This week I had the pleasure of catching up with classical guitarist and Guitar Techniques columnist Bridget Mermikedes. I have followed Bridget's work for many years and am a huge fan of her transcriptions, professionalism and dedication. It was an honour to discuss her pieces, classical guitar playing and her guitar retreat holidays. Here’s what we talked about…
GS: How long have you been playing guitar?
BM: I have been playing the guitar now for 44 years.
GS: Did you ever have lessons or are you a self taught musician?
BM: I began Cello lessons at the age of 6 (my whole family are musicians) and I started playing the guitar - self taught, at age 8 my mother eventually found a teacher for me, and my classical guitar lessons began when I was 14.
GS: What was the very first thing you learned to play on the guitar?
BM: Three chords: A, D and E and the song 'Kum ba Yah’. I was taught this by another kid in school, I thought it was amazing!
GS: When teaching guitar today to the absolute beginner, what piece do you choose to start them off with?
BM: I don’t start with a piece for a beginner, I start with basic technique and simple sight reading.
GS: How long have you been providing the classical guitar feature in Guitar Techniques magazine and how did you become a columnist?
BM: In 2004 I won a Blues Guitar competition advertised in Total Guitar magazine. The prize was 6 weeks study (electric guitar) at Los Angeles Guitar Academy. When I returned, the editors of Guitar Techniques magazine asked me to contribute some lessons and I did a total of 13 electric guitar columns starting in 2005. After that I did a few classical guitar columns and a DVD. My long standing classical series started in January 2010 has been in every issue since.
GS: In a recent issue you transcribed Alman by British composer Robert Johnson. How long would a piece like that take you to do?
BM: Alman didn’t take long to notate (maybe an hour) because it was not an arrangement. It’s the arrangements that are time consuming.
GS: I have recently discovered you provide holiday workshops. What can students expect from their time spent with you?
BM: I only do one guitar holiday. It's in the summer with Helicon Arts. I teach technique, solos and ensembles and we have a concert on the last night.
GS: Would this environment suit a beginner or is it aimed more at intermediate - advanced guitarists?
BM: It’s for intermediate to advanced players.
GS: For your recordings, do you enter a music studio to record your pieces or is it done at home?
BM: At home.
GS: What music software do you use to record and do you mix and master your tracks yourself?
BM: We (my husband and I) have a home studio and use Logic. We produce it ourselves.
GS: Bridget, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to Guitar School today. It’s been an honour talking with you. We wish you all the very best for the rest of 2018 and for the future!
