Performance complex of students in children's music schools for guitar class

Abstract

Over the past century, the classical guitar has firmly established itself as a concert instrument on the global stage, with guitarists performing in the most prestigious concert halls around the world. Annually, international methodological seminars, competitions, and festivals for guitarists take place in various countries, showcasing diverse schools of performance.

All the mentioned points demand defining the performance complex of students in children’s music schools who are studying guitar, which has prompted the aim of this publication. The research objectives include: 1) defining the essence of key concepts such as “performance technique” and “artistic mastery”; 2) identifying the fundamental performance techniques for playing the guitar; 3) summarising scientific and pedagogical literature dedicated to instrumental performance; and 4) forming a cluster of factors that influence the development of the performance complex in students of children's music schools for guitar class.

The research has revealed that the performance complex of students in children’s music schools for guitar class comprises the natural abilities of children, performance technique, and artistic mastery.

Guitarist’s performance technique refers to the combination of physical skills, motor movements, and techniques that enable the musician to play the guitar with high quality and expressiveness. This includes general aspects, such as the correct holding of the instrument, hand and finger positioning, as well as specific technical methods used for performing various music styles. The guitarist's performance technique forms the foundation for the development of musicality and creative potential.

The combination of inherent musical abilities and performance technique forms the basis for the development of artistic mastery. Artistic mastery of the guitarist is the ability to convey music not only with technical precision but also with emotional depth and expressiveness, creating a profound impact on the listener. It encompasses not only technical skills but also an understanding of musical form, the ability to improvise, interpret musical works, as well as aesthetic sensibility and the ability to create one’s own unique performance style.

When discussing the artistic mastery of the future performer, it is important to note that many factors influence its level: cognitive mental processes, emotional-volitional processes, technical means of playing the instrument, and the individual-typological characteristics of the student (character, abilities, temperament). Mastering the playing of musical instruments, including the guitar, requires the accumulation of knowledge, skills, and abilities.