Vive Michael Horowitz!

BluesBop Harry

Dear Michael Horowitz,

I write this letter to let you know how much your work has meant to me.
My name is Enrique Hulsz, I’m 25 years old and I live in Mexico city.
I learned from my father how to play guitar when I was 11 and my love for the music of Django Reinhardt began around the time I was 17, when again my father brought home a record by the QHCF. Upon hearing it we both were amazed by this gypsy dexterity and his music’s beauty.
I honestly think that Django is the best guitar player who ever lived and his solos can sometimes move me to tears.
It became clear very early in the game that one of the biggest challenges in learning to play in his style laid in his incredible right hand, so for years I searched for the correct picking technique that would allow me to properly play my hero’s music. I tried alternate, economy and classical guitar technique with no success. I was frustrated, until one lucky day, a year and a half ago, I came across your website and found out about your book “Gypsy Picking”. It really was like a dream come true.
I`ve put in hundreds of long and hard hours to learn the technique you describe in the book, and today I’m playing much cleaner and louder than I ever have, my sound has never been better or more consistent, my hands don’t hurt anymore and little by little I’m absorbing the vocabulary of this music, and loving every moment.
Your book didn’t only taught me about picking, it forced to develop the discipline essential to becoming a great player one day, and made me look at the instrument in an entirely different way.
Along with my father and a couple of good friends, I just started my own band of Jazz Manouche ( I play lead guitar) and things are looking brighter every day.

I thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart and soul, your book literally changed my life!



P.S.
Congratulations on the birth of Kirin Jacob Horowitz, may life bring happiness and prosperity to you and your loved ones.

MichaelHorowitz

Hi Enrique,

Thanks for the kind words! It's always nice to hear when people really get something from one of my books. When I first wrote Gypsy Picking, it was my hope that it would elevate the level of Gypsy jazz playing world wide. When I hear stories such as yours, I think maybe that's starting to happen.

Keep up the good work!

-Michael

dennis

i've seen people who've never been in direct contact with the happenning european guys play at a fairly high level ... i think it's definitely thanks to you michael!!! amazing work indeed!

Spalo

I'd like to add my words of praise.

I'm in my early 50's, I've been playing since my early teens.

I bought the book back in February and I can honestly say I've never been more happy with the sound I get out of my guitar.

Thanks again,

SP

tommaso

Although I am not a pro, my gypsy guitar playing has had a big improvement from the first day I started to study with this fantastic book!
More than the zillion licks I used to try to learn.
This book is the correct approach to the style.
Thanks Michael !