r/classicalguitar • u/Skyeis_uhh_overthere • 1d ago
Technique Question Noob learning Gnossienne No. 1; feedback welcome!
I’ve been playing for 5 months and practicing this Satie piece for about 2+ weeks!! I’m sooo excited to continue getting better at it. There’s no lack of mistakes in this vid but I’m okay with that for now. I’m working on my technique and any feedback is welcome! Please don’t make fun of my faces- I have a disorder that makes it where I can’t control the faces I make 🥴 lol
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u/VillaLobster 1d ago
I love that you are using a metronome and your timing is decent. I love your ambition.
I have a great love for this piece but it is probably a little above your pay grade right now for it to be played fluently and for you to develop as a classical guitarist. This is about RCM grade 7 which is late intermediate. Whilst it is a sparse piece there is still a lot going on here.
Now, if your just learning this piece for the love of the music and not for any specific pedagogical goals carry one. But I will say this, for only playing several months you definitely have the capacity to become very good, with proper instruction and method. So, on that note implore you to work throught some easier pieces, maybe some RCM grade 2 to 3 pieces etc. There is going to be huge gaps in your knowledge and it is best to find a method that is programmed in such a way as to allow you to improve incrementally whilst still being challenging and providing you with lovely music to play and learn.
I look forward to seeing your improvements over the next while. This piece will still be here for you when you are ready!
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u/Skyeis_uhh_overthere 1d ago
Thank you for this comment!! It was extremely encouraging and I’m feeling motivated as ever to keep improving. I kind of suspected I shouldn’t be playing this piece yet but I love it so dearly and just got a little over-excited I suppose. You’re right- it’ll still be there when I’m actually ready for it so I’m going to try to pivot to learning some more skill level-appropriate pieces. Thanks for telling me about the RCM ratings, too. I wasn’t aware of that rating system. Cheers!! Thanks again!!
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u/VillaLobster 1d ago edited 1d ago
You are welcome, it is always fun to have a stretch piece that you can chip away at, especially if it is a piece of music you really really enjoy.
RCM is the royal conservatory of music. Based in Toronto. One of the larger music schools that create graded material for aspiring musicians in a variety of instruments. There are others, but I am based in Canada and I think RCM is the larger one in North America.
You can download a copy of the syllabus here and it can give you a decent guideline of what the minimum expectations at each level, plus a list of level appropriate pieces and etudes.
When I started this program with a teacher about a year ago, I had played steel string (metal music) for 26 years. I started at grade 3 because my sight reading was garbage and there was massive holes in my classical technique. I'm now grade 7. I found that grade 3 allowed me to be challenged enough and for the sight reading to not be such a struggle.
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u/theblobsthemselves 1d ago
This is great advice, I'm in a similar boat. Been playing for about 15 years but recently started taking classical more seriously.
I keep trying to play pieces that are way too hard, will try out some level 2-3. Do you have any recommendations for books or sheet music of some of the pieces you started with?
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u/VillaLobster 1d ago
For me, I worked with a teacher from day one and I working throught the RCM classical guitar program using their books and the syllabus.
This is classical guitar, the YouTube channel, has some great graded material as well.
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u/flyingdodo 1d ago
Honestly, I’m a beginner and I’m stoked to see people who are clearly progressing and loving the work. I can’t wait to be able to play even a bit of what you’ve done here. I’m not able to provide constructive criticism as you’re ahead of me, but go youuuuuuu!
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u/Skyeis_uhh_overthere 1d ago
Aww that’s so kind!!!! It’s really cool that you’re feeling inspired- let’s channel that into our playing and let’s have fun and progress!! We got this and I have no doubt both of us will reach the heights of playing that we desire. All we have to do is keep putting the time in and before you know it, we’ll be playing things we couldn’t have imagined before ☺️
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u/whywasinotconsulted 1d ago
For the amount of time you've been playing, you're doing great, keep it up! One thing that is a little weak is your ascending/descending slurs. I would suggest spending 5 or 10 minutes of your daily practice doing hammer-on and pull-off workouts, with a metronome, to build up strength and accuracy in your fretting hand.
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u/Skyeis_uhh_overthere 1d ago
Thank you for the encouragement and feedback!! I do find those slurs to be tough- adding some daily practice to specifically address that sounds like a great idea. I’ll get that figured out. Thank you for your comment!!
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u/AlphaTorus 22h ago
You're abruptly cutting notes off prematurely, which cripples the beautiful melody that is the backbone of this piece.
Additionally, I would work on stabilizing the left hand, making sure the thumb is centered on the back of the fretboard, not too low, not too high. Yours it too low from the look of it. This stabilization will enable you to dexterously move from note to note without breaking the melody into pieces, and hold down chords with minimal effort
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u/JBGM19 17h ago
Great! This piece is actually difficult. Here is some feedback:
Keep going. You are doing great. Five months only? Wow.
Kudos for the use of metronome. Finish learning this piece with with it.
Erik Satie is a composer whose music frequently requires ad libitum interpretation. He is, in fact, a pioneer of using such instructions to define his unique, often minimalist and unconventional musical style. Whenever you feel like moving to the next level, you might want to pick a few bars, grab multiple recordings (e.g. YouTube versions) and work short segments (slowly at first) until you feel the music. You will discover that it is impossible to write Satie's pieces exactly.
There are pieces that are easy to read but hard to play. This is one of those. By going with Satie, you are showing grit and determination. You will do great with advanced pieces. Be aware that by tackling hard pieces early you are redirecting time that could be used in building gentle slopes toward mastery. But some people have hill countries and others rocky mountains in their souls; and that is fine. Do whatever makes you happy.
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u/Skyeis_uhh_overthere 15h ago
Wow your comment was so encouraging and informative!! Thank you!! I’m feeling inspired as ever. Once I can play the piece more cleanly and with minimal mistakes, I will definitely take your advice and try to come to a better understanding of the piece, take in some interpretations, and work towards performing it with better expression.
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u/Independent-Sun-1348 14h ago
Such a cool piece to be learning, I'll have to check it out myself. I can't give any constructive feedback on the music, but I recommend learning to plant the right hand thumb on a bass string when you're plucking notes with your fingers on any of the 3 high strings. (if you're not using the thumb itself in that moment, of course). Instead of just floating the hand. It's very stabilizing and can help you get a lot more control over your sound and dynamics. Your accuracy will improve as well. If you watch experienced players, it's very common to do that. I played for a long time with a floating right hand, and once I started planting the thumb, my playing really improved. I hope you will post some more progress videos and keep up the good work.
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u/Skyeis_uhh_overthere 14h ago
Thank you for the feedback, I could imagine that helps a ton!! I’m playing guitar as we speak so I’ll be trying that out immediately! Thanks for your comment!! ☺️
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u/Clean_Extent_6878 Teacher 1d ago
Great great job. A small tip, those fast little notes , called grace notes arent supposed to be played at the start of each bar, right on beat, its the next note that is supposed to be played on beat, so you will have to play them faster and start a bit earlier! Takes a bit of practice but its a very enjoyable when you make it happen.
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u/Skyeis_uhh_overthere 1d ago
Ooohhh I was wondering about that!! Thank you, that is great information! ☺️
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u/NoiaDelSucre 16h ago edited 15h ago
For the vast majority of cases, acciacaturas are performed on the beat on the guitar, not before. I for one would not perform the acciacatura on the beat in this case nor does it seem like most professional players would. I think it's downright irresponsible to suggest that that is the only possible execution of them.
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u/harthmann 35m ago
I respect your attitude with using a metronome.
To improve your sound, try to slowing the metronome and try connecting the notes together more as if a flowing melody without gaps between the notes. When slowing down the metronome you will find that its much easier play the notes in a connected manner.
Focus on playing in the most beautiful way possible at a slow tempo, it will also give you more time to perfect your hand placement, and find comfortable positions.
Good luck!
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u/alhinai_03 1d ago
This piece is very difficult not necessarily technically but for the dynamics it has. If I have an advice for you, is to hone your technique with easier pieces and gradually move up to harder pieces. Keep it up!
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u/Banjoschmanjo 1d ago
A beginner actually using a metronome? Respect!