Draft:Norman Gänser
Norman Gänser | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 9, 1985 |
| Citizenship | Austrian |
| Occupation(s) | Guitar teacher, mechanical engineering foreman, machining technician |
| Website | www |
Early Life
[edit]Norman Gänser began playing the guitar at 16, initially teaching himself to play the electric guitar. As a teenager, he performed in metal bands, including one named Groteskh. He later pursued formal music education at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna, studying Instrumental and Vocal Pedagogy (IGP). His focus was on Classical Guitar with an emphasis on Popular Music, and he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Throughout his education, Gänser learned from various respected instructors. He studied classical guitar with Armin Egger, Nejc Kuhar, and Sigrid Kaiser, while his studies in popular music and flamenco guitar were guided by Martin Kelner. He also received training in flamenco guitar from Grisha Goryachev and Andreas Germek. Additionally, Gänser took part in masterclasses with prominent guitarists, including David Pavlovits, Jorgos Panetsos, and Omar Kaminsky.
Career
[edit]Early Career
Norman Gänser began his professional life with an apprenticeship as a machining technician at Archimedes, a company based in Greece. While working full-time, he balanced his job with a strong commitment to music, practicing guitar daily. He often mentioned the challenge of managing both his work as a locksmith and his musical aspirations, particularly the need to care for his fingers. Later, he earned a foreman certificate in mechanical engineering.
Involvement in Online Guitar Education
While pursuing his music studies, Gänser explored ways to improve online guitar education, particularly addressing challenges like the absence of immediate feedback from a teacher in remote learning. In 2015, he launched Guitarschool.at, a platform designed to support online guitar instruction. The platform grew to become a significant resource for German-speaking guitar students, with an emphasis on innovative teaching methods like student video feedback, which helps with self-assessment and error correction.
Gänser’s approach has been successful, attracting a wide range of adult learners. His oldest student, who started at the age of 89, performed publicly for the first time at 90.
Contributions to Music Education
Gänser has also contributed to the field of music education through lectures and seminars at music schools, focusing on online instrumental teaching methods. He began exploring these ideas well before the widespread shift to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. His work has been recognized for making classical guitar education more accessible to adult beginners and those returning to music after a break, especially for people who may not have easy access to traditional music institutions.
Publication
[edit]Norman Gänser is the author of "Learning Guitar for Beginners", a book that gained significant attention in the guitar education community. A revised edition of the book was published in 2024 by Stretta Music.
Media Appearance
[edit]Norman Gänser has been featured in several interviews and articles, including contributions to Bandup.blog, WDR Radio, and Philippe Belfort's Music Blog.
Award and Recognition
[edit]Norman Gänser received a YouTube Creator Award for his educational content on guitar learning. He is also recognized for his work as an author, with one of his publications achieving bestseller status.
Contribution to Society and Culture
[edit]Norman Gänser's work has reached a global audience of over 500,000 people, contributing to the accessibility of classical guitar education. His online courses are particularly aimed at adults who may not have access to traditional music schools, offering a flexible learning option.
Personal Life
[edit]Norman Gänser is single and lives in Austria. Outside of his professional career, his hobbies and personal interests are not publicly documented.
Notable Collaborations
[edit]Guest Lecturers: Martin Kelner, Sönke Meinen, Andreas Germek,Nejc Kuhar, Armin Egger, Julian Eggenhofer Co-authors: Tizoc Romero, Huang Teng-Pao Publishers: Stretta Verlag, Doblinger Verlag, Novapenso Verlag, Stopfer Verlag.