given over NPR-TV, and I even took some beginner classes. But I didn't get far. I'd about concluded that music and me were never going to be a "thing."
It was about then that Shearer's "Classical Guitar Technique," (Vols. I & II) came to my attention. It looked pretty good! So, I bought Volume II and I took it home. I figured that I must have learned enough over those ten years that I could skip Volume I. But it was clear within a week that I needed Volume I, as well. So, I went back and got it, too.
What wonderful books they are! I spent the next two years in near ecstasy as I went through Shearer's lessons. I was actually learning! I was playing an hour every night -- not because I thought I had to, but because I was LOVING it! The songs I was playing were some of the prettiest I had ever heard for classical guitar. Wonderful songs by Sor, Carulli, Aguado, and the likes. And I was playing them!
Toward the end of that time I got a copy of Shearer's "Supplement 2, "Basic Elements of Music Theory." I studied it as well, and that was also a good decision. (I never thought to inquire about Supplement 1 -- I don't know why).
By that time, one of my teen-aged sons was taking guitar lessons on his own (but on a rock guitar). I sat-in on his lessons. His teacher decided to hold some group lessons in theory for his charges. After watching the class fidget with frustration for three weeks, I asked (privately, of course) if I couldn't have a half-hour with them. The instructor agreed. At the end of that half-hour, the students came up to me to say that they could finally began to see what the instructor had been trying to get across to the class -- and they thought it was cool! Shearer's book had made the points so well to me, that I was able to present it clearly to a class of teen-agers, despite my limited training.
Now, I'm still not musician enough to earn my supper with my guitar, and I'm certainly not a music theory expert. But, I have to tell you, I'm a thousand times more of a musician now than I was before, and I owe it all to Aaron Shearer's books.
I've never had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Shearer, and I probably will never have an opportunity to thank him in person. But I do feel obligated to thank him, and that is why I wrote this.
If you decide to try Shearer's books, you will definitely find them challenging. But, from the first week, you will also find them immensely rewarding.
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Classic Guitar Technique, Volume 1One of the most popular classical guitar methods ever written. A basic and orderly presentation of the necessary information and exercises essential to beginning guitar instruction.
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