Hello from Yorkshire, England

Costs are rising and times are tough.
Please consider a donation to keep this
place going.

Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.

This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.

We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.

You are logged in as Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >>Discussions >>Intros >>

Page: [1]

Message

<< Newer Topic Older Topic >>

RRowl

Posts: 4
Joined: Jan. 20 2016

Hello from Yorkshire, England

Hi, my name is Rob, and I have been playing guitar for some considerable time.
Spent most of that time writing songs and not really developing advanced playing techniques.
I have always loved Flamenco music, ever since I watched 'The Hit' on TV as a young teenager and heard a guitar music that has enchanted me ever since.
Finally decided that now I am getting on a bit, I would like to really learn how to play this music that I love.
So, I am principally here to find advice as to good teachers, courses, books videos etc.
I think I am a pretty good guitarist when I perform my own songs etc, but as far as Flamenco goes, please regard me as very much a novice.
My very best regards to you all!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2016 14:13:54

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: Hello from Yorkshire, England (in reply to RRowl)

Welcome to our little place, Rob! Listen to lots of solid flamenco recordings and find a teacher.

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2016 19:14:50

RRowl

Posts: 4
Joined: Jan. 20 2016

RE: Hello from Yorkshire, England (in reply to Escribano)

Thank you for your welcome,
This seems like a great resource and I am looking forward to finding out so much. I am in West Yorkshire, so if there are any other members out there anywhere close to Bradford, Shipley etc, I would love to hear from them if they get wind of performances, meetings, lessons etc.
Best
rob

(edit for spelling!)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 20 2016 22:05:06

Johnc

Posts: 114
Joined: Apr. 16 2011
From: UK

RE: Hello from Yorkshire, England (in reply to RRowl)

Hi Rob
if your looking for a teacher I would recommend Nick Wilkinson he's not so far from you in Manchester. he's a great teacher, a phenomenal player, and a really nice guy

this is his web site
http://www.123flamenco.com/home.html

good luck!

John

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2016 9:51:59

RRowl

Posts: 4
Joined: Jan. 20 2016

RE: Hello from Yorkshire, England (in reply to Johnc)

Hi John,
Thanks for your reply. Maybe manchester is a bit far away at the moment.
I have thought about contacting Samuel Moore, in Leeds - he is connected with the Cervantes centre there. I just feel I need to get a little more of the mindset before I leap into lessons; that and the cost!
I might try and get up to the Cervantes centre more often.
All the best
rob

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2016 10:39:38

Escribano

Posts: 6415
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: Hello from Yorkshire, England (in reply to RRowl)

quote:

I need to get a little more of the mindset before I leap into lessons; that and the cost!

I understand, but it is too easy to pick up bad habits on your own, which will have to be unlearned, just because they sound near enough e.g. tremolo, the rasgueos, compás, pulgar.

My teacher started with Soleares and coupled with Manuel Granados's Manual Didactico De La Guitarra Flamenca: Vol 1, it got me off to a good start.

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2016 11:37:56

RRowl

Posts: 4
Joined: Jan. 20 2016

RE: Hello from Yorkshire, England (in reply to Escribano)

Thank you for your advice, Escribano,
I completely agree that one needs a teacher to offset bad habits. I had a look for the book you recommend online and it seems like it might be quite hard to get hold of and expensive.
When I say the mindset, I mean that I need to understand the rhythms more, get the idea of what is going on with the technique into my head, before I launch into lessons.
I have been listening to flamenco for years, but never really put that much effort into learning the intricacies; after all, there is a whole world full of music and styles, and without any particular desire, or a specific reason, sometimes it can seem strange to choose just one as ones focus; that is, until one chooses that focus!
I have been playing my guitar for nearly 40 years now, and I have many, many bad habits; but I always saw my guitar as a tool for writing songs, and never saw myself as a guitarist, just happy to be a songwriter; so technique was never such a focus, apart from some tuition early on.
But now I feel that I do have a focus, so I am so pleased to find this forum and to be discovering so much information.
My best
Rob

(edit for spelling, again!)

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2016 20:22:52

johnnefastis

Posts: 631
Joined: Jan. 10 2012

RE: Hello from Yorkshire, England (in reply to RRowl)

Hi Rob,

Welcome to the Foro,

I am in Manchester and run some events here.

The website is down at the mo but will get it online in the next day or so.
http://www.flamencomanchester.com/

We have done a number of workshops with John Walsh who is a great player here on the Foro.
Hopefully he will be back in March so come down for that if you can.

There are a few people nearer to you too. Kevin and some others that I don't thing hang out here.

Lots of stuff gets posted on Facebook if you can tolerate that place.

https://www.facebook.com/Flamenco-Manchester-316196805106147/

There is also Peña in Leeds on this Sunday. I am hoping to go along and play (scrape through) a Fandangos with a dancer

https://www.facebook.com/flamencodeyorkshire/?fref=nf

Defo meet people and chat before you go spending too much on books and guitars.

Cheers

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 21 2016 22:10:36