Hi Gang,
Barb posted a question that I accidentally deleted as I was trying to answer (early AM darkness, couldn't quite see the warning on the screen!). It was basically whether I was classically trained.
The answer is pretty much yes. I started taking lessons at 8 years old and learned to read music with the Mel Bay Classical Guitar method. Over the years I spent a lot of time sight reading pieces from classical guitar books. The main was one called the World's Favorite Series #43, but a little later got into 2 books by Frederick Noad, The Renaissance Guitar and The Baroque Guitar.
In my late teens and early 20s I spent a lot of time exploring things musical with my friend John Dimick, a fabulous classical guitar player. We worked on many duets and even arranged some symphonic pieces for 2 guitars- Scheherazade and Pictures At An Exhibition are a couple I recall.
There are many advantages to this approach and few disadvantages. One of the disadvantages is a mindset that sometimes develops in classical players of not feeling qualified to create their own music. Luckily, I was always intrigued by new stuff I discovered on the guitar and felt I could mold little ideas into my own pieces.
I wasn't even fazed when an international classical guitar authority named John Duarte overheard my ragtime reworking of a Bach Sarabande and stomped off in disbelief and disgust.
In general, I would say that classical training makes more things easily accessible than any self-taught street method but you need to remain open to alternate approaches. An obvious example is that I will use my left thumb to fret notes when it is the best way to get a desired effect.
Neil
