Rating: 
Summary: From a Parkening Master Class (1982)Student and Teacher
Review: The one flaw that most classical guitar methods have is that the authors assume that a student has "proir experience". This is not the case with "The Christopher Parkening Method Vol 1" Mr. Parkening" starts the beginning student with a solid base of technic and prepares the student for a well rounded course in concert guitar. This is a well paced and consistent method, teaching a well rounded technic. This method is not boring or overly academic. There is also a brief history of the classical guitar from its Spanish origans to international prominance. I highly recommand this method for the aspiring concert guitarist as well as for the teacher.
Rating:
Summary: The first of two great classical guitar method manuals
Review: This book covers the basics of classical theory, use and application in the first position on the guitar. If you don't know what that means, that's ok, this book is still for you. Some sight reading is learned as well in this volume. With this and book 2, anyone can gain a medium knowlege of Classical method.
Rating:
Summary: The first of two great classical guitar method manuals
Review: This book covers the basics of classical theory, use and application in the first position on the guitar. If you don't know what that means, that's ok, this book is still for you. Some sight reading is learned as well in this volume. With this and book 2, anyone can gain a medium knowlege of Classical method.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding for the Beginning Classical Guitarist
Review: This book is extremely well written and complete, covering everything a beginner needs to know, and in my case, things an intermediate student never learned but should have. I'm sure I will refer back to it as long as I play. It's just so "complete". There are very detailed drawings and photos of how to hold, finger, and stroke the strings, backed up by the written word. Everything is very specific. The musical pieces are quite well chosen and lead the student through a natural progression from easy to difficult. Mr Parkening and his collaborators obviously have great insight as educators and took great care in assembling this book. The only criticism I have is the cover art picture of Christopher Parkening, which looks like it was taken back in the 70's. I don't think I'd leave this one laying around on the coffee table. I'm looking forward to purchasing his second volume.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding for the Beginning Classical Guitarist
Review: This does the best job that I have seen of covering everything about starting the classical guitar. Parkening doesn't spend much space on choosing a guitar, but, then, I'd imagine that anybody who buys the book already has a guitar. He does spend lots of space on holding the guitar properly, sitting properly, and positioning both hands properly (I benefited from this last, even though I've been a guitarist for thirty-five years). He goes on to cover tuning and the two basic right-hand strokes.The music is arranged in a logical order, getting progressively more difficult through the book, including several duets for student and teacher. Every piece is appropriate for a beginner, and no piece involves anything that has not been taught. The book ends with Mr Parkening's own views on what a musician should try to achieve. Although I do not share his Christian faith, I found his views stimulating and inspiring. This book is so good that the only negative comment that I have is that it would be even better if spiral bound to lie open on a music stand.
Rating:
Summary: Just About Perfect
Review: This does the best job that I have seen of covering everything about starting the classical guitar. Parkening doesn't spend much space on choosing a guitar, but, then, I'd imagine that anybody who buys the book already has a guitar. He does spend lots of space on holding the guitar properly, sitting properly, and positioning both hands properly (I benefited from this last, even though I've been a guitarist for thirty-five years). He goes on to cover tuning and the two basic right-hand strokes. The music is arranged in a logical order, getting progressively more difficult through the book, including several duets for student and teacher. Every piece is appropriate for a beginner, and no piece involves anything that has not been taught. The book ends with Mr Parkening's own views on what a musician should try to achieve. Although I do not share his Christian faith, I found his views stimulating and inspiring. This book is so good that the only negative comment that I have is that it would be even better if spiral bound to lie open on a music stand.
Rating: 
Summary: serviceable
Review: This is a fairly slim volume, with rather less than in it than some of the reviews below would lead you to believe. It is certainably serviceable as an instruction book, but there are other classical instruction books available, and better, in my opinion, classical instruction books available. It is nice to have the photographs of hand positions, but most of the photographs here are vanity shots of the author and superfluous, in my opinion. In fact, I think this book's raison d'etre is to attach a celebrity guitarist's name to a method book. Sorry if that sounds cynical, but the most famous guitarists are not necessarily the best teachers. I was dissapointed in the obvious and unrewarding "supplemental pieces" and the lack of specific guidance about when to use rest stroke or free stroke, for example. No, if I had to choose one, I'd certainly recommend the venerable and time-tested Aaron Shearer method. Don't misunderstand me, however: the Parkening book will suffice.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Method Book
Review: This is a terrific method book that I encourage classical guitar teachers and students to buy. The photographs and explanations of his points are clear and complete. What I like most about this book is the selection of music and how it is organized. The pieces and exercises come in perfect order. This particular volume limits all notes to within the first five frets, so more advanced players will want to also get volume two. I'm an advanced level guitarist and I went through this book very carefully, page by page, so that I would be able to use it effectively with students, to develop sight reading ability, and also to have the feel of playing pieces that I had total control over. This book will be my main source when I teach my students. There is one minor flaw: in the beginning of the book he gives an alterante sitting position for women that should not be used. Women should sit the same as men when they play classical guitar (unless they're wearing a skirt). It's acceptable for women to sit the same as men now when they play classical guitar. Some reviewers have made negative commnets about his "bible thumping" in the book. There's only one page of bible references in the book, at the very end, and even though I'm not releigious, I'm fine with it. He just talks about how his releigion is an inspiration to his music and he gives a few bible quotes. Big deal. You'd have to be a fool to not get this book -- the best method book I know of -- because of these few bible comments. You can really see how much this great guitarist tried to reach out to others and teach them how to play through this book.
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