oskarthestudent said:
why do you think they jump to this (yes, unfair) conclusion?? - EXPERIENCE. So many kids pick up their instrument in year 11, adopt an unclean, unkempt look and play rock works in the hsc, is it any wonder the examiners jump to conclusions. THESE are the rockers im opposed to. If you can play vals venozalono 2 thats great, and I hope you use your technical abilities to do something about the standard of rock performance in the hsc, and get into uni. I have nothing whatsoever against a rocker who works hard at their instrument - my issue is with the fact that my school music faculty puts the 'fad' and 'poser' rockers before the serious classical players.
Good.
oskarthestudent said:
But I cannot and will never aggree that rock music is as technically challenging. It may have escaped your notice, but, while being pretty hard technically, Vals Venozolano 2 does not represent the peak of guitar virtuosity. You don't say "yep, played vals venezolano 2 - thats the guitar mastered".
I know. I haven't mastered any aspect of the guitar. I don't think anyone ever has mastered the guitar. There is ALWAYS something to be learnt.
Like I said, please tear yourself away from MTV/Mainstream Music channels. The Technically proficient rock guitar is out there, you just haven't seen it yet!
oskarthestudent said:
There is just no way that the best of rock musicians can compare technically with the best of classics.
But they do. You just haven't heard them because you are being ignorant. I agree also I haven't heard THE BEST classical musicians. But I have heard VERY extremely talented ones.
oskarthestudent said:
Same with guitar - It's not possible for a rocker to develop a technique as good as that of a classical guitarist. Rockers bairly even use the right hand - They ussuallu just 'pluck' with the first finger held clumsily against their thumb. This is because the electric guitar does not need a right hand technique. Once a string is sounded it continues to sound whatever notes the left hand 'fingers'. And even the left hand is simpler in some ways - you don't have to do technical slurs on a rock instrument. You just lift the finger off the string and it slurs. And don't say rockers play much faster either - of course they give the appearence of this: they don't have to use their right hand anywhere near as much. And don't say music isn't all technical, because classical musicians spend a lot of time considering interpretation, and as the music is more complex they have more complex ideas to interpret. Please don't say rock music is just as complex. To do so would just confirm that you really are dumb. I hold you in relativly high esteem as you gave the only descent argument in favour of rock, but if you say rock music is more complex, your stock will go down sharply.
Rock (which has many branches and this is what I am taking into consideration) is just as complex. If not, more complex at times. Depends what 'style' of Rock you are playing.
Strict alternate picking for example, requires more right hand co-ordination for Rock guitarists. Legato doesn't use much right hand at all, but to be able to control the left hand and make it smooth sounding, as the greats can do, requires as much practice as a classical musician would spend learning proper articulation techniques in a piece. Also, take into consideration that I am getting into the more "virtuosic rock" side of things, because you generalised, so I'm picking a genre to help back me in my opinions.
Here are some examples of GOOD Rock music. I know you are opposed to wannabee's but PLEASE take the time to listen to these very short samples of technique at it's absolute best on Rock guitar.
Firstly, open up any downloading programs you may have (and although I am against this and it's my favourite band) download a song by Dream Theater called "The Dance of Eternity". They don't use samples instead of real instruments either. It's all very real playing, I've seen them do it on DVD.
Angra - Angels and Demons - Only the guitar solos. I'm playing this for my HSC, almost exactly the same. And yes, it's very hard, but I'm used to it.
Dream Theater - Lie - 2nd guitar solo.
Nevermore - The River Dragon Has Come - guitar solo.
Dream Theater - Under a Glass Moon - The "who's who of guitar solos".
Liquid Tension Experiment - When the Water Breaks - A very short segment of a 17 minute song, showing a lovely Keyboard and Guitar unison. THIS IS HOW REAL ROCK MUSIC IS. MUSIC THAT IS MADE FOR THE SAKE OF THE MUSIC, NOT THE MONEY OR IMAGHE. LISTEN TO MEEEE!