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An exploration of all topics related to the classical guitar. Articles on guitar technique and practicing, guitar-related opportunities and many general performance and music-related topics. Articles on my students' activities and spotlight features on alumni. Easily searchable by the following tags:

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Annual Aron House Studio Party, 2019 Edition

Annual Aron House Studio Party, 2019 Edition

I try to have the studio to my home each year for a party. After all, as I live about an hour away from campus, it is unusual for students to just “drop by.” We’ve fallen into a routine with these gatherings: lots of food (usually with a Mexican accent), mountains of homemade doughnuts and a searing bonfire out in the yard. Finally, a free-form jam session in which everyone passes around the oddball assortment of instruments on hand (including but not limited to a drum set, steel string and classical guitars, a bass guitar, a piano, a mandolin, a banjo, a violin, a viola, a cello, several recorders and harmonicas, an accordion and all kinds of hand percussion. This can be pretty entertaining.

This year, we proceeded according to form with little change. We got to eat outside, as the weather was great. A new element was a laser-tag battle between my students and my four grandkids, aged 5-15. I’m not sure who won…

Instead of a simple bonfire, we had three, right next to one another. I’d removed nine trees last spring and piled the branches and brush high into three piles. We waited all summer while the wood dried out and the time was finally right to reduce them to ash and reclaim our yard. I knew burning them at the same time would be either amazing (good) or terrifying (maybe bad).

After the fires we had the customary music, but as I was busy playing the whole time, I forgot to take pictures. Ah well—next time!

The studio attendance was small. We missed Archie, who had a conflict. But, with family and friends, we had a great party. Here are some shots from the evening….

L-R: Aidan, Suvan, Caeli, Craig, Kat, and Julie

L-R: Aidan, Suvan, Caeli, Craig, Kat, and Julie

L-R: Caeli, Craig, Kat, Julie, Jim and Jen, Sue (standing), JoNell, Suvan and Aidan

L-R: Caeli, Craig, Kat, Julie, Jim and Jen, Sue (standing), JoNell, Suvan and Aidan

And there I am, fully armed….

And there I am, fully armed….

The fires are getting started…

The fires are getting started…

Jim, Jen and JoNell

Jim, Jen and JoNell

Jim (facing away), Jen, JoNell, Alayna and Sue

Jim (facing away), Jen, JoNell, Alayna and Sue

The fires, getting hotter, require backing up against the house…

The fires, getting hotter, require backing up against the house…

The first bonfire is going now….

The first bonfire is going now….

The second one has caught, and we are working on the third….

The second one has caught, and we are working on the third….

Lily in front of the flames

Lily in front of the flames

The studio and me, a bit close for comfort

The studio and me, a bit close for comfort

The third fire starts to catch…

The third fire starts to catch…

Adam and Ashton tend to the third pile

Adam and Ashton tend to the third pile

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And now, three simultaneous fires!

And now, three simultaneous fires!

Josh, Ashton, Alayna and Adam, with Rowan hiding

Josh, Ashton, Alayna and Adam, with Rowan hiding

A bit of an inferno…

A bit of an inferno…

Finally, they settled down a bit

Finally, they settled down a bit

With the fires a bit more tame, we start hanging out in the danger zone, in the middle of the fire triangle

With the fires a bit more tame, we start hanging out in the danger zone, in the middle of the fire triangle

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Judicaël Perroy at Oberlin

Judicaël Perroy at Oberlin

Spotlight On Alumni: Steve Sloan

Spotlight On Alumni: Steve Sloan

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