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TAKING FLAMENCO GUITAR LESSONS
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JBASHORUN
Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005
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TAKING FLAMENCO GUITAR LESSONS
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Hello again everyone, Firstly, I'd like to thank Jon Boyes, Miguel De Maria, Anders, Patrick Escribano and everyone elso who contributed advice to my previous posts. Your help is greatly appreciated, as I know very little about Flamenco guitars! My new question is this... should I seek guitar lessons from a proper Flamenco guitarist, or stick with my current teacher? My current teacher is not an expert in Flamenco guitar. He specialises in Classical guitar (and electric), but says he has taught a little bit of Flamenco in his time. He is familiar with a few Flamenco techniques, and I'd say he's pretty good at tremolo picking (as it is also used in Classical guitar). However, he doesn't claim to be able to do things like the Rasgueado. I have purchased a couple of tutor books (Mel Bay's "Flamenco Guitar: Basic Techniques" and "Flamenco Guitar Method for Beginners" by Anita Sheer and Harry Berlow), and these seem to be fairly good books for a beginner, and my tutor is happy to go through them with me. I also have the "Play Flamenco Guitar with Juan Martin" book and DVD, but tellingly, the title is "PLAY" not "LEARN", and the lack of detail on technique makes it a bit beyond my level. My other option is to take lessons specifically in Flamenco technique at The Spanish Guitar Centre in central London. I spoke to the guy there, and he was like... "you should learn from the best" and "we have several proper Flamenco guitarists here". But then perhaps he would say that, as everyone's keen to make money these days. My current teacher says that I "probably wouldn't learn anything in the first 2 years" [or so] that he couldn't teach me himself, "even from a professional Flamenco guitarist", and that "after about 2 years, maybe then I might want to seek a professional teacher". But maybe he would say that too, for the same reasons as the other dude. I feel I should mention that the 2 lessons (current teacher or Flamenco teacher) are approximately the same price. Also that I am a complete beginner when it comes to Flamenco technique. If anyone has an informed opinion or some general advice, I'd be interested to hear it. Thanks. James
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Date Jan. 31 2005 11:29:58
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JBASHORUN
Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005
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RE: TAKING FLAMENCO GUITAR LESSONS (in reply to Jon Boyes)
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Jon, Thanks for your post... more good advice. Although I'd like to think that it's not just Spaniards that can can have a high degree of competency when it comes to Flamenco. I know several Spanish people, and I'd guess they are clueless when it comes to Flamenco. Nigel recommended his previous teacher (Steve Holmes) at The Spanish Guitar Centre. Apparently he's not Spanish (not sure if he's been to Spain or not... probably), but I certainly wouldn't hold that against him... if he understands Flamenco well, and is a competent teacher, then surely that should be enough? Take you for example (I'm assuming you're not Spanish)... I had a listen to some of your work on your website, and it seems pretty good. Perhaps you don't have as much knowledge as a professional Flamenco guitarist (Spanish or otherwise), but I'm sure you'd agree that a English person fluent in Flamenco technique and culture is a better teacher than a Spaniard that isn't. Anyway, I think I'll look into what different teachers are available at The Spanish Guitar Centre. As you may be right that someone from an authentic Flamenco background (who has been immersed in the culture all their life) has a better understanding of it than someone who may have only come across the culture at a later stage in their life. However, I will keep an open mind and try an make an informed, rational decision of which of their teachers to use. I'll also look in to the Graf Martinez tuition books you recommended, and seek advice about them from the teachers there. In the mean time, I may have to break the bad news to my current teacher... James PS. I know what you mean about the bends (in your "setting up my new guitar" post). These microtonal bends are used in some forms of rock and metal too (I think Pink Floyd used to use them quite a bit). However, I think they are easier to do on a guitar with a lower action, as you only need to "tweek" the string slightly, rather than push the string quite far toward the top of the fretboard. Correct me if I'm wrong, though...
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Date Jan. 31 2005 17:44:34
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gerundino63
Posts: 1743
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands
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RE: TAKING FLAMENCO GUITAR LESSONS (in reply to JBASHORUN)
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Hi James! First of all, you can learn a lot from anybody, so I am sure the teacher you have can learn you a lot. The one problem, that crosses my path as a flamenco guitar teacher, is, that somebody with a classic background who teach flamenco, is the different way of technique. Some things for instance, a flamenco guitarist would play with the thumb, a classic player assume it to play it with their fingers. When you learn that "mistakes" it is difficult to get rid off. So, if you choose to be a flamenco guitarist, better go all the way, and take a flamenco guitar teacher. Good luck! Peter.
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Date Jan. 31 2005 20:29:07
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JBASHORUN
Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005
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RE: TAKING FLAMENCO GUITAR LESSONS (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)
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Tom, Thanks for sharing your wisdom with us. My current teacher is very capable of teaching. He is a good teacher, and importantly, he is patient. However, my main concern is that as he is not quite as enthusiastic about guitars as he used to be, he is less fluent in the techniques and cultures involved. For example, he knows only the basics of Flamenco, and is able to perform even less. So when it comes to teaching, we would rely heavily on tuition books. Whilst learning (with his guidance) from tuition books is an acceptable method, it perhaps cannot be compared to learning from the same books yet with the direct guidance of a professional Flamenco guitarist (or even one who isn't a professional, but is an enthusiastic and accomplished guitarist who is familiar with the culture). As for which type of Flamenco I'd like to play, I have to confess that I edge toward the new school of Flamenco, which is, perhaps, slightly less traditional. And it is definitely the solo aspect that I wish to persue. Obviously, I am prepared to study other aspects of the genre if these will help my understanding of the music, and make me a better player. But ultimately, I may seek a teacher who is able to take me through the particular areas that I aim to master, rather than one who isn't. Thanks again for your help. James
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Date Feb. 2 2005 11:00:22
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Skai
Posts: 317
Joined: Sep. 12 2004
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RE: TAKING FLAMENCO GUITAR LESSONS (in reply to JBASHORUN)
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This teacher of yours, from what you seem to describe, shoulgn't even be considered as a flamenco guitarist. He appears to lack the knowledge of the various palos which is VERY important, in my opinion. Secondly, he sounds like the many classical/fingerstyle guitarists that learn a few basic flamenco techniques to use for Spanish pieces. Eg. Aranjuez, Sevilla, Asturias are all Spanish classics and thus the use of flamenco techniques will help interpret them better. But is that flamenco? No way. Learning both, I've noticed many obvious differences between flamenco and classical, which makes a classical teacher unable to teach any flamenco. Do classical guitarists understand compas structures and all the techniques? I don't think so. And I'd prefer to start off with a proper flamenco guitarists to teach all the authentic techniques, rather than learn a farucca or malaguena from a classical guitarist by memory. I must say that your teacher isn't that great of he can't even pull off a single 4-finger rasguedo used so commonly in classical. The Juan Serrano book you bought is horrible instructional material, mainly tabs to pieces without instruction. I have it too No technical or compas explanations. The Juan Martin method or Graf-Martinez one should do the trick. Cheston
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Try some Enrique Iglesias for some great cante.
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Date Feb. 13 2005 7:09:59
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