This blog is in response to question I’m asked regularly. I’m not usually too keen on the “magazine feature” style of these things but where it works, I don’t mind so much. This is what I currently consider to be the best books for developing an understanding of general music concepts, notation reading, approaches, creativity, and musicianship (focussed on guitar players needs). This doesn’t include books (or online resources) which serve to build technical skills, or have a specific technical purpose:

1. Elementary Training for Musicians – Paul Hindemith
2. Thesaurus of Scales and Melodic Patterns – Nicolas Slonimski
3. The Advancing Guitarist – Mick Goodrich
4. Musicianship and Sight Reading for Guitarists – Oliver Hunt
5. Music Reading for Guitar (The Complete Method) – David Oakes
6. For Guitar Players Only – Tommy Tedesco
7. William Leavett – Modern reading guitar method 1, 2, 3

Recently, I've been spending a lot of time practicing, playing and preparing pieces for recording. I've also been working on some other projects, and tracked some guitar parts for Simon Goulding's new album:

http://www.gouldingblakeley.co.uk/

http://www.myspace.com/simongouldingmusic

Whilst playing the guitar a lot, I’ve reached the conclusion that Morgan Custom Guitars shouldn’t need advertising. Aside from the classical and acoustic guitar tracking, all electric work that I've recorded has been almost exclusively been using a Morgan Griffin. As a customer, Neil's website and other promotional material look to me very much more like a straightforward "announcement" that his guitars are available more than an advertisement. Also, as far as I can tell, Neil's customers are looking for him, not the other way around. When I first met Neil, I was handed one of his guitars which simply demonstrated to me how good guitarists could really have it! There was no considered or contrived sales technique at work. The instrument I was handed lived and breathed under my fingers, telling it’s own story beyond any conversation that I could have had with the man who made it (which I had as well). What happened next was possibly the single most straightforward purchase decision I’ve ever made on a guitar, and some very good conversations discussing ideas for more guitars have taken place ever since. The test of time, and some real road wear and tear later, and my experiences have comfortably reinforced everything I previously believed about these guitars. They are truly awesome instruments.

http://www.morgancustomguitars.com

From the outset, one of the purposes of the blog was to keep a diary of sorts as to how I was progressing with my own project work. Since I’ve posted nothing regarding this so far, I felt it would help if I outlined what I’m currently working on and when I hope to get these projects finished and available.

For my own creative music work, I record within three separate projects. These are “Ensemble Craft”, “Turquoise Noise”, and NHP (or Nik Harrison Project). They all have respective myspace pages which have more information on them than I could write here:

www.myspace.com/ensemblecraft

www.myspace.com/turquoisenoise

www.myspace.com/nikharrisonmusic

I’m also currently working on developing my website, making some videos of performances of my music, and video lessons online soon.

My current project work focus is on the NHP “Spiritual Atrophy” recording, and the Turquoise Noise “Remedial Kinetic Assertion” recording which I hope to have finished and available before the end of this year.

Any and all comments most welcome.