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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

Annual Aron House Studio Party

While our traditional house party features a huge bonfire (see 2017), this year the date of our gathering followed a week of rain. So in spite of the student’s valiant efforts to get the burn pile started, it wouldn’t cooperate. But we had fun trying! Extra points to Julia and Eliza, who wouldn’t take no for an answer, continuing to feed the flame long after the others gave up. And to Mohit, whose gasoline-soaked donut bombs, while against supervisory intent, still caused much commotion and momentary conflagrations.

We feasted on self-assembled taco salads, cider and home-made donuts (JoNell and I stayed up late the night before deep-frying them, and carried into the next day several hand-burns to prove it). Then after our dalliance with the damp wood pile, gravitated to the musical instruments. We like to pull out everything in the closets and see who will try what, and to our delight, pretty much everyone plays everything at one point or another. We had on hand: the child-sized drum kit we had gifted to our grandson Ashton some ten years before, but which he didn’t really take to, and still occupies a spot in the basement, a steel-string guitar, a bass guitar, a guitanjo, a mandolin, a child-sized violin, a cello, an accordion, some hand percussion and, of course, the piano. And everyone sang. It was nice—some photos follow. Next time, we’ll be sure to get a good flame up….

JoNell makes donuts

JoNell makes donuts

Lily helped!

Lily helped!

Hard at work trying to raise a flame

Hard at work trying to raise a flame

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The momentary hope raised by a donut bomb…

The momentary hope raised by a donut bomb…

L-R: Flora, Alayna, Rowan, Morgan, Daphne, Mohit, Kat, Julia, Collin, Caeli, Archie, Aidan, Eliza, Craig.

L-R: Flora, Alayna, Rowan, Morgan, Daphne, Mohit, Kat, Julia, Collin, Caeli, Archie, Aidan, Eliza, Craig.

And the music starts…

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Flora, 7, who’d had a few introductory guitar lessons, was fascinated by the proceedings.

Flora, 7, who’d had a few introductory guitar lessons, was fascinated by the proceedings.

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Aidan, Morgan, Craig, Archie, Collin, Eliza

Aidan, Morgan, Craig, Archie, Collin, Eliza

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Flora later exclaimed with excitement, “I’m in a rock band!!!!!!”

Flora later exclaimed with excitement, “I’m in a rock band!!!!!!”

Mohit

Mohit

Eliza

Eliza

Collin

Collin

Archie

Archie

Craig

Craig

Caeli and Flora

Caeli and Flora

Daphne and Mohit closed out the evening with a soulful duet.

Daphne and Mohit closed out the evening with a soulful duet.

The Romeros Come to Oberlin

The Romeros Come to Oberlin

Arcangel Velasquez's Sophomore Recital

Arcangel Velasquez's Sophomore Recital

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