Soundscape: A Master Class with Benjamin Verdery

Benjamin Verdery, premiere classical guitar teacher, performer, and composer leads a master class with four UCSB guitar students. Series: "Soundscape" [9/2001] [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 5948]

[@TiticatFollies]

For crying out loud--this is a CLASS. One attends a class to LEARN. Not because one is an accomplished artist with nothing left to learn. No true artist, however brilliant and accomplished, would ever say he/she had nothing left to learn. We are always learning.

[@BougieAlex]

He's definitely a bit over-the-top, and very energetic, though I'll just butt in and say that he's a very nice man, and definitely a great player. I've had the chance to attend and play in one of his masterclasses, and I look forward to another he'll be giving in about a month.

[@miguelgmusic]

Over done, nice shorts and love the sandals.

[@Dr.JesseLiang]

Good job !really sounds nice! best wishes JESSE

[@stevenqirkle]

Wow - that was fantastic. Great ideas. Not being much of a player myself, I watched this as sort of a music appreciation lesson. And my appreciation for all of these pieces has grown tremendously. Also - we should lay off the first guy. He gets off to a shaky start - and I don't think his attitude is disrespectful so much as being really down on himself for his performance - but improves by the end.

[@The3irik92]

I just discovered Verdery today! I heard the prelude and wedding dance piece.. Amaaazing shit! And what a charismatic guy, as well.. A true artist :D

[@MrDizzyvonclutch]

Verdery has a book!?!? Coolness i need to go buy it, along with a cd and some of his sheet music!

[@tipoomaster]

There was a soundscape type song i heard on CBC Radio 2, i think they said it was by steve bates or something like that, does anyone know it?

[@athertonken]

See that his presentation and manner don't get many good comments but doesn't matter - it's not technique he's teaching its the meaning of the music and that is important.

[@eebsy]

Who should I watch if I want to see the best?

[@ricointx]

BV is very kind to the 1st performer. He should have said something like, "You come to my masterclass with Bach and you only started learning it a couple of days ago? You should show more respect for me, let alone Bach!"

[@hkge]

Concert tickets is now on sale. To support us, purchase tickets immediately!

[@geniousyo]

yea my teacher has a masters too, and he studied with ben at yale, so he always tells me this stories about him haha how he was always leaving to go play with williams and paco pena lol btw i will hopefully be in a masterclass with him in october when he comes to chicago =D

[@photopicker]

oh do I feel the pain and the nerves 2:53 ... thankfully Ben is the task master and one of the greatest teachers of all ... :)

[@ericsteffen6042]

What is the Bach piece the first student attempts?

[@ivanwp1]

J.S.Bach prelude 998

[@TheRandomDestruction]

@googenshlagen thank you for the insightful response, i didn't see some of the stuff you mentioned

[@bluebow68]

Ben Verdery is a great composer by the way!!

[@photopicker]

@The3irik92 Ben is a real gift to classical guitar. A genuine master of the instrument and a hell of a nice guy.

[@floater156]

You would think these guitarists would have the pieces up to a decent standard before participating in the master class.

[@MrDizzyvonclutch]

I love how he tunes to D5!

[@JapJackson]

In regards to the first performer - I feel bad, but all I could think of was "Failure to prepare is preparing to fail"! He has guts for getting up there in front of the cameras and of course, Verdery, but let this be a lesson to all us viewers out here...excuses hold no value when you are underprepared!

[@bluebow68]

I agree..I've sat thru' many master classes..it's painful to sit thru' something like it's being sight read..Badly!!..otherwise there's so many points the teacher can point out..like.."how about learning the piece first!??..;-))

[@natt73]

these guys cant even play tuned together...awefull..and dress code is phenomenal...ready for the freaking beach. master class my bolitas

[@MrDizzyvonclutch]

Well, i am at 15 minutes, and i think he is doing a great job at dealing with this wierd student! So i mean,what am i missing hear all of you maestroes, with all of your magnificent insults!?!

[@Orangepeel71]

Clippert?

[@Estonianwoodsman]

dude. if it was anyone else giving this master-class that first guy would have had a 3-round burst to the head.

[@trickeyD]

He is the student.

[@Estonianwoodsman]

@TheRandomDestruction i'm almost certain any musician will learn about chords at some point or another.

[@nylonguitar1]

even though the first performer is obviously nervous and really unprepared, he seems to also have a little attitude and really need to listen to Ben, i mean listen deeply.

[@photopicker]

Have the piece under your fingers when you play hardball in the masters court!!!!

[@MrVanxarp]

I've been trying to learn classical guitar using the free internet resources and all I can do now is say "Cedar-Top-Spruce-Top" very fast. I think i need to find a teacher.

[@bobjob66]

I am very new to the Classical guitar world after 13 years of playing regular or steal string guitar....and the first guy sounds like me...I am pretty sure when you come to a master class you should be bringing your A game if you playing a peice. just saying. He brings his C- or D+ work at best very sad. Enough about that guy Ben Verdery is Amazing!

[@bobjob66]

Really though I am shocked that his teacher let me go into a master class playing that poorly of a piece...very sad.

[@MegaClamjam]

Robert Mechling chill out dude

[@el_duderino9144]

you're absolutely right! Robert Mechling

[@googenshlagen]

@TheRandomDestruction I play both, and love both, but I think you could say things like that about electric guitar players. Most don't know much about theory/sight reading...All they know how to do could be improvise on the pentatonic scale, they don't know much about music history, don't have great technique, are very flashy, etc. And a lot of electric guitar music is really not as musically satisfying. They're completely different, but you know. You could criticize either one.

[@soundknight]

On top of the fact the guy wasnt ready for the master class somebody also thought to post this video? Both are pretty bad errors. I heard that John williams was giving a class once and the student played badly like he was practising, John just said go away and practice please. Masterclasses can be strange but also fruitful events if done right. I had great class with Alan Banks Wulfin Leiske David Leisner (surprised me witth how good it was) Slava Grigoryan Oscar Guzman and some moree tthat were grre lerning experiences. The performance part of it really adds something to the lesson, a certain energy the makes the master and student push the envelope.

[@AndrewStergiou]

John Williams carries on in the rude arrogant vein of Andres Segovia's oppressive tyrannies and prima donna except with a polite ENglish justification that accommodated Franco and Hitler.

[@geniousyo]

the funny thing is he only has a bachelors haha but of course he's had teachers, including brouwer of course =D

[@BerlinerStadtschloss]

... and the short trousers - if my children`s teacher walked in like that, I would tell them to leave the room and look for someone else.

[@kyngofhearts]

one's footwear suddenly has an affect on their musical abilities? whoa, i never realized.

[@JapJackson]

Watching this again (and why not!), I agree with you and it is quite blatant how disrespectful the guy is towards Verdery!

[@robertoortizserrano3307]

despues de piano, la guitarra es mi instrumento favorito,conosco poco de musica, pero pienso que estan todos muy nerviosos e inseguros.

[@JapJackson]

I know, no kidding!

[@kyngofhearts]

'master class' usually refers to a high-level class, where students are expected to have already mastered most techniques. if you need help with your technique, try watching a lower-level video, you're not ready for this yet.

[@PhilippeMusique]

thefirst players are the students, then he come and commentate

[@lawcch]

David the student should need more practise before attend this masterclass specially interpretation. interesting facial and body action expression by Maestro Benjamin.

[@MarkInLA]

Oy vey !! This is university-level master class music ? !! Professor shows up with shorts and a big gulp, then sits in a fetal position with 2 sneakers on the one foot rest. This body language suggests that he is cold and can't wait to go home. I did though enjoy thoroughly the piece from 9:36-10:00 !! That makes up for the other stuff !!

[@elisabou3683]

Frankly I don't see the point of showing up to a masterclass not being able to play worth shit.

[@piquedard]

i agree with you! i watched for 2 minutes or so...then zap!

[@larryjohnny]

maybe it's a Santa Barbra thing.. I think he was surfing dude! lol

[@somor98]

The first musician proves that music can really change your life... for the worse!!

[@bohemian46]

The shorts bother me more than the sandals.

[@regondii]

I think the one thing all these kids have in common is that their technique is not strong enough. Ben as a teacher addresses only musical aspects which are impossible to grasp without good technique. Ben's way of teaching is also as crazy as he is! He sings instead of addressing problems. And you really come out learning nothing. Honestly, who has learned anything from a teacher standing there singing the piece?

[@Ti1To3SaN5Ta7Na9]

second. tunes_?

[@MateuszDybka]

fajne klapki

[@bishopdante]

I just skipped to 55.00 and the guys got a maraca and is howling at the poor guy. How the fuck could you concentrate with that going on?! I'd be like dude fucking stop it with that maraca shit. It's like a comedy sketch of a nightmare music teacher. Aggressive micromanagement!!

[@MusikalGod]

@TwentyWounds ...they dont come better than mr. verdery

[@piti1705]

el q hizo el comentario de las sandalias. que risa

[@giannizei]

..... the" Flanger effect" is great...... she don't like cocaine :) Io gli avrei dato un schiaffo! Ma al Maestro che manco si e' accordato......

[@theoblablankenstein8038]

How can you give a masterclass without the guitars properly tuned before at the pitch.This is more tan than terrible,it`s hell.Poor Bach,he is is turning around in his grave. The teacher is hysterical,he shouts,talks to much.

[@Ana_crusis]

+Theobla Blankenstein He is an excellent teacher. Knowledgeable about the music in historical terms and totally conversant with all the pieces in minute detail. Humorous and a great musician. He gives them very good instruction.

[@OwylMozey]

I see A and D as different colors. go figure...

[@Classicallygassed]

A bit on the painfull side.

[@thenamesfrancisco]

Lol random blues licks with the first student

[@jpt9635]

holy crap..... I dont think Ive seen this level of hot mess from a masterclass ever. Ive seen people unprepared to perform, and over-the-top-teachers, but never both- and never to this extent.........

[@nazmulsakibrumi]

:)

[@AndrewStergiou]

Not my favorite yet. BUT great holistic teacher addressing the concerns of the human being in face of adverse realities especially the critical acclaim of the blowhards who would be more suitable critique the traditionalist arrogance the Euro chauvinist clones of Andres Segovia. LOVE THE SHORTS GET COMFORTABLE AND LEARN HOW TO PLAY SLASH PERFORM.

[@Yngsatchvai]

He's nervous is all.

[@MyDanelectro]

That was real awful. It wouldnt be so bad if it was not called "masterclass".

[@flcdpngn96]

intense

[@pinsrapelcnu]

I've met him - he really got on my nerves. I hope i dont meet him again

[@ax_el_alvarez]

Nope. But it's onw of the worst ideas getting to a masterclass with an absolutely new piece, you won't learn much. Just the most basic things, tempo, articulation, fingerings, etc. Not a deeper review or insight of the piece. But that's my opinion only :)

[@Bullerias]

LMFAO

[@keto6789]

that first guy looks like he should be sittin at a bar watchin football, not playing classical guitar.

[@zrtknl]

masterclass?? Was played well but not 100% clean, its obviously a tough tough piece but ya know.......

[@abuj7997]

this parrot maestro acts like hes on drugs...

[@orbsandtea]

meh

[@TheRandomDestruction]

I find classical guitar too limiting. Most can't improvise, and a lot have never heard of chords even. I'm not insulting classical guitar, i'm just saying i prefer electric guitar, because of the freedom of playing

[@ucdcrush]

That first chap isn't very good at listening..

[@peterweltweit]

i thk the teacher is on pills.

[@chessmambo]

his fidgeting is annoying!

[@Adam5100]

sorry dude not good,,,tuesday,, take this video off the net

[@DuoPolyakovs]

:)