Sixth Grade
Worksheets
Andres Segovia
Andres Segovia
Reading Comprehension for February 18
Andres Segovia loved music, but he couldn't find an instrument that he liked. He thought the piano was "a monster that screamed when you touch its teeth!" One night at a friend's house, he heard deep, rich tones, and he decided that the guitar was the right instrument for him. He became the best classical guitar player in the world when he grew up.
Andres Segovia was born on February 21, 1893, in Linares, Spain, and he grew up in Granada. At that time, most people thought that guitars were only for playing in taverns. Andres' father didn't want his son to play in a tavern! He was a lawyer and wanted his son to be a lawyer, too. He wanted to give his son some classical music instruction, so he arranged for piano and violin lessons. Andres didn't enjoy either one. Then, his life changed when he heard a guitar.
When Andres decided that he wanted to play the guitar, it caused a commotion. His family objected. His music teachers at the Granada Musical Institute objected. They told him that guitars were not respectable. They belonged in taverns. Then, his music teachers had an even stronger argument. They told him that no one even wrote real music for the guitar. But Andres believed that guitar music belonged on the concert stage.
Andres did not care what other people thought. He taught himself to play the guitar anyway. He figured out that certain piano exercises helped make his fingers stronger, which helped him play his guitar. He developed his own technique. He studied hard. Soon, everyone noticed how incredibly well he played, and he had a great opportunity to share his music.
