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Just wanted to share some thoughts on the importance of positivity/encouragement in the musical community... these points are especially salient in certain sub-groups of USA flamenco communities...
Very important topic. I myself took note of these issues early on in my career and tried EXTREMELY hard to avoid these problems. I consider that work in this area between myself and several colleagues to have been successful for about a decade and a half in our small community. I admit I have had to take the conflict avoidance/general avoidance route several times, which later on down the road turned out to have been the best desicion. Also, regrettably, I ended up "creating some monsters", so to speak. Coming to terms with the fact I became the "obi wan" to certain failed "anikins", despite warnings from several yodas, was pretty depressing.
But we rise above it and carry on with positivity and hope for the future. Nice blog.
A couple of years ago I had to accompany mi mujer to the hospital and met the father of José and Encarnita Anillo. He stopped me and said "I heard that you have made a recording of José Millán." When I confirmed this, he said that when his niños were learning, José was the only cantaor in Cádiz willing to show them anything and they owe him a lot. He asked me for 3 copies of the recording and was willing to pay any price.
Needless to say, I made a present of the recordings.
José also taught me everthing I know about cante and about acompanimiento and I really miss him. Un hombre muy generoso y con un corazón de oro.
A couple of years ago I had to accompany mi mujer to the hospital and met the father of José and Encarnita Anillo. He stopped me and said "I heard that you have made a recording of José Millán." When I confirmed this, he said that when his niños were learning, José was the only cantaor in Cádiz willing to show them anything and they owe him a lot. He asked me for 3 copies of the recording and was willing to pay any price.
Needless to say, I made a present of the recordings.
José also taught me everthing I know about cante and about acompanimiento and I really miss him. Un hombre muy generoso y con un corazón de oro.
That's nice. I took Encarna with Farruquito out to dinner and treated them. She was very nice, said her husband was a Chilean Tocaor. I am always hopeful nice gestures open new doors, and if not, at least a nice memory for all involved.
Very important topic. I myself took note of these issues early on in my career and tried EXTREMELY hard to avoid these problems. I consider that work in this area between myself and several colleagues to have been successful for about a decade and a half in our small community. I admit I have had to take the conflict avoidance/general avoidance route several times, which later on down the road turned out to have been the best desicion. Also, regrettably, I ended up "creating some monsters", so to speak. Coming to terms with the fact I became the "obi wan" to certain failed "anikins", despite warnings from several yodas, was pretty depressing.
But we rise above it and carry on with positivity and hope for the future. Nice blog.
Ricardo
Thanks, Ricardo. Good for you for working toward maintaining positivity in your community, especially for such a long time. Speaking about the local scene, I do what I can as well, but there are certain members of the flamenco community who make it very difficult to maintain civility... that said, there has been an influx of younger artists who are different (in the best possible way), so I am hopeful for the future!
quote:
ORIGINAL: rombsix
I'm interested to see what your blog posts will look like once you become a psychiatrist.
but there are certain members of the flamenco community who make it very difficult to maintain civility
In what ways?
Oh, not for me -- I just avoid that stuff now, which is easier now that I am among very supportive peers in med school (+ my non-guitarist musician friends). But the issue lies in the the schoolyard antics I alluded to in my initial blog post... there is a completely contrived hierarchy among flamenco guitarists here that is absolutely not merit-based (quite the opposite, actually), and in general there is a lot of drama, talking behind people's backs, sabotage, etc... just bizarre to me, it's as though some of these people are yearning for the days of middle school.
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