Greetings, @Troy
You’re one of those Beato-level pioneers in a different way, and that is commendable, sir.
I happened to catch Joao’s awesome transcription of Paganini 16 the other day, and I 100% had to reach out.
My name is Mike Strausbaugh. My website says I’m a college professor/private music mentor with three Master’s of Music and 30 years of teaching experience. I’m an award-winning composer, TEDx Speaker, and my Mom thinks I’m awesome. Have big band stuff, string quartet, guitar concerto. Go, me!
And like you, I’m an 80’s Metal Guitar Kid. Fair to say you went more Yngwie, I went Hetfield. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Master of Puppets. Riffs uber alles.
This Caprice was my gateway to Paganini back in 1997. I’d gone to Berklee for a year, and it’s there that I discovered the etudes of Kreutzer. I had already studied classical guitar for a few years, and had two years of undergrad theory. I’d never thought about violin etudes, but you and I both know how perfect they are for guitar.
This Caprice hasn’t been in my active repertoire in a few years, and I’m way more into the other G Minor (10) now, but I still have it in my fingers. So today, when I have time to play, I reach for Paganini, Rode, Wieniawski, the Bach Partitas and/or Inventions, or a Mozart Piano Sonata. Or one of mine.
I just read and explore to my heart’s content.
Etudes are my very favorite thing to play, teach, and compose, and I would love to talk to you about the Caprices of Paganini. Or whatever. Sonny Rollins? Beethoven? Whatever.
Based on what I’ve seen on your show, I legitimately think it would be a fantastic conversation, and would fit your audience perfectly, if you wanted to do something.
If you want to check my street cred, I’m on the socials at StrausbaughOfficial. My YouTube banner video is rad.
You’ve created something cool, Troy. That’s fuckin cool.