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I find this very touching, and I am inclined to tell you that you have every reason to be proud of yourself, because incidentally it shows how much you have progressed, how much your playing and the touch on your guitar has refined, how your sensitivity has blossomed to offer us ever more moving music. So you deserve all the compliments, never be ashamed of this period, don't be embarrassed any more, these were your beginnings, and in much the same way that any ocean begins with a first drop of water, the game that you are showing today began with these less easy beginnings. 😌🙏
@@davidkeller6156Oh, thank you so much for writing that, I thought it was just me that hits that wall. Tbh, I’ve wanted to try a couple of guitars for months now and every time I think “today’s the day, I’m just going to walk into the shop, have a friendly chat with the sales guy, sit down and just play this and that for a few minutes,” I can’t bring myself to walk into the place. I’ve actually spent ten or fifteen minutes outside looking at the window display without going through the door three times now and each time it gets worse. 😟
Because what you do is an art, your opinion can range from cringe even if it is good to acceptance and approval. I wrote a lot of poetry when I was 19 years old. I looked at it as a 24 year old and cringed. Now I am 80 and I see that the writings were true to my intent and perfectly good. It is the lack of some kind of exact measure of quality. A lot of my music also for awhile after recording it I would see mistakes and the like that actually weren't mistakes. You have to be kind to yourself. You are a true artist.
The best part about looking back on old videos of yourself is the simple realization of how far you've come. The more you cringe, the better you've become lol
I wonder how many of her classmates from that school are still in music. I would hope several, but I would guess not many. Most people give up on a field like music that doesn't pay well but requires hours and hours of practice. Whereas she stuck with it and is now a success. Hard work beats "talent" (although I think that's just her being self-critical).
And here we are, just enjoying you, your music and how you've grown over the past decade (and a bit) thanks for sharing this, that takes more guts than most of us will ever have. Just nice to see your reaction to you, playing. For me, I just love the way you can let your emotions sound through your music, which makes me listen to you playing even more enjoyable. Big THANKS from me!
I remember my teacher insisting I always practice this piece with the metronome and I would complain that nobody plays it like that. He would say you're not going to play it like that, you're going to practice it like that. I could never get the runs up to speed (especially the chromatic one) but in performance without the metronome it wasn't noticeable.
This is brilliant on so many levels. Bravo and thank you. Your humility says so much about your character. And something about critiquing your own performance is a really powerful way to teach. I loved it and learned something.
😊 it's good to know that we're able to get better! Everybody in it's own tempo. I would be lucky to be able to play those kind of pieces again but I gave up playing sheet music a long time ago and decided to improvise because that is my thing.
It was really cool!! It made me remember how nervous I was playing in tiny concerts… You have come a long way!!! Amazing!!! Not that you were bad, but because playing is hard!
we use the tougths for understanding and complete the sadness and the bitter soul for many of us sharing the one and only same thougth for be loved. You are greate.
Watching you watch your younger self is a hoot! Your English sense of humor radiates good will and tough love support for the fledgling Tarrega performer. More of these!
Don’t worry about it, it happens to me as well when I had my first few recitals. I was expected to memorize multiple amounts of pieces but that was so hard for me putting my practice and memory together.
Hey, we gotta judge according to a fair standard of comparison. At 14, that's a long way to come in playing music. Sure, it wasn't an awesome performance - inconsistent tempo, a few missed notes, but it still demonstrates a lot of hard work leading up to this point. So 👏 bravo, you're old self still deserves a hand, and an audience. 😊 I wasn't that good at 14! I still haven't performed (yet), and it's a groundbreaking threshhold for all musicians to reach. Thank you for sharing something vulnerable. It's a privilege to witness another person's journey with a throwback.
Nothing wrong with a little self-eval every now-and-then! Indeed, you've definitely grown to new heights...and it is truly inspiring and awesome to see in action! Way to go, Alexandra!!
The last place that I lived in the UK before relocating to America was Stockport! We are SO looking forward to your visit to our local Arts Center on Feb 23rd 2024! Travel safe!
A. W.; Hello ---- Do not be so hard on yourself! You did fine. When I was 14, I could barely play a very slow rendition of "Row, Row, Row your boat". You did well..... nobody was looking at your shoes, and your hair looks fine. BTW - One of the best music videos that I have ever seen / heard is your video where you went to France and played a beautiful piece in the courtyard / garden room area of an old church. I sent/forwarded that video to other people and suggested they play/watch it as they were eating dinner. I think it would help with anyone's digestion and well-being. If you are looking for ideas of music to play, I would suggest you play the Lute works of the wonderful Johann Sebastion Bach.
Fun fact: nearly everybody progresses over time, whatever their profesion. Relive and enjoy your earlier concerto's. You undoubtetly did your very best and thats all you can do. You and your parents were surely extremely proud of your achievement at that time with very good reason. Further: enjoy the progress you have made. You have earned that right.
Alexandra, this video is so inspiring and extremely brave of you to share. I do not see any difference between a 14 year old and a 50 odd year old under pressure doing the exact same performance at that level (bloody well done that 14yo! Jeez louise!). I have played electric and acoustic guitar for many years and only in the past 2 years have I re visited a very short previous Classical guitar aspiration. I have a wonderful Teacher and a beautiful sounding Christopher Dean guitar now which I can honestly say both of them kick my arse into playing with a whole new level of challenge and appreciation for this wonderful music genre. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful insight and skills; showing us and reminding us that we are all very capable of reaching greater heights with this art form and for showing us that however much we may struggle with this very demanding beasty that there is a whole new level of skill and understanding shining brightly; within our reach; just waiting over every classical guitar hurdle. Thank You.
That is such a great watch of a talented 14 year old, fun reaction clip too because it shows how far you’ve come. Be kind to that young Alexandra, that version of you was a step on the way to today 😊
You've come a long way since then. It's not all about technique more about an understanding and feeling for the piece of music your trying to play. Once you get it all together that's when the magic happens.
So easy to go back in time, critique oneself and point out the little insecurities and shortcomings one may have had during that time, but it’s quite near impossible to imagine how much one is destined to accomplished thirteen years into the future.
These video's can be used as a teaching aid for Alex students that get stage fright or lack a bit of confidence in their playing, it will help those students relate to her better because they can see she also struggled with these issue's and that will help out a whole load
even 13 years ago, you play 13 times better than I! 🤣 But yes, you have come along ways in that time…so congratulations on always striving to do better….that’s an excellant quality👍 cheers from the deep woods in northern🇨🇦
Hello Alexandra. It can always be better...lol...except in one case. Your interpretation of UN dios de novembre is burned into my brain. It truly is a thing of beauty. In the video, you could be the Goddess of music, sitting somewhere in some misty dimension, playing your instrument. And that piece...the whole thing haunts me. Quite a few have covered it, but yours is the one that will be remembered. I am trying to bring it over to steel and you are the inspiration for that. When you play it, it is the most beautiful thing I have ever heard. Thank you.
Yeah, noticed the shoes before you mentionned them 😂It's normal to see all your own defaults with the eyes and the level you have now. But you should know that for an audience (and especially for non-musicians), this performance is more than okay!! 😊 Please keep on making these videos! 🌞
You were a good guiarist then. You are a great one now. Everyone gotta start somewhere! I learned this piece myself in my early teens and, believe me, younger you was doing a MUCH better job of it than I ever did! 😄
You have nothing to be embarrassed about. At that age I had zero confidence in myself as well and I remember my father telling me that when it came to guitar, you never stop learning. You have obviously come so very far since then. I have to admit that the first time I saw one of your videos, was when you played this piece some 6 years ago and I was hooked. That video now is up to 18 million views and I can understand why.
Very good. I'm a jazz guitarist and I wonder....is that the same instrument? I wouldn't be able to play one thing you're doing there, even with the mistakes (that I couldn't tell). Loved the pointy shoes.
To be fair it still sounds lovely and when you are young and nervous you tend to speed things up when you believe you've all the time in the world, it just goes to show how much time carries with the wisdom to reduce our haste. Aside from the hastened tempo these are all absolutely beautiful and you should be very proud of yourself I see nothing worthy of cringe and a lot worthy of PRIDE.
MIA AMICA CARA DALLA MIA SICILIA CON AFFETTO ED AMICIZIA U N CARISSIMO SALUTO COMPLIMENTI PER IL BEL VIDEO E SPIEGAZIONE ED INCANTEVOLE ESECUZIONE DELLA MERAVIGLIOSA MUSICA CON MIO CUORE UN CARO SALUTO DALLA ITALIA GIUSEPPE
It's lovely because you actually recognize every failure and error, and still you can go back to that young version of you and love her, taking her in your heart, and embrace her for her courage and bravery, knowing all the difficulties she went through. That's what we all should do with ourselves.
