Mastering Guitar Technique: Process & Essence by Christopher Berg was first published in 1997, but was used by Christopher Berg for 15 years with his university students (University of South Carolina) before being published by Mel Bay. The book was the first to research physiology and neurology and how these concepts relate to playing the classical guitar. The contents of the book are extensive with a thorough amount of diligent research that contains bibliographic references.
The book references the keys to rapid technical and artistic development through the guidance of the study the simple version of a technique, e.g., slow scales, while fulfilling all the criteria of the advanced version of that technique, e.g. fast scales. This will result in a practice that continually moves one forward, rather than go off in irrelevant directions.
Mastering Guitar Technique was designed to be a comprehensive, exploration of the requirements for developing an effortless and musically sensitive guitar technique.
Christopher Berg Biography:
Christopher Berg is a Carolina Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the School of Music music at the University of South Carolina where he directed the classical guitar program between 1978 and 2022. His students have won top prizes in regional and national competitions and serve on the faculties of colleges and universities in the US. In 1999-2000 he was honored by the University of South Carolina as a recipient of a Michael J. Mungo Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching and in 2003 he was awarded the Cantey Outstanding Faculty Award by the School of Music for performance, research, and teaching. In 2003 his former students created the Christopher Berg Endowment Fund at UofSC in his honor. This fund supports The Christopher Berg Guitar Award, which is presented annually to an outstanding undergraduate guitar student at in the School of Music at the University of South Carolina. In 2008 the university named him a Carolina Distinguished Professor, a chaired professorship that he held until leaving the university in 2022. During his time at the University of South Carolina he prepared his students for 232 degree recitals.
