Guitar Virtuoso Matt Palmer to Teach Free Master Class at SMU Meadows at 2 p.m. Feb. 12

Photo courtesy of the artist. Photo by Mamta Popat, Tucson, Ariz.

Matt Palmer, talking about the guitar pictured above: “This guitar is my old concert guitar by Masaki Sakurai, made in 1979. Most of the techniques I use were developed on that instrument, and as a result it took quite a beating over the years. It must have several thousand hours of play time on it, and I still use it for teaching. My current concert guitar doesn't look much different - it may be even worse. I take great strides to care for my instruments at home, but I don't hold back when it comes time to play them.”

Guitarist Matt Palmer, described by Guitar International Magazine as possessing “…the soul of an artist, the technical virtuosity of the highest caliber and a heightened sense of musicality,” will teach a master class to SMU guitar majors at SMU Meadows School of the Arts at 2 p.m. on February 12, 2015. Guitar enthusiasts from the public are welcome to come listen to Palmer’s presentation, which will include feedback and instruction on several performances by SMU students.

Palmer has traveled the world playing highly expressive classical guitar for audiences in the U.S., Europe, Mexico, Canada, South America and the Caribbean. His debut CD, Un tiempo fue Itálica famosa, has been lauded by Guitar International Magazine as “an album of the highest quality…with flawless technique, deep levels of personal expression, and an artistic integrity that seems far too rare these days.”

Classical Guitar Review cites his guitar method book The Virtusoso Guitarist as “indispensable for any advanced guitarist or teacher to include in their library.”

SMU Meadows Adjunct Professor of Guitar Robert Guthrie is looking forward to introducing Palmer to his students and to members of the Dallas-area guitar community. “Matt Palmer is one of the most outstanding young players in the world at this moment, and his career is really taking off,” he says. “This is a wonderful opportunity to meet him and hear his perspectives on guitar techniques and interpretation.”

Palmer holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from The University of Arizona, where he studied with Thomas Patterson and Artists-in-Residence David Russell, Sergio Assad and Odair Assad.  Self-taught as a youth, Palmer began his formal studies at age 20 with William Yelverton at Middle Tennessee State University and later received his M.M. at Appalachian State University, where he studied with Douglas James.  Palmer is a Strings By Mail and D’Addario sponsored artist.

The Matt Palmer master class will be held on Thursday, February 12, from 2 to 5 p.m. in O’Donnell Hall, room 2130 in the Owen Arts Center, 6101 Bishop Blvd. on the SMU campus.

For more information, contact Adjunct Professor of Guitar Robert Guthrie.