I studied Classical Guitar with Giovanni Vicari in the 70's, mostly Carulli and Carcassi method. At that time his studio was on 24th St between 9th the 10th Ave. in NYC. He was an excellent teacher, wonderful musician and a warm and personable man. He often would accompany me on the Mandolin always improvising something wonderful. I never knew that he also played banjo but I’m not surprised. He was very patient and precise about the position of my hands and which fingers my right hand used (index, middle or ring) always spoken in Italian. I came to him with a lot of sloppy rock technique (if you could call it that) and he would have none of that. To this day I still practice many of the same scales and beautiful arpeggio exercises he introduced me to. I will forever be grateful for having had the opportunity to study with this great virtuoso musician.
As a person he was warm, fun loving and generous with his time and talent. Often during our lesson he would serve me espresso coffee, sometimes with anisette and always one coffee bean. If I close my eyes I can still smell the coffee and hear the machine in his little kitchen alcove. Out he would come from behind the alcove with a tray of espresso, the bottle of anisette and sometimes biscotti - a toast of some kind, in Italian of course, and then on with the lesson. I would describe him as a very dapper gentleman and I think quite the ladies’ man. But never inappropriate in any way, always the gentlemen. Christmas was special; he always had a little gift for me, along with the espresso.
I will always be grateful for this time in my life and having had the opportunity to study with this abundantly talented, generous musician
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