Learning and Developing

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Aretium

Posts: 277
Joined: Oct. 23 2012

Learning and Developing

A few people have posted looking for lessons in their region. My question is this, what should we unprivileged (first world problems

) folk who can't access a teacher for whatever reason do for learning and developing our understanding of flamenco. I understand the best books to have are currently Paco Pena, Manuel Granados, Nunez's, GGMartinez, Herroro etc (obviously loads of falseta material online). But for really developing compas awareness and accompaniment what is the best route to take (aside a real teacher)?

E.g I heard Jason Mcguire's online lessons are good.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2013 0:55:57

guitarbuddha

Posts: 2970
Joined: Jan. 4 2007

RE: Learning and Developing (in reply to Aretium)

Record yourself practicing for a little while and listen back. If you listen honestly youll hear everything a teacher would tell you concerning technique and musicianship.

For accompanying record yourself playing a melody on the guitar,tune only. Try and find the harmony and play along. After you have had a few tries and tried a few strategies listen to a professional recording and compare.

Play along with the radio.

D.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2013 2:15:19

shaun

Posts: 176
Joined: May 11 2012
From: Edmonton, Canada

RE: Learning and Developing (in reply to Aretium)

Listen to a lot of flamenco. It helps to know what you are trying to sound like.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2013 2:55:52

NormanKliman

Posts: 1143
Joined: Sep. 1 2007

RE: Learning and Developing (in reply to shaun)

quote:

Listen to a lot of flamenco.

I think this is the way to go, especially as regards recordings. You should spend years collecting and listening to recordings. Find out who the most important singers and guitarists are/were, determine which ones you enjoy listening to and buy all the recordings you can find. I recommend silently counting the beats of the compás while you listen. When you notice that you're no longer in time, listen to that part again to find the problem. Some say that counting is not a good idea, but I think it's okay, provided that your goal is to get away from it as soon as possible.

_____________________________

Be here now.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2013 6:03:40

Erik van Goch

Posts: 1787
Joined: Jul. 17 2012
From: Netherlands

RE: Learning and Developing (in reply to Aretium)

That's a good question and hard to answer. The usual "listen to it a lot" fails on the fact that you can only spot things that you have learned to spot. For most people a sparrow is just a sparrow and despite seeing them a lifetime most people fail to see the difference between one type of sparrow and the other. I myself listened to/played flamenco many hours a day between my 12-18th year. I ear-played every record of Paco Peña in that period and had an excellent ear for melody/harmony, but no talent what so ever for hearing/understanding compas. The first time i realized there was even something like compas was when i became a full time student of Paco Peña at the age of 23. I had to start all over again.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 31 2013 6:35:11