Introduction

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Introduction

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ConradP

Posts: 109
Joined: Feb. 1 2010

Introduction

Hello All

I decided to introduce myself having realized I am likely never to leave the forum LOL...

Anyway, I am Conrad Pienaar. I've been a guitarist for 16 years but became interested in flamenco about 2 years ago and I could not believe that I have been missing out on this sound all those years.

I am now very interested in moving from "fakemenco" to more traditional flamenco, meeting like minded people and honing my flamenco skills.

Kind regards
Conrad Pienaar

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2010 0:39:12

JasonMcGuire

Posts: 1141
Joined: Apr. 10 2007

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

Beautiful. Glad to meet you and have you on board.... Enjoy!

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http://www.CaminosFlamencos.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/Bikhiyal
http://flamenco-lessons.blogspot.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2010 0:41:59

Stu

Posts: 2537
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

Welcome Conrad!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2010 2:08:54

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

welcome friend!

it's nice to see someone admit the addiction up front. you'll never leave flamenco or this forum! we've got you now!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2010 6:58:43

marduk

Posts: 600
Joined: Feb. 3 2010

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

hello

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2010 7:01:59

Arash

Posts: 4495
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Iran (living in Germany)

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

welcome !!

quote:

ORIGINAL: ConradP

Anyway, I am Conrad Pienaar. I've been a guitarist for 16 years but became interested in flamenco about 2 years ago and I could not believe that I have been missing out on this sound all those years.

i know exactly where you come from.
i wasn't a guitarist for 16 years, but began guitar playing at age of 15,16 (with many breaks inbetween). and played all kind of stuff like heavy metal, blues, rock, etc....mostly on e-guitar.

then discovered flamenco guitar after years, and within few days after hearing paco de lucias album (over and over again).......i sold all my e-equipment (big marshall amp, my ibanez, boss effect, etc....

) and just focused on flamenco from that time.

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2010 7:05:18

edguerin

Posts: 1589
Joined: Dec. 24 2007
From: Siegburg, Alemania

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

Wellcome!
Where're you from?

_____________________________

Ed

El aficionado solitario
Alemania

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2010 9:02:01

michel

Posts: 315
Joined: Apr. 14 2008
From: france

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

welcome Conrad

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2010 10:43:59

Stu

Posts: 2537
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Introduction (in reply to edguerin)

quote:

Where're you from?

I'd guess South Africa!!??

"Pienaar" your namesakes play for sth african national teams for footy and cricket

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2010 10:48:05

ConradP

Posts: 109
Joined: Feb. 1 2010

RE: Introduction (in reply to edguerin)

Hello

@edguerin : Yes Stu is right. I am behind the boerewors curtain in South Africa. Pretoria to be exact but I am certain there must be a Spaniard somewhere in my ancestry

maybe together with a poodle and someone's unsuspecting leg.

OK I apologise.

@Arash: Yes I am actually selling a 7 string electric now to finance a flamenco guitar. There just doesn't seem to be anything as powerful, energetic, elegant, sophisticated and beautiful as flamenco. I know that it is a subjective feeling on my part but that is just how I experience it and I would be lying if I denied it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2010 11:07:13

Stu

Posts: 2537
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

quote:

There just doesn't seem to be anything as powerful, energetic, elegant, sophisticated and beautiful as flamenco. I know that it is a subjective feeling on my part but that is just how I experience it and I would be lying if I denied it.

you wont find much oppositioon to that way opf thinking around here!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2010 11:21:09

HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

welcome mate..

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 9 2010 13:41:20

ConradP

Posts: 109
Joined: Feb. 1 2010

RE: Introduction (in reply to HolyEvil)

Thanks guys

I noticed a general like minded (to my mind) way of thinking on the forum since I joined. It's appears quite uncanny. I mean there are guitarists from Australia, France, UK, USA, Iran and SA on this thread alone and there is always this great passion for this music's texture and taste and sound etc and everyone seems quite down to earth.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 10 2010 0:29:01

Stoney

Posts: 132
Joined: Nov. 6 2009

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

quote:

I noticed a general like minded (to my mind) way of thinking on the forum

Don't kid yourself. We all disagree on everything except -

quote:

there is always this great passion for this music's texture and taste and sound etc

On that we never disagree.

Welcome. Also kudos for admitting right off to your fakemenco past. HAHA.
(is there maybe some kind of 12 step program? FA - Fakemencos Anonymous? Hi, I'm Stoney and I'm a Fakeholic? Sorry, blathering here)

Stoney

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 10 2010 5:29:01

ConradP

Posts: 109
Joined: Feb. 1 2010

RE: Introduction (in reply to Stoney)

Well goodness fakemenco isn't all bad coz it led me to traditional flamenco and it is a conduit to traditional flamenco for the masses no? Plus I believe there is creativity in Jesse Cook's compositions etc but I basically only play fakemenco at the moment because my picado is not strong enough yet to take over from the bloody plectrum.

I really pray that the transition will be a bit sooner rather than later.

Please don't stone me for the fakemenco comments.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 10 2010 7:01:51

lsnyman

Posts: 120
Joined: Feb. 6 2009

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

Welcome from a fellow South African now living behind the Hamburger curtain.
I often thought to play Sarie Marais in a Solea style. Maybe we can work on that..
Groete

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 11 2010 13:40:08

ConradP

Posts: 109
Joined: Feb. 1 2010

RE: Introduction (in reply to lsnyman)

Where do you stay now exactly? Ja miskien moet ons collaborate op Sarie Marais!!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 11 2010 22:10:13

Spencer

Posts: 34
Joined: Mar. 27 2008
From: Bargara Beach, Australia

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

Hi Conrad

Glad I made your day!! Later I found your intro, and see that you are from sunny Pretoria. I am ex-Japie (originally from 'Dubben' in KZN), and have family with the same surname as you (they recently moved to New Zealand).

I started to find flamenco before leaving SA in 1999/2000. It was Tananas and Tony Cox who ignited my passion for guitar. It didn't take long to go from there through Jessie Cook & Ottmar Liebert (are they fakemenco? - not sure) before finding flamenco.

One quick thought. In your picture your right hand is positioned forward of the sound hole. My pic doesn't show how I usually play, so not sure if this is where you usually play. I move my forearm further back on the bout, so that my right hand is positioned in between the sound hole and the saddle. This enables me to flatten my wrist as I described in my first response to you.

How are you going with lessons? Have you started on-line lessons? I have been using books and DVDs (Juan Martin and Graf-Martinez). Recently found a teacher only 250kms away. Only had one lesson but it was great.

Once again, hambe gahle.

Spencer.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2010 19:03:10

Florian

Posts: 9282
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
From: Adelaide/Australia

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

Hey Conrad welcome

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 17 2010 19:09:09

ConradP

Posts: 109
Joined: Feb. 1 2010

RE: Introduction (in reply to Spencer)

@ Spencer: Oh wow OK. Yes I am very inspired by both Newman & Cox.

The photo in pic is misleading because it's old. My technique is better now. At the moment, I can execute that triplet thumb rasgueado but basically only 2 consecutive ones, after that, it is too messy still. So I am HOPING this denotes enough progress to be able to conclude that I will be able to do it (curved nail & all).

I will seriously need therapy if I can't do it.

I have signed up for lessons on Jason MqGuire's site yes. There aren't any flamenco teachers around here. I also have a DVD by Charles Sedlak that teaches basic flamenco.

I also love Jesse Cook and I don't know if he is considered fakemenco.

@Florian: Thanks man.

@Spenser: Totsiens!
C

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 18 2010 0:29:38

Patrick

Posts: 1189
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Portland, Oregon

RE: Introduction (in reply to ConradP)

quote:

I also have a DVD by Charles Sedlak that teaches basic flamenco.

I also love Jesse Cook and I don't know if he is considered fakemenco.

First off...welcome

Second...do you have a shotgun? If you do, throw that Sedlak CD in the air and blow the hell out if it!

Third...forget everything he said on the CD.

Fourth...you now have the real deal in Jason

Fifth:…yes Cook is Fakemenco.

Again: welcome

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 18 2010 9:52:55

gj Michelob

Posts: 1531
Joined: Nov. 7 2008
From: New York City/San Francisco

RE: Introduction -Herrero's curso de... (in reply to ConradP)

These videos may be removed from youtube soon, until then I recommend you take advantage of them. The entire course is available. Even for those who do not understand Spanish, Herrero is such clear and methodical instructor his lessons are clear nonetheless.

_____________________________

gj Michelob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 18 2010 10:03:43

ConradP

Posts: 109
Joined: Feb. 1 2010

RE: Introduction (in reply to Patrick)

@Partick I am South African. Of course I have a shotgun.

@GJ Thank you very much.

@Everyone My thumb down-stroke rasgueado (abanico rasgueado) is going to land me in an institution! Is it possible that my thumb nail is just exactly wrong so I'll never ever be able to play it?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Feb. 18 2010 10:26:01