flamenco instructions in spain

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alin

Posts: 1
Joined: Jun. 16 2005

flamenco instructions in spain

i am interested in going to spain in the spring/summer of 2006 to study the flamenco guitar with a great teacher. i don't speak much spanish, though i hear it is close to romanian and french which i speak fluently. can anyone reffer me to a good teacher, and give me an idea of how much i should save for classes, rent, and food for about 5 months stay? an ideal city where i can learn would be nice too. i am starting from nothing, as you can see. i appreciate, and i thank you for your help, really!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 16 2005 19:54:06

Armando

Posts: 302
Joined: May 27 2005
From: Zürich, Switzerland

RE: flamenco instructions in spain (in reply to alin)

Hello alin

Which school or teacher would be best for you depends on your playing level.
I was at taller flamenco in Sevilla about two years ago. The teacher i had was probably a good guitarist but to my opinion a bad teacher. He was very demanding and he didn't took in consideration that i was a beginner in the flamenco. I would not want this teacher to teach me anymore, but as much as i know he doesn't works there anymore. This will not say, that the school is basically not good. There is a teacher called "David Vargas" whose playing style is very pleasing to me. Check on www.tallerflamenco.com for a videoclip of David Vargas. However this Teacher is most probably for the advanced player.
Since two years already i'm travelling every year for one week to the school of "El carbonero" in Jerez. El carbonero represents the Jerez style of playing. His school is recommendable also for the beginner. He is also demanding but you'll notice quickly that he actually only wants you to learn as fast and as perfect as possible. His two sons are very handsome persons and they occasionally teach as well to support their father in the school. Every thuersday night there is a flamenco session with all students and with local cantaores. This is a very nice experience. You really feel what it means to play guitar together with flamenco cante.
Another teacher where to study flamenco is "El Macareno" in Almodovar del Rio which is located in the andalucian countryside not far from Cordoba. I have not yet personally had the opportunity to study with him, but i have heard only good things about him so far.

That's all i can tell you at the moment about it. I hope it helps a little bit.

cheers

Armando

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 18 2005 10:44:26

Guest

RE: flamenco instructions in spain (in reply to alin)

i will look into them, thank you very much for the advice! how much money should i save, my friend? what's usually the rent of a decent appartment be per month, in spain, in the andalucian side, where i hear flamenco is most played. how much would i need for food per month? is there possibilities for me to find jobs there, speaking english, french, and romanian, but no spanish? as far as instructional flamenco dvds that i could buy to advance myself as much as possible til then, what would you recommend? as you can see, i am completely new at this style. thank you very much!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 18 2005 10:58:12

Guest

RE: flamenco instructions in spain (in reply to alin)

Alin, Do yourself a BIG favor. Learn some spanish before you go!!!!!!!!!!!

You have almost one year to do so, and thats plenty of time. You will get a lot more out of your stay, both personally and musichally.

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 18 2005 12:03:42

Guest

RE: flamenco instructions in spain (in reply to alin)

I would recommend Jerez as the ideal place to set up your 'home base'. There are plenty of teachers available and a lot of good Flamenco to see and hear. Most , if not all, of the peñas are open to the public with FREE admission. This is not true in other places. I can tell you from personal experience that the peñas in Moron and Utrera, for example, are for members only. El Carbonero is the most readily accessible teacher in Jerez simple because he has an established school, and since he derives most of his income from teaching, he is always available. You just show up on his doorstep and make arrangements for lessons. A little over a year ago his price was 15 euros per lesson, but that may have changed. I would also check into lessons from Fernando Moreno and Antonio Jero. I've heard that they both give lessons, but they are also on the road a lot, so they're not going to be quite as accessible as El Carbonero. However, if you set yourself up in Jerez you'll be able to work this out and take advantage of lessons from different guitarists.

Since you plan on being here for 5 months, you could also check out teachers in other areas for a couple of weeks of lessons. Maybe Simon could hook you up with Emilio Maya in Granada, for example, or if I'm still living in Utrera I could inquire about Antonio Moya. There are a lot of options, but I really think Jerez is the place to start, because of the abundance of Flamenco there. Today Jerez is the epicenter of the Flamenco world and it has the cheapest housing in the province of Cadiz. :-)

I'd say you'd need 6,000 euros minimum (not including travel to and from Spain) to pull this off comfortably. Anybody else have an opinion on how much money Alin would need?

Phil

PS. The advice that others have given regarding learning some Spanish is right on.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 21 2005 15:44:45

chano

Posts: 12
Joined: Sep. 1 2004
From: Jerez de la Frontera

RE: flamenco instructions in spain (in reply to alin)

My reccomendation if you are starting from zero is to go see Jose Luis Balao in Jerez, seeing as how several of the posts here speak highly of the style. In a city of some 530 identified flamenco artists, Balao is one of the few (if not the only one), who could call himself a musician in the complete sense of the word. Where many brilliant guitarists can't even tell you what chords they are playing, Balao's knowledge of the guitar is impressive (though given his age his actual playing is bankrupt). He has a classical backround and an appreciation of many different styles, including jazz and guitar styles of Latin America. I have seen him take absolute beginners and turn them into flamenco monsters, ask anyone who knows what they are talking about in Jerez and they'll say the same: Jose Luis has put out some of the best guitarists to come out of Jerez today. (Rafael Trujillo, Alfredo Lagos, Santiago Lara, Jose Ignacio Franco are a few that come to mind). After awhile take a few private classes with some of the young guys around town that have taken Balao's solid foundation and incorporated it into a more "aflamencado" sound. Attend all the performances you can, and spend a lot of time in bars, you'll hear so much cante and palmas you'll start dreaming in compas. Expect the process to be slow and excruciating, and don't be surprised if you're left wanting for more after five months. Also, don't expect to be able to find a job, employment is scarce and there are now quite a number of foreigners, all wanting to do the same thing: stay much longer than they originally intended.

Suerte

_____________________________

www.houseinjerez.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 22 2005 9:05:28

Phil

Posts: 382
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Rota, Spain

RE: flamenco instructions in spain (in reply to chano)

quote:

My reccomendation if you are starting from zero is to go see Jose Luis Balao in Jerez

Balao used to be El Carbonero's partner at his Flamenco Guitar school. I believe Balao took the students that were interested in classical guitar and Manuel the Flamenco students. I could be wrong about this, but that's been my understanding. You are the first person I've heard recommend him as a Flamenco teacher. I'm not criticizing you, so don't take this the wrong way. I'm just making an observation. He may be a very good Flamenco teacher, I've just never heard his name brought up in that context before. The names I always hear being recommended are El Carbonero, Fernando Moreno, and Antonio Jero.

Phil

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 22 2005 23:11:18

Thomas Whiteley

Posts: 786
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: San Francisco Bay Area

RE: flamenco instructions in spain (in reply to alin)

Try my web site at:

http://home.comcast.net/~flamencoguitar/flamenco.html

Look for teachers.

_____________________________

Tom
http://home.comcast.net/~flamencoguitar/flamenco.html

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 23 2005 4:18:07

Guest

RE: flamenco instructions in spain (in reply to Armando)

I just read that you were in Jerez. I was there 1 year ago studying flamenco with Jose Ignacio Franco. He was great!!! I hope you can help me.... I met a guy there who i would like to stay in contact with, his name is Santi and he works at Los Dos Deditos near Plaza de Arenal. If possible, could you go and see him and get an email address for him so i can contact him myself????? This would be great. Have fun and say hi to the guys from me (my name is Toby) Play well. Thankyou
Toby

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jun. 23 2005 9:49:17