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Aren't people great? (..not)
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Jon Boyes
Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003
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 Aren't people great? (..not)
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Had a long chat with Mercedes (dance class intructor) yesterday about various things, and I asked her whether she was teaching a new flamenco dance class that I'd heard about, taking place about 20 miles away in a village hall. (In Dartington - an affluent area full of rich people as Grant will tell you, as he studied there).
No, she said, it was more than likely one of her ex students. Apparently this happens quite often. People (with no previous experince) will turn up at her classes for a few weeks, learn some basic steps, then go back to where they came from and set up a flamenco dance class at their local art centre/village hall/whatever, effectively in competition to Mercedes as locals will then go there rather than make the journey. People who are really keen will of course make the journey and study with Mercedes, but the market for this is very small in the UK as we all know, and the majority of people in the beginners dance class are really just curious and trying it out for a bit of fun. You know, Vive Espana and all that.
Ha bloody ha.
Nothing wrong with healthy competition, of course, but these are gringos with a few hours experience and some basic moves under their belt, whilst Mercedes is a pro who has worked in several companys in Spain, and makes a meagre living out of teaching flamenco dance in the UK.
She is quite bewildered about it all - says that in Spain people just wouldn't do this sort of thing. Of course, there's nothing she can do about it. Just another way for some people to make a quick buck at someone else's expense.
The British are just great, aren't they?
Jon
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Jan. 27 2005 8:57:07
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Miguel de Maria
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
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RE: Aren't people great? (..not) (in reply to Jon Boyes)
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You know, the more I think about this, the more I think: that's business.... I got a call from my partner, who wanted to sign me up for a quintuplet. Who is the agent? Kati, who is MY contact (although I have never played for her), and who I referred to Arturo when I was doublebooked. So I did the groundwork, I sent my CD, I sent my materials and cold called, and my thanks? To have her hire Arturo, who then hires me (for less than what he is getting, I'm sure.) Serves me right for referring him!
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Jan. 29 2005 18:25:20
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Ricardo
Posts: 14881
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
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RE: Aren't people great? (..not) (in reply to Miguel de Maria)
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Miguel, sorry, slightly off the topic, do you know Chris Burton Jacome in Phoenix?
I personally feel teachers should encourage students to seek out different teachers, no matter their reps or nationalities, level, style, etc. Also, I believe a good student can learn what is important, even from a bad teacher. But a bad student can't learn anything from the best teacher in the world.
Also, I feel the best way to learn is to teach what you know or just have learned, to someone else. Trying to find a new way to explain something you know, to somebody else, is a good way to help yourself understand it on a deeper level. I remember a teacher friend had a total begginer guitar student who had like 12 students of her own, who where all only one week behind her! And she charged more too...no just kidding.
Ricardo
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Jan. 29 2005 19:29:34
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Miguel de Maria
Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ
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RE: Aren't people great? (..not) (in reply to Ricardo)
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Richard,
yes I know Chris. He is our "up and comer" around here, has been for several years. I took a few lessons from him, but we weren't really compatible. He taught me a long silencio and some of his own falsetas, tried to help me keep in better compas. But I realized that either I am simply not a good student, or he is not the right teacher for me. I would never practice what he gave me, just my own stuff!
We have a great player here named Miguel Rodriguez, who I am more interested in learning from. I can bring him a very esoteric question of technique or music, and he can usually set me right in one short sentence. And he plays so well that it inspires me to be great! Although he normally won't accept my phone calls, and he alternates telling me to practice more or that I'll never be any good!
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Jan. 29 2005 20:20:08
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Ricardo
Posts: 14881
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
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RE: Aren't people great? (..not) (in reply to Ron.M)
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quote:
What's the point in that?
To get a piece of tail, no? The music was from the disc, if you know it. I remember someone linking to it before, and at first I thought it was just his background music for the site, but those 3 "examples" of HIS playing are deffinantly Moraito. Now they don't play when I click on them, but they did. Could be he DOES play those pieces, and the guy doing his site could not get decent audio of him, so used Morao's CD. For the sake of getting a gig I could see why they think that is practical. It is not like he is coming on a flamenco forum saying, "hey guys check me out, what do you think of my playing?". Someone discovered that site, but maybe it is just promotional for the guy locally (in Holland?). Actually, Dutch people are really good at flamenco and would know the difference. Not sure if it is Dutch though. Can anyone translate it, there where the sound samples are?
Ricardo
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Jan. 30 2005 23:07:57
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