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I'm not sure if any of you have grappled with balancing how much time you spend perfecting your flamenco "hobby" (I'm excluding the professionals here) vs. how much of your personal time to give to it. I have come to terms quite some time ago that no matter how much time I put in, I would never reach the ambitious but maybe unrealistic goals I had. Sometimes I think "did I just get older and throw in the towel ?" - well, maybe, or maybe I realized the results I was achieving didn't fit my vision and weren't worth the time cost. Now I've accepted it as a hobby - and I enjoy it as a connoisseur and aficianado. When I begin to practice, I'm no longer compelled not to stop when I want to do other things. Of course - no pain, no gain - and I completely understand that only discipline and endurance will result in truly notable gains from your current level.
Here is an interesting article - even the best grapple with this at some level...though given the choice I'd rather be grappling with it as one of the best. Just like money - it can't make you happy, but it sure can end a lot of problems and worries - if I'm going to be unhappy - better to be that way with lots of money.
Posts: 1770
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands
RE: how much time is "enough&qu... (in reply to joevidetto)
With the most respect to you, but could it be you aim the wrong goal? If you aim to be the best flamenco guitarist in 20 years you possible could be, the answers fall on their place i think. For me this worked fine.
Posts: 503
Joined: Jun. 14 2014
From: Encinitas, CA USA
RE: how much time is "enough&qu... (in reply to gerundino63)
I think quality is more important than quantity and overdoing it can be bad. I have had to take some breaks from playing for various reasons and found that it helps.
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Ah well, there was a fantastic passion there, in my case anyway. I discovered flamenco very early on. It grips you in a way that you can't get away - Paco Pena
RE: how much time is "enough&qu... (in reply to joevidetto)
Good article. Youve got to enjoy the journey.
Re having enough time, i know i dont have enough time left in my life to achieve all that i wanted to achieve in life, but i’m ok with that now. It makes me more selective about what i spend time on. For example in the flamenco context, i am focusing only on the palos that i connect with, and not striving to be a master of all.
At the end of the day, music is a hobby for me that comes after family and career. I’ll never be pro level, but i’m happy to be a passionate intermediate-level amateur with reasonable feel.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: how much time is "enough&qu... (in reply to joevidetto)
Not being satisfied with one’s playing is normal and it is what drives us to learn and create. The opposite is actually a bigger problem….when you think you have it all figured out or rest on your laurels. The other day it was on the news that Bono from U2 claimed he could not stand to listen to his own singing or the old successful albums. I mean that is how it SHOULD be…that’s not new for cryin out loud! And yes, I agree with him on top of it!
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