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.
|
|
Masters Classes
|
You are logged in as Guest
|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login | |
|
Thomas Whiteley
Posts: 786
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: San Francisco Bay Area
|
Masters Classes
|
|
|
A term in music that is perhaps not well defined is "Master". As it relates specifically to flamenco guitar is even more obscure. The definition that seems to apply to "Master" in this instance is "an artist, performer, or player of consummate skill". From here on things become interpretive. I see many self proclaimed "Master's" classes being taught by self-proclaimed, "Master's". Self-promotion is a good approach for those that do not have a promoter, agent or marketing department. The "Master" may be a good player but not a good teacher. The Master may not be a good player or know little about flamenco. I have met several people whom I consider as Flamenco Masters. My list consists of names like Sabicas, Carlos Montoya, Juan Serrano and Mariano Cordoba. I can add some of todays guitarists but I hope you get my idea. Today, I find people who are calling themselves "Masters", give classes, and do not inspire me a great deal. I have taken classes from some of these individuals and realize they have talent but it does not seem to have much depth. I always try to learn something new from everyone I meet in flamenco. It is not uncommon for me to teach something new to others. One of the complaints I have of many of these new "Masters", is in many cases they may know little about flamenco. They can play fast and loud which is important to some people. Their playing lacks feeling but does incorporate technically difficult accomplishments. Many have no clue how to accompany a dancer or singer. One fellow from Spain kept saying, "Do this"! He could not define the names of the chords he was using. These were not commonly used flamenco chords but will be found in American Jazz. I have seen a number of advertisements at music stores, the Internet, and a variety of sources advertising "Flamenco Master's Course". You may learn something and you may even enjoy yourself at such an event. Today flamenco guitar has taken on many forms and people’s taste differs. It is good to have a choice but it is nice to know what you are paying for be it a “Master’s Class” or paying to watch some flamenco group perform. Your expectations and reality may not meet.
_____________________________
Tom http://home.comcast.net/~flamencoguitar/flamenco.html
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Oct. 17 2003 23:40:36
|
|
Paul Bruhns
Posts: 77
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
|
RE: Masters Classes (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)
|
|
|
Let's face it, no one here is a master of Flamenco, or even guitar. We are at best, afficianados or students of the art who play guitar. I think its great that we can share our passion for the music, and our experiences, and I would even go as far as to say that there are several good players who communicate here. I enjoy it tremendously. But, the word master is of no consequence. There are subjective terms in any endeavor, and very little in the way of quantitative standards necessary to label anyone a master of anything! Still, the term Master... falls in a line of succession: Beginner; Intermediate; Advanced; and Master... or, is it Apprentice; Jouneyman, and Master? I could derive my own definition of what these things mean, but they would be just that... MY definitions, and I think that my opinion would be worth about as much as a broken D string...which I have far too many of :-) Let's just keep sharing, and leave the philosophy to "The Masters" Best Regards, Paul
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Oct. 19 2003 15:41:09
|
|
Paul Bruhns
Posts: 77
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
|
RE: Masters Classes (in reply to Thomas Whiteley)
|
|
|
Yeah Andy, That's it exactly. I think the person would be Apprentice-Journeyman-Master (as in the trades) and the instruction would be Beginner-Intermediate-Advanced-Master. But, it all conotes that somewhere there is a master level of accomplishment. Still, in thinking about it, I don't think one needs to be a virtuoso to be a master of flamenco guitar. I think flamenco guitar is meant to be a percussive/ rhythmic instrument, albeit somewhat musical to transfer the key and musical mood... (does the word inferrence work here?). So, I would call someone a master of flamenco guitar who had that certain ability to accomodate the cante and baile in a way that raised the performance to "art" and could follow, improvise, and communicate ideas that inspired his /her fellow performers at the time. That's why flashy solo guitar playing does not generally stir my flamenco blood. For example, when I hear PdL play, my favorite thing to listen for is the palmas and occassional footwork of a dancer, and how they all interact... to me that's good flamenco. But, that's just my thoughts... I'm in no way an expert. Regards, Paul
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Oct. 24 2003 19:32:19
|
|
New Messages |
No New Messages |
Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
Locked w/ New Messages |
Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET |
6.298828E-02 secs.
|