COMPREHENSIVE
RCM CLASSICAL GUITAR WITH
RCM MUSIC THEORY
RCM MUSIC HISTORY
EDUCATION PROGRAM®
 

Vanja (Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina,1967) began began his classical guitar studies at the age of seven and later engaged in serious study and received the highest honours under the direction of two maestros: Kosta Popovic and Mile Praljak. He was also Medical Doctor in Bosnia.

 

Later, Vanja graduated Classical Guitar Music School with the highest score. He also performed several concerts in arts studious and on local radio stations.​ Vanja is teaching classical guitar in different segments: physical balance, ease of movement, tone production, note accuracy, rhythmic accuracy, intonation, maintaining steady pulse, playing with appropriate tempo, dynamic variation, appropriate and consistent articulation, creation of motion in melodic line and phrase shaping and consistency with stylistic conventions so that is well deserved to be named classical guitar education​.​



Vanja started teaching classical guitar in 1990 when I was on my 3rd year of Medical Faculty by establishing my first private Classical Guitar School - "Alhambra". "Alhambra" Classical Guitar School was very successful  in Bosnia and it brought to the light of the art several classical guitarists.

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In March 2012 Vanja finished work on Classical Guitar Repertoire I. This is carefully chosen, graded repertoire for classical guitar and it has been organized to present pieces from all major styles periods appropriate for that level of technical development.
 

​Recently, Vanja also done my two projects: Classical Guitar Repertoire II and Introduction to Contemporary Classical Guitar Music since the guitar's greatest repertoire is cleary that of our time, it is vital that student be introduced to contemporary styles and techniques early  and I was guided with a major idea - to approach student contemporary music characteristics: dissonant harmonies that involve small thematic materials, atonality, wide intervals, marked change in sonority, syncopation, non-tertian disonant chord structures, mixted meter, controling long dynamic sequences, textural control, minimalism, sudden step outside of regular structure, a brief glimpse of minimalism etc

 

​In order to define Classical Guitar Education Program for kids, I attended to "Every Child Can!© (ECC)" course. This is introduction to Dr. Suzuki's philosophy and its application to Suzuki education. The Suzuki Association of the Americas (SAA), Teacher Development Program, April 2012, Ellensburg, WA, USA.​​

 

November 23, 2013, Suzuki Association of America accepted Vanja for Comprehensive Audition and approved to enroll in Guitar All Units, Nov 23, 2013.  Suzuki Association of America reviewed my interpretation of Introduction and Variations on a Theme by Mozart, Op. 9, Fernando Sor​. The criteria and areas that were evaluated by Suzuki Association of America included: physical balance, ease of movement, tone production, note accuracy, rhythmic accuracy, intonation, maintaining steady pulse, playing with appropriate tempo, dynamic variation, appropriate and consistent articulation, creation of motion in melodic line and phrase shaping and consistency with stylistic conventions.

 

January 2014, collaborated with Natasa Vretenar,  a very talented painter, Vanja composed music for her  "30 Roosters in 30 Days" by using spanish and bosnian folk elements.

 

On June, 2014, Imperial Vancouver venue, performed a humanitarian concert to help flood relief in Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia.

 

On Sept 2014, Vanja performed Solo Guitar Recital Program in Vancouver, DT.

 

Vanja is Top Music Teachers in Canada.

 

Vanja is also Classical Guitar Teacher On Call in many Music Schools in Greater Vancouver Area, BC., including Accent Music Studios,  UNA - University Neighbourhoods Association at UBC etc.

 

December 2015, Vanja started analysis on J. S. Bach's anthological Chaconne from the Partita in d minor, BWV 1004 directly from the violin score. This music piece Vanja touched in 2012. Johannes Brahms, in a letter to Clara Schumann described the piece like this: On one stave, for a small instrument, the man writes a whole world of the deepest thoughts and most powerful feelings. If I imagined that I could have created, even conceived the piece, I am quite certain that the excess of excitement and earth-shattering experience would have driven me out of my mind. In April 2018, Vanja finished his work on Chaconne. "It was amazing experience in every read note and I am extremely pleased and privileged I have this piece in my repertoire".  Study Bach: there you will find everything." Johannes Brahms.

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Vanja was among the first music teachers introduced Student Live Virtual Zoom Recital due to Covid -19 situation. The first student recital took place in May 17, 2020. The great feed back came from both, student and parents and now Student Live Virtual Zoom recital became traditional in CCGEP and it takes place bimonthly. 

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This is just a few words from student parents regarding student zoom recitals:
 

"Thank you for providing the opportunity for the kids to show and share. 

"Wow I love this recital program you made. Thank you so much for coordinating. Looking forward to this".

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In November 2020, Vanja introduced My Music Staff, a powerfull student management software and all CCGEP students were successfully transfered. Students and parents can log in anytime to view their upcoming lessons, stream audio/video files, track their practice, and more!

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Starting May 2021, Vanja introduced RCM MusicTheory: Preparatory - Level 8 Music Theory.

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Vanja is also a member of Vancouver Guitar Society.

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Starting July 2024, Music History, level 9 course was introduced covering:

• the materials of music

• the Baroque Era (Vivaldi, Bach, Handel)

• the Classical Era (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven)

• the Romantic Era (Schubert, Chopin, Berlioz, Bizet)

• the Modern Era (Debussy, Stravinsky, Bernstein, Louie, Adams)

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Besides teaching classical guitar, Vanja is a successful author of humor books published in Bosnian language.

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