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BiosJack and FrancesWe have both been playing the guitar since we were kids, beginning at age 9 (Frances) and age 13 (Jack). We grew up in California within a few miles of each other (although we didn't meet until many years later) and were passionate about music: both of us took classical guitar lessons, played guitar in church, in school, and after school, and then later were caught up in the world of adulthood and went to work in other fields.When we met in 1997, Jack had recently returned to playing music professionally, and Frances, wishing to pick up the thread of her music practice, came to Jack seeking instruction. No doubt there were better qualified teachers... but destiny called, and in a few years we were playing together and creating the repertory of music which has become our life's work. We began playing together for weddings and special events throughout northern California, including such picturesque venues as the hotels in Yosemite National Park and the Sea Ranch Chapel. Since moving to Mexico in 2004, we have given concerts and private performances in San Miguel de Allende (Guanajuato); Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Bucerias, Melaque, and Tapalpa (Jalisco); Colima, Paracho (Michoacan), and Pachuca (Hidalgo). We currently make our home in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, in the central highlands about 3 hours north of Mexico City. The technical foundation of our music is the classical nylon-string guitar plucked with the fingernails, in the traditional manner of the Segovia school but with certain technical extensions, and, more importantly, a fluid and completely popular approach to repertory. We use all five fingers of the right hand for a variety of picking and strumming techniques. Our repertory and musical interests include our original compositions, classical music, rhumba-flamenco, tangos, jazz, pop and Mexican favorites. (See the repertory list.) Jack began playing the piano at 4 years old, and switched to guitar at 13. He left school at 15 to focus on improving his guitar technique, and spent the next 5 years practicing many hours daily. By the end of his teens, his discontent with the limitations of the classical guitar repertory drove him to develop his arranging and composing skills and to explore ragtime, jazz, folk and world music while keeping the purity of classical guitar technique and tone, as well as continuing a lifelong study of counterpoint, jazz harmony, and classical composition. Frances began studying guitar at 9 years old. She studied classical guitar while also singing and playing throughout her teens with her church youth group. Since her teens she has taught guitar to students of all ages. After getting degrees in English and Biology, she returned to music, her first love. Her knowledge and technique bases include harmony and composition, classical guitar technique, and strumming / plucking / slapping techniques borrowed from bossa nova, rock 'n roll, huapango, rhumba-flamenco, and bolero styles. |
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Last page update 03-02-10 |
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