CSMA welcomes the Juanito Pascual Trio to Tateuchi Hall. Juanito Pascual is “one of the hottest flamenco guitarists in recent years” according to National Public Radio. He will be performing a free concert of flamenco music on Saturday, September 17 at 7:30pm.
We spoke with Juanito Pascual to learn more about him and what the audience can expect from his performance in Tateuchi Hall.
Juanito Pascual
Tell us a little about yourself. How did you begin playing and performing music?
For as long as I can remember, I always wanted to play guitar. I asked my mom for a guitar when I was around three years old. My parents were not actively involved in music, but both loved music—my dad in particular. I think that was influential because I grew up in an environment where music was meaningful.
I had a handful of piano lessons around age five, but my next hands-on music experience started in fourth grade with the school band when I played the cornet. That was fun and I did that for two years. I believe if I had been exposed to professional level trumpet players at that time, I would have benefited a lot. I only heard myself and the other kids in band play, so I was not getting the kind of input I later realized is vital to helping inspire and inform a person’s musical development.
Around age 12, I met a kid whose father played guitar. This man noticed my fascination with his guitar and encouraged my mom to get me lessons. The rest, as they say, is history. After my first lesson in seventh grade, I felt certain I’d play guitar for the rest of my life and 34 years later that seems to be true!
My first performance was the seventh grade talent show performing a probably unrecognizable rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s Voodoo Chile (Slight Return). From there I was very fortunate to have had both weekly lessons through high school and regular performance opportunities. Starting in 10th grade, I began playing once or twice every week at local coffee shops and cafes. That was all absolutely foundational to my later career.
Tell us about a great music teacher you had.
I have truly been blessed with some incredible teachers. One teacher that stands out is Larry Scripp, one of my Solfege (sight-singing) professors at New England Conservatory. In my view, he is a genius in his understanding of human learning and ways to unlock potential through proper practice methodologies. I was able to have four consecutive semesters with him in which he gradually took me through a very rich and mind-expanding approach to learning, inculcating a powerful set of tools for self-teaching, ultimately teaching me to be a musician.
How often do you practice and/or rehearse?
From age 18-30 I practiced four to 10 hours per day, six days a week. Now practice is much more varied, depending on travel, hours of teaching and family commitments. I strive for no less than two hours per day and when not traveling I usually practice for two to five hours per day, up to six days per week. I purposely take a day off each week and it is tremendously important for the body and mind.
What advice do you have for aspiring musicians?
I believe music is best when there is a combination of technique, rhythmic vitality and emotional depth. In that way, the path of being a musician offers the opportunity to explore many facets of yourself, culture and society as you dig into the genres you like, discovering new music in the process and experiencing how people are affected by your music. Enjoy the journey.
Why do you enjoy flamenco music and what would you like people to know about the genre?
There is an intangible element to my love of flamenco, in that I was touched by it the first time I ever heard it. Over time I have come to see that there are many captivating elements to the genre. As a guitar style, it is absolutely engaging for its rhythm, technical richness and virtuosity. It often sounds like there are two or three people playing at once, due to the incorporation of taps on the body and strumming techniques continually interspersed with melody and bass lines. The mood of the music is very particular and mesmerizing, due in part to the types of scales and modes used, consisting of a great variety of speeds used from very slow and hypnotic, to very exuberant and up-tempo at times. There is such an emphasis on creativity and spontaneity which resonated with me from the beginning.
What can the audience expect during the performance in Tateuchi Hall?
The Juanito Pascual Trio covers a pretty wide spectrum from more traditional solo guitar to pieces that feature a lot of improvisation and interaction between the players. The common thread in all of the repertoire is the use of flamenco rhythms, but from there it’s quite a variety. Pieces ranging from more traditional flamenco to arrangements of rock and jazz pieces. We always have a lot of fun. We strive to bring the audience right into the experience with us and given the improvisational nature of a lot of our repertoire no two shows are ever the same.
Learn more about Juanito Pascual on his website.
