Pepe Romero — “Life With the Classical Guitar,” a tonebase Interview
Chris from tonebase writes a short introduction followed by all 5 parts of his recent interview with Pepe Romero. Filmed at the beautiful Romero household in Southern California, the interview covers topics ranging from Maestro Pepe’s experience growing up with his father as a teacher to practical advice for students on technique and performing. Afterwards, watch Maestro Pepe’s tonebase lesson where he walks through his Daily Routine here.
As a USC alumni, I have had the fortune of spending many hours in the presence of Maestro Pepe Romero, from the numerous one-on-one lessons to the handful of public master classes... However, getting the opportunity to sit down with him at the Romero family home — where Joaquin Rodrigo, Federico Moreno Torroba, and countless other legendary composers and players had frequented — was an incredibly intimate experience and one I will never forget.
In preparing my questions for the interview, my primary goal was to unleash the wealth of knowledge and inspiration which I had been witness to in so many of his visits to USC. Whether it was actually my questions or just pure luck, Maestro Pepe obliged and from thin air crafted perfect metaphors for playing the guitar and shared fascinating stories of his childhood in Spain.
It is with great pleasure that I share this interview with all of you and hope you can experience it as if you are sitting right there with us, just behind the camera lens!
— Chris, from tonebase
Part 1: The Home
Pepe shares the history of the Romero home and the multitude of composers who have written at the legendary piano behind him. He also tells of how his family would lay out on the floor and listen to music together.
Part 2: Spain to Santa Barbara
Pepe discusses his early life with music and culture, ranging from playing Flamenco with the mailman in Spain to learning about ‘57 Chevy’s, girls, and beaches in Santa Barbara.
Part 3: Lessons From His Father
Pepe talks about his relationship with Celedonio and the “living lessons” he received every day. Specifically, he shares the brilliant way his father taught him Recuerdos de la Alhambra.
Part 4: Technical Philosophy
The interview shifts to practical advice for students as Pepe shares his personal approach to developing technique and the importance of combining sound and feeling.
Part 5: Performance Mindset
In the final part, Pepe talks about surrendering one’s ego to the beauty of the music as the key to relieving anxiety and enveloping oneself in a performance.
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About Chris Garwood, Co-Founder tonebase
Christopher Garwood began his classical guitar studies at the age of 5 under the tutelage of Alan Johnston at the MacPhail Center for Music in Minnesota. Highlights in Chris’s early career include first place finishes in competitions such as the Pacific Guitar Festival, Thursday Musical, and Schubert Club Scholarship Competitions, as well as participation in the Guitar Foundation of America International Youth Competition. Chris has a Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California where he studied with William Kanengiser as a Trustee Scholarship recipient, a full merit scholarship. Chris studied with Benjamin Verdery at the Yale School of Music in New Haven, CT, and graduated with a Masters of Musical Arts degree in May, 2017.
