Two Guitar Concerts in the Norwegian Fjords

I thought you might enjoy a brief update into the life of this musician over the last week, and it has been pretty eventful.
Robin is currently in the beautiful Norwegian Fjords and enjoying the views:




But of course he is actually there to give two concerts, both of which he has now performed.
The theatre, which holds more than 1000 people, was full on each occasion and the audience very appreciative.
Robin has spoken to many of them since, who so enjoyed the first performance that they went along to the second.
In fact one gentleman, who's father was a pianist, thanked Robin for the two concerts saying he had, 'such a wonderful touch on the guitar'. He was close to tears.
For a musician this is a fantastic reward for the many years of hard work that go into each performance. To move a person, not only during a concert but also after the event, is quite an achievement.

But Robin has had time to enjoy some of the spectacular and dramatic scenery, including the snow capped mountains which are making him wish he had taken a coat...



Here you can even see the QM2 amongst the mountains and houses:



But even in remote parts of the Norwegian Fjords it's possible to bump into someone you know.
As Robin enjoyed a walk he met an old friend, Francisco Yglesia, a Paraguayan harpist and former member of Los Paraguayos.

Last I heard they were discussing strings....

Guitar Practice and the Paraguayan Harp

People often ask me how much guitar practise Robin does.
The answer is a lot, a point highlighted by the comments of a passenger on board the QE2, who happens to have the room next door.

The guest heard him practising and was amazed, he said:

"I went out on deck, came back, and still you were practising, I went for lunch, came back, and still you were practising, went to a lecture, came back, and still you were practising."

Luckily for Robin, this gentleman didn't mind, he was just incredulous that someone could keep up this level of commitment, for the last four days.
I hope he's still enjoying it after two weeks...

Being heard whilst practising is an issue when away, and Robin does often go off, and find an isolated spot somewhere.
He's even been known to put a sock underneath his strings to dampen the sound.
But, in order to give the performance that is expected of you, practise you must.
Good job Robin enjoys it.

However, he did take time out to go for lunch with Francisco, a Paraguayan harpist, who he has met a few times before.
The conversation, as often does with musicians, turned to strings.
We seem to have inadvertently found yet another use for the thousands of guitar strings that we have around the house.
He has now discovered that Paraguayan harpists use guitar strings for their treble register.
We have hundreds of them, so, it has been arranged that we will send some onto Francisco.
So the next time you hear, 'Guantanemera', played on a Paraguayan harp, some of those strings may well have previously been on Robin's Miguel Rodriguez guitar, and played just one concert, somewhere in the world!