Ben Bolt - Classical Guitar Music Master

Author:

Steven Herron

Ben Bolt was playing lead guitar in rock bands at the age of 12 and performed professionally at 16 in Miami. After high school, Ben left his band to study classical guitar music in Spain. At the age of 19 he studied classical guitar with Andres Segovia in Madrid. Andrés Segovia, the father of the classical guitar, said 'Ben Bolt is an excellent guitarist with fine tone.' Segovia personally paid for a scholarship so that Bolt could continue his studies at the Musica en Compostela, which Segovia founded. Later in Paris, Ben Bolt sought out and studied with Abel Carlevaro who continued to teach Bolt in Brazil at the International Guitar Conservatory. There under full scholarship, Bolt was introduced to more Segovia teaching information and equally important to the Carlevaro school of guitar technique.

During the next several years Ben Bolt went on to Montevideo, Uruguay, Carlevaro\'s home town, to complete his music studies under the direction of Maestro Carlevaro and Guido Santorsola, the distinguished Italian composer and conductor. Carlevaro invited him to attend the 1974 International Guitar Seminary in Brazil under full scholarship. In that same year Ben won the coveted Merit Prize as Outstanding Student at the First International Masters Class in Montevideo. Bolt is credited with being an innovator in introducing thousands of new people to the classical style of guitar playing through his DVDs and books which use a revolutionary format of learning. In the past, guitar students needed to learn to read classical guitar music at the same time they were learning to play the classical guitar which was complicated. Since the publication of Bolt\'s classical guitar book/CD packages, beginners are able to play immediately. His guitar tablature system, which uses lines and numbers to show where the notes are on the fretboard, along with the CD recordings empower all students to play. Because of his vision of making classical guitar accessible to all kinds of musicians, the classical guitar is now being experienced by the masses.

Several Ben Bolt classical guitar books have become best sellers and his 'Anyone Can Play the Classical Guitar' DVD has become a reference source for college guitar students as the authority on basic fundamentals concerning classical guitar technique. Ben currently resides in Knoxville, Tennessee where he teaches all styles of guitar. He is also Professor of Guitar at Carson-Newman College. He believes anyone can play the guitar well provided they have these three key ingredients: a good instrument, a knowledgeable teacher, and music that holds the student\'s interest. Fortunately for avid classical guitarists, Ben continues to release more instructional guitar tab books and DVDs every year covering the music of various composers such as Bach, Mozart, Pagannini, Tarrega, Sor, and Carcassi.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/ben-bolt-classical-guitar-music-master-4062562.html

About the Author
Peabody Conservatory trained guitarist Steven Herron helps people succeed at becoming better guitar players. His company ChordMelody.com features an enormous, unique selection of classical guitar tab as well as guitar books and instructional DVDs by Ben Bolt himself.