How to Play the Guitar: An Approach to 16th Century Repertoire with Students of Specialized Artistic Education

Abstract

In this article, we aim to present the strategies, implications, sessions, and outcomes of incorporating vihuela repertoire into classical guitar practice. The main motivation for this study arose from the absence of such repertoire throughout preparatory cycles, as revealed in the initial phase of our research. This allowed for a comparative analysis between this absence in national curricula and the inclusion of such repertoire in other educational settings, such as the elementary- level guitar programs of Spanish conservatories. 

Based on the research we conducted in 2020 at the Silva Monteiro Music School, as part of the requirements for obtaining a master’s degree in music education from the University of Aveiro, under the supervision of Professor Dr. Pedro Rodrigues, it is possible to understand the importance of early exposure to this repertoire during the initial stages of learning. Such exposure serves as a strategy for acquiring technical and musical resources (for instance, counterpoint and accompanied melody) that are essential for the performance of contemporary classical guitar repertoire (Munoz, 2016, p. 33).