Since well-known professor and classical guitarist Christopher Parkening first arrived on Pepperdine campus back in 2002, he has held guitar master classes for Pepperdine and the local California community.
This semester’s master class was held in Raitt Recital Hall last Saturday. The hall’s seats were practically full of auditors for the duration of the four-hour class, which proved to be a learning experience for both the audience and participants as Parkening gave a personalized, yet public lesson.
Participants were able to come onstage and perform a piece or two they had been working on. Afterward, the audience offered rounds of applause. Along with compliments, Parkening offered each guitarist personal advice spanning sound, technique, power and more.
“In the classical guitar world in recent years, there has been a growing trend to sacrifice the legacy of beauty, warmth and lyricism in favor of a colder, mechanistic, purely intellectual performance,” Parkening said. “It is my goal to pass on to my classical guitar students at Pepperdine the legacy left by the great Spanish guitarist Andres Segovia, who moved millions with his beautiful, lyrical playing.”
Parkening is a distinguished professor of music at Pepperdine and continues to share his gift with his community here and beyond.
“Professor Parkening is one of my idols,” Parkening’s sophomore student Kevin Enstrom said. “This master class is an amazing experience for us to get another take and more input on our performances.
“You get a lot of answers, often the perfect answers to solidify your techniques and playing.”
During the master class, Parkening spoke to guitarists aspiring to reach their full potential, emphasizing various anecdotes and lessons he has learned throughout his own career.
“Knowing how to practice is vital to your progress,” Parkening said.
The audience played an interactive role in the presentation as active listeners, commentators and newcomers. The audience was a diverse crowd ranging from college students, some studying music, to community members out to hear great music and Parkening’s advice.
Parkening continues to guide guitarists studying at Pepperdine as a music professor.
“My mission at Pepperdine University is to help students pursue the highest levels of personal excellence in mastering the classical guitar with the ultimate purpose of inspiring them to use their unique talents to the best of their abilities for the glory of God,” Parkening said. “Mentoring my students at Pepperdine, and in a small way helping guide them in their careers, has been a joy and a truly rewarding experience.”
First-year student Daniel Carter explained that he came to Pepperdine specifically to study with Parkening.
“Studying with Parkening is an incredible opportunity,” Carter said. “He is extremely expressive, and his testimony as a Christian — putting excellence over perfection, playing music with a purpose — drew me to study with him.”
Along with these classes, Parkening expanded the showcase and competition of aspiring classical guitarist program through the Parkening International Guitar Competition held on the Malibu campus.
The master class also served as a screening process for guitarists interested in competing in Parkening’s own guitar competition this summer.
“For this year’s competition, May 31 to June 2, we will have many of the greatest guitarists in the world, ages 30 years and under, assembled at Pepperdine University in Malibu competing for over $65,000 in prize money,” Parkening said. “Also, we have assembled a panel of internationally renowned judges.”
Parkening offered advice to hopeful guitar competitors: “Take your piece on a year-long journey. You really get to know the piece this way.”
Parkening’s fall 2012 master class will take place in the Raitt Recital Hall on Saturday, Sept. 22, from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Submissions must be postmarked by Aug. 1.
