New member introduction

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MichaelSheridan

Posts: 14
Joined: Jan. 10 2021

New member introduction

Hello everyone, I’m brand new to the site. Relatively new to flamenco though I am pretty familiar with guitar. Looking forward to checking the site out and reading some discussions. Suggestions are welcome for any old threads that are particularly interesting and informative.

Thank you,

Michael

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 10 2021 21:30:02

Piwin

Posts: 3559
Joined: Feb. 9 2016

RE: New member introduction (in reply to MichaelSheridan)

Welcome to the foro!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 10 2021 23:11:52

Paul Magnussen

Posts: 1805
Joined: Nov. 8 2010
From: London (living in the Bay Area)

RE: New member introduction (in reply to MichaelSheridan)

Hi Michael,

Yes, welcome indeed. But there is masses of material here, so before we give you list of threads we need some indication of what you’re most interested in. So let us know.

If you’re familiar with the guitar then Dennis Koster’s is an excellent tutor in three volumes:

https://www.amazon.com/Keys-Flamenco-Guitar-1/dp/0786689269/ref=sr_1_2?crid=280EX9Q06AV2R&dchild=1&keywords=dennis+koster&qid=1610343406&sprefix=Dennis+Koster%2Caps%2C227&sr=8-2

For video, check out Gerhard Graf-Martínez’s two-volume tutor:

https://www.amazon.com/Flamenco-Guitar-Method-Book-Pack/dp/3795757681/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=graf-martinez&qid=1610343297&s=books&sr=1-1

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 11 2021 5:32:38

MichaelSheridan

Posts: 14
Joined: Jan. 10 2021

RE: New member introduction (in reply to Piwin)

Thank you!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 11 2021 14:10:02

MichaelSheridan

Posts: 14
Joined: Jan. 10 2021

RE: New member introduction (in reply to Paul Magnussen)

Thank you so much! When I was in grad school my classical teacher had introduced me to Dennis on the phone. I haven't checked his books out yet but I will. Thank you for the recommendation. I have an excellent flamenco teacher so I suppose I'm more interested in reading about the history, some listening recommendations and, when life is back to normal, recommendations of places to see live flamenco in the NY/NJ area.

Again, thank you for the welcome. I'm very happy that this site exists.

Michael

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 11 2021 14:16:13

Fluknu

Posts: 151
Joined: Jan. 11 2021

RE: New member introduction (in reply to MichaelSheridan)

Hola,
I decided to say hello and introduce myself.

I'm 51, living in Switzerland (the French speaking part) near Montreux.
Played lots of guitar form 15 to to 22. Before that clarinette and saxophone. Then at 22 stopped altogether.

Music is waht's keeping me alive and well since I can recall. Started at 4 y.o. with Meedle from Pink Floyd- The cover of the vynil in my father's library seemed appealing. First thing I listenned, appart from Anne Sylvestre-Lol. I'm into lots of music, but all styles confounded I'm a fan of Scofield, Miles, Willie Nelson, Steve Reich, Brian Eno, Bach/Palestrina and Beethoven (No Mozart for me), Willy Deville, Royksop.

What brought me to flamenco was a misunderstanding, mixed with a joke and a challenge. At 48 y.o I decided to work less and practice the guitar again. I started with picking. I had played much funk, rock and jazz in my twenties. I realized the left hand was quite a focus and the right was just going up and down. Picking seemed a challenge. Plus I loved doc watson and all those guys.
One night, after a fair amount of beer, a great and very drunk guitar player told me that if I wanted to developp my right hand, there was no better style as Flamenco.
I knew only the classic Laughling/Di meola/ De lucia recordings, and although I found these albums good and cool, it never blew my mind. I even saw the three of them live in Montreux.
So I went to youtube, and started. If I had knew where I was going....:)
After a year of getting bad habits, I decided to find a teacher. Here in The french speaking part of Switzerland that's quite difficult. Found a spanish teacher, but he left after two months to go to Sevilla at the Herren school. We had some skype, but it wasn't really to my liking.
Then found a french teacher who lived in Jerez for a long time. And that is really perfect.
For the first 6 months, my only goal was to get some right hand technique. I hated flamenco. Really. Then, I listenned to Moraito. First love. Then got familiar with PDL. Was blowned by what is definitely the best guitarist all styles confounded. But I don't get any emotion listenning to him. I know it's a crime to say that, but I don't care. He touches me mentally but not emotionally. Except with Camaron. Second love: Camaron and PDL.
Then I discovered Sanlucar, Pepe Habichuela, Paco Cepero and that was the end of it: I started to listen only to flamenco.
But My prefered style is voice and music. So then I discovered El Torta, Antonio Reyes, and Jose Merce (third love). Then Capullo de Jerez- Kown as Dick the Jerez :) (fourth love), and Potito.
Now Flamenco is nearly the only style of music I can listen too. My kids and wife are going crazy. But are starting to dig it also.
I'm more into singing and music. The "only guitar" thing doesn't appeal to me so much. Maybe beacause I listenned to a lot of jazz and I think that, although the new guitarist are doing amazing things with modern/jazzy sounds, I think that jazz players are still further in sound. If I listen to Guitar only I go with Sanlucra, Pepe Habichuela and paco Cepero - for the moment.
For me, flamenco is a live music, with cante at the center.
Oh yeah, forgot Diego Amaya. I just love this Guitar player. I love the space in his playing.
I'm praticing between 2 to 3 hours a day.
I have regular crisis where I think that the whole thing is nonsense- which it certainly is. But I'm totally hooked. I'd like to play with some people but... no one is interested. I tried recently to play with a couple of rock/funk band, and included some new right hand flamenco tehcnique things. They loved it, but I cant's stand the rock/funk thing anymore. I got out.
I'm alone. And it sucks. But in the end I dont' care.
So that's it.
My focus is know on rythm accuracy. I would also like to discover a feminin voice that I like. I still haven't found that.
This was suppose to be a short introduction...But due to the lockdown, Bars are closed and I'm sick of Netflix.

Voilà!
Patrick

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2021 20:53:33

Escribano

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

RE: New member introduction (in reply to Fluknu)

Bienvenu Patrice,

I am English but I live near you in Northern Italy. I hope you find this place useful.

_____________________________

Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Jan. 22 2021 21:27:23

Fluknu

Posts: 151
Joined: Jan. 11 2021

RE: New member introduction (in reply to MichaelSheridan)

Thank you,

Yes, tremendously helpful. I'm digging in the forums using key words and reading past stuff. That's an amzing source of knowledge.

Thank you for the initiative and maintenance.

And hello to northern Italy