Glad to Join Your Flamenco Community

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DrStrangelove24

Posts: 10
Joined: Jul. 13 2013

Glad to Join Your Flamenco Community

Hello everyone,

For a while now I've wanted to integrate myself into the conversations going on here, but I figured I should first provide an introduction.

I'm 29 (almost 30!) and from Wisconsin. I do not have a musical background and my professional life is as far away from music as you can get. Nevertheless, about a year ago I became anxious to start learning guitar. I'd always wanted to and I knew things would not get easier as I got older.

So, I got a rather crappy steel string guitar and started learning my favorite folkrock songs (in the realm of Simon & Garfunkel). But then I came across Paco de Lucia on youtube. The music infected me like nothing else before. I was amazed by the spectrum of expression contained within Flamenco; its seeming ability to oscillate between absolute lament and jubilation. I loved the attitude and confidence of the music. I loved the dissonance contained within it at times.

From that moment, about 8 months ago, I've tried to use any time I've had for music to saturate my mind with all things Flamenco (i.e., not just guitar, but also the cante, the history, the culture, the language, the different personalities and pioneers, etc). I decided to use Juan Martin's books to learn technique. And, of course, I've benefited tremendously from this site (thanks everyone!).

I'm pretty good at self-learning, and I'm fairly confident in my ability to teach myself about Flamenco. And yet, I remain very aware of the fact that traditionally Flamenco solo guitar was taught by a teacher, not out of a book. And in that vain, I'm somewhat afraid that I'm forming and cementing bad habits without knowing it. My plan now is to keep improving hand strength, agility, and general knowledge and then eventually hire a teacher to help me iron out my rough edges. But I'd also like to start participating on this site and hopefully pick up some pointers from you all.

So, that's me. Thanks again and I look forward to joining your community!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 18 2013 16:04:47

Arash

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

RE: Glad to Join Your Flamenco Community (in reply to DrStrangelove24)

Welcome and hope to read more from you and your progress soon.

_____________________________

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 18 2013 16:35:31

FredGuitarraOle

Posts: 898
Joined: Dec. 6 2012
From: Lisboa, Portugal

RE: Glad to Join Your Flamenco Community (in reply to DrStrangelove24)

quote:

But then I came across Paco de Lucia on youtube. The music infected me like nothing else before. I was amazed by the spectrum of expression contained within Flamenco; its seeming ability to oscillate between absolute lament and jubilation. I loved the attitude and confidence of the music. I loved the dissonance contained within it at times.

Same with me and many people here on the Foro. Welcome Nick and good luck on this journey!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 18 2013 19:21:51

Leñador

Posts: 5237
Joined: Jun. 8 2012
From: Los Angeles

RE: Glad to Join Your Flamenco Community (in reply to DrStrangelove24)

quote:

(i.e., not just guitar, but also the cante, the history, the culture, the language, the different personalities and pioneers, etc).

That's the best thing you can do for yourself as a guitarist.
And Welcome!

_____________________________

\m/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 18 2013 21:14:14

orsonw

Posts: 1943
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: Glad to Join Your Flamenco Community (in reply to DrStrangelove24)

quote:

I'm pretty good at self-learning, and I'm fairly confident in my ability to teach myself about Flamenco. And yet, I remain very aware of the fact that traditionally Flamenco solo guitar was taught by a teacher, not out of a book. And in that vain, I'm somewhat afraid that I'm forming and cementing bad habits without knowing it. My plan now is to keep improving hand strength, agility, and general knowledge and then eventually hire a teacher to help me iron out my rough edges.

These are similar to my thoughts and plans when I began. Unfortunately I've spent about twice or three times as many years unlearning things as I spent learning them wrong! Some of the limiting 'rough edges' in my technique seem almost impossible to change (but I'm determined!)

This forum has been very helpful and some lessons with a good teacher to check I'm on course. I know I would be a much, much better player by now if I hadn't done it so much on my own at the start. It can be hard to get a good teacher but maybe the internet and youtube make it easier than when I first started when books were the only resource.

I wish you well with your progress.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 18 2013 21:14:27

Erik van Goch

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

RE: Glad to Join Your Flamenco Community (in reply to DrStrangelove24)

Welcome to the foro.... I like your approach/ambitions and your ability to express yourself on paper.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 18 2013 23:32:59

DrStrangelove24

Posts: 10
Joined: Jul. 13 2013

RE: Glad to Join Your Flamenco Community (in reply to DrStrangelove24)

Thank you for everyone's well wishes and advice! I look forward to future exchanges!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 19 2013 16:03:59

Brendan

Posts: 357
Joined: Oct. 30 2010

RE: Glad to Join Your Flamenco Community (in reply to DrStrangelove24)

What Orson said, doubly underlined. The fact that you think hand-strength and agility will be the limiting factors suggests that you need a teacher.

Is there a flamenco scene nearby?

_____________________________

https://sites.google.com/site/obscureflamencology/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 19 2013 17:25:40

DrStrangelove24

Posts: 10
Joined: Jul. 13 2013

RE: Glad to Join Your Flamenco Community (in reply to Brendan)

Hi Brenden,

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately I haven't found anyone doing Flamenco around here, despite looking. My plan was to take lessons from a teacher online starting in December, at which time my schedule is going to open up.

That wasn't a list of "limiting factors" as much as a general statement of what I'm working on now. I could have been clearer. By saying "hand strength, agility, and general knowledge" I mean to include: right hand technique (picado, tremelo, apregios, alzapua, golpe, etc) and left hand technique (ligado, barre, slides, muting, etc), playing in compas, internalizing the major, minor, and phrygian dominant scales, and learning the different parts that make up a palo (llamadas, falsetas, ending phrases, etc).

I did join this site to learn though, so perhaps you could suggest a better way for me to hone my focus?

Cheers

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 19 2013 21:24:44

Brendan

Posts: 357
Joined: Oct. 30 2010

RE: Glad to Join Your Flamenco Community (in reply to DrStrangelove24)

Ah, ok. The talk of strength and agility made it sound like you were taking an athletic approach. I had a speech ready.

My advice:

1) take advice from people more advanced than me. I'm sure you've been reading some of the relevant threads here.

2) find the others. Wisconsin has towns. Somewhere out there are other flamencos. If not, drive to Chicago. I bet there are flamencos there.

_____________________________

https://sites.google.com/site/obscureflamencology/

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 20 2013 23:11:22

DrStrangelove24

Posts: 10
Joined: Jul. 13 2013

RE: Glad to Join Your Flamenco Community (in reply to Brendan)

Hi Brendan,

Thanks for your thoughts. That's a great idea about Chicago. I should check Milwaukee, as well. Hopefully I'll find some people!

All the best
Nick

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 21 2013 17:44:11