guitar lecture/workshop

Guitar Workshop

For further information please contact Paul on pasguitar@aol.com

The Right Thought at the Right Moment

Well-being: The Arts and Health Conference, Royal Society of Medicine in London 2005: ' The remaining musical contribution came from the engagingly articulate guitarist Paul Anders Søgaard, telling the story of his discovery of the benefits of the Alexander Technique...it remained fascinating to see Søgaard's detailed demonstration, guitar in hand, of just how the principles affect the minutiae of performing. In the course of his lecture, Søgaard also offered a penetrating insight into the musical performer's psychological attitude to injury.' Andrew Green, Classical Music Magazine 5 November 2005.

'We've had a fantastic response to your seminar at the RGT Conference ... many teachers told me on the day and telephoned the office to say how much they enjoyed your seminar and how informative it was!' Tony Skinner, Director, Registry of Guitar Tutors

'Paul Anders Sogaard ... is a knowledgeable musician and guitarist and his workshops has always been well received. His lectures and demonstrations are lucid and he gets very good results when working with guitarists.'
Carola Grindea FGSMD, ISSTIP Chairman, Director of ISSTIP Performing Arts Clinic.

'Many congratulations on the absolutely brilliant master class you gave last week.' Dr Christopher Wynn Parry MBE MA FRCS FRCP. Consultant Rheumatologist and Honorary Physician to BAPAM. ( BAPAM Training Day 19 November 2004)

In this lecture I will discuss and demonstrate my approach to playing and teaching the guitar. I was awarded a distinction for my dissertation 'Ergonomics of the Guitar' (PAMT Course).

This will include:

	Ergonomics of the guitar (from my dissertation)
	Alexander Technique in relation to the player/instrument
	Sitting positions & balancing the instrument
	Right & left hand technique/co-ordination
	Practice & Performing Techniques, including preparation for exams/auditions
	Teaching Methods
	Improvisation in Performance/Teaching
	How to conquer Anxiety in Performance
	Conscious development of "Peak Performance"
	How the nervous system works
	Breathing
	Understanding of Conscious Guidance
	Imitation

A question and answer session will close the workshop.

The workshop is designed to let students explore the subjects from the lecture, by using the feedback they get from their bodies. There is no right/wrong, but instead students are encouraged to find solutions that suit them by creating a natural technique based on their natural ability to learn. I have always thought it was important to give each student their own tools to develop as a guitarist and musician. I want the student to know how to think, not what to think.
Simply to copy somebody else, especially when it comes to technique, defies the whole purpose of learning how to play the guitar. Without a conscious and precise method we can never hope to develop our selves and realise our full potential as human beings and musicians.
By teaching the student to use his/hers awareness in relation to the instrument it is possible for anyone to create their own way of expressing themselves without any unnecessary tension, only the true tension in the music!

Parts of the lecture is published in the EGTA UK 2000 Journal.

Venues include:

2006	BAPAM Training Day 'The guitarist's hand -focal dystonia'. Royal Soc. Of Musicians 10 Stratford Place London W1C 1BA. Friday 9 June.
2005	The Royal Society of Medicine, London UK. Bicentenary Programme. Tuesday 27 September.
2004	The Registry of Guitar Tutors Conference. London College of Music and Media. Sunday 19 September.
2004	British Assoc. for Performing Arts Medicine. Royal Soc. Of Musicians 10 Stratford Place London W1C 1BA. Friday 19 November.
2004	Music Medicine Therapy Course London College of Music and Media. Sunday 5 December 2004.
2003	ISSTIP Performing Arts Clinic London College of Music and Media at 16.00 12th November - Room 272.
2003	Trinity College of Music, Old Royal Naval College, London SE10. Friday 22 August 15.00 - 16.00.
2002	ISSTIP Performing Arts Clinic London College of Music and Media at 16.00 30 October - Room 272.
1999	Lewes Guitar Festival, Lewes, East Sussex, UK
1999	EGTA's 10 Annual Conference at Bath Spa University, Bath, UK
1999	ISSTIP's 2nd International Conference at Royal Festival Hall, London UK
1998	Spanish Guitar Centre, London UK (EGTA UK)
1998	Surrey Music Performing Arts, Surrey, UK