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"Woke up this morning _ flamenco on my mind" Sure did - my head is still is still buzzing after 6 days nearly non-stop.So how was it? Firstly minus points to IGF - far too much of a mix of ability in one group and a couple of people lost it.I understand it was much worse last year.I am new to flamenco and even to playing on nylon strings. I found it quite hard and I struggled noticeably in the latter stages - but I expected to and anything less in terms of content would have been very disappointing.
And Rafael - the man in black -where to start! How about if I just say that one day after taking the group from 9.30am to nearly 6.00pm he listened to me moaning on at dinner and then took me for an hour and a half one to one during which he completley revamped my right hand right down to the finger nails.As a result he arrived at the concert he had been going to in time only for the final chords. Later on he was jamming with us on eletric guitar into the early hours.Where I come from that makes him a 'good bloke'
It was a great bunch of students - which makes all the difference - both on our course and on the others - very friendly and supportive and who knew how to have a good time. Thanks in particular to Jim[ I belong to Glasgow] and Emma [ whadya mean there's more to life than flamenco] for their encouragement. A special mention for Mark - always on the frontline - who transcribed the lessons for us and went through stuff with me over a mug of tea in the kitchen.
What now ? Well I'm definitely hooked on the sound of nylon strings but so much stuff and so little time! However in the immortal words of Gloria Gaynor "I will survive" Now there's an idea for a rhumba - what do you think guys?
Posts: 6440
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: IGF at Bath Flamenco with Rafael (in reply to Guest)
Andy, I managed to catch the performances at La Tasca on Wednesday, comparing to other styles I heard, flamenco still rules! Met Jim for the first time and caught up with Emma again. Looked like a very mixed bunch. I don't like group workshops too much myself.
RE: IGF at Bath Flamenco with Rafael (in reply to Escribano)
Simon Got you on one of my photos taken on the night.Forget La Tasca - it was a gig which we felt obliged to undertake since IGF had precommitted to it without our knowledge.No one was keen and the conditions made any decent performances quite difficult.Also many of them have little experience of playing in public and this was definitely not the place to start! Saturdays student concert was a totally different happening and the flamenco group's performance went down very well.I don't have much experience of formal guitar tution but I am inclined to agree with you to some extent about group teaching especially with mixed ability.IGF promoted this course at two levels - the first being for students with some knowledge of guitar but with little or none of flamenco - a good chance to find out.All I can say is that it seemed like a good idea at the time.What I can say for certain is that I know I am already a better player for having been with Rafael for a week And just as importantly it was tremendous fun. Regards Andy
RE: IGF at Bath Flamenco with Rafael (in reply to Guest)
Hi Andy,
Thanks for the mention - good to see you on here - and thanks for helping to make it such a great week. Hope you don't mind, I've included the piccie of your with a beer on my site...
RE: IGF at Bath Flamenco with Rafael (in reply to Guest)
Andy, very well said.
It was a pleasure to watch a newbie to flamenco begin to fall in love with it. I still laugh thinking about everyone absentmindedly tapping on the dining room table and all the crockery vibrating downhill in compás.
The course material was perfect for me and I can imagine it would have been a real struggle for someone completely new to it. But as I said before, the content was relevant to all levels, you just took away different homework. And Rafael is a super teacher and very generous with his time.
Thank you for your CD of the photos and the video of the classes. Really useful and very kind of you. It was a joy to get to know you so stay in touch!
I normally dont get much out of workshops either but this was different. Rafa's talking about a week in Dublin next year (which will be even better craic even though I say so myself) so bear that in mind.
Jim if you remember anything about the group bulerias with cejillas in different positions I lost all of that bit and it was interesting! And you were supposed to be scanning me the contacts list, I know you have a full-time job and a family....
Whaddya mean there's more to life than flamenco? I'm confused....
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RE: IGF at Bath Flamenco with Rafael (in reply to El Craic)
Hi ElC
I emailed the contacts list last week, big file though (1.5mb) so might not have got to you, though I didn't get a failure notice. I'll send it again as smaller file.
Yes, different positions. The one I thought best, was capo on 3rd and play with Taranta chordings to give a nice blend of sound when the first guitar plays in 'A' por medio.
Also, capo on 5th and play E and F chord shapes, but this one is common variation and extends int G7 and C shapes.
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- good to see you on here - and thanks for helping to make it such a great week. Hope you don't mind, I've included the piccie of your with a beer on my site... 
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