RE: Juan Martin

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RE: Juan Martin

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Wannabee

Posts: 131
Joined: Jan. 13 2007

RE: Juan Martin (in reply to r0bbie)

As my username suggests, I am still learning myself, so my comments come from a student's perspective.

I use the JM book 1 as well as GM's and DK's books and I have done some on line lessons as well as "real live teacher" lessons....so here's what I think.

The good thing about JM's books is that he gives you lots of stuff to work on, lots of pieces, a wide range of palos to keep thing interesting.

The bad things... he doesn't explain some things very well; things like how the compas fits into each piece. Except for a couple of Sigerias pieces, there are no compas markings, so it's up to you to figure out where each beat should be.

That's not an impossible task, but it's also not the best for someone who is just learning to have no clue where 12 is for example.

Another drawback of the JM material is that the pieces are presented as a whole, so it gives the student the impression that it should be fixed like a classical work.

If the compas sections were clearly marked, students could better understand how to change things here and there (how to rearrange rhythmic sections between falsettas for example, or how to add falsettas from somewhere else)

Another drawback is that he doesn't slow down the more complicated pieces.
It would be a lot more effective if he gave slower versions of the level 4 and 5 stuff... for example.

I don't mean to dis JM's material, it is a good learning resource and I have learned a lot from it, but I have had to go to other sources first and try to understand compas, and falsettas and things before I could really understand what was going on in the JM pieces.

Anyway, that's my dos centimos.

suerte

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 11 2007 1:36:41

Guest

[Deleted] (in reply to Wannabee)

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 11 2007 2:17:34

Romanza

Posts: 296
Joined: Oct. 24 2005

RE: Juan Martin (in reply to Wannabee)

I think the Graf Martinez books start off well - the exercises are fairly easy and there are several different exercises for each technique. However I think the actual longer examples of each palos in the book are disproportionately difficult. Without previous guitar experience, they are a bit too difficult for beginner guitarist. Some sort of in between practice is needed.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 11 2007 8:38:57

Romanza

Posts: 296
Joined: Oct. 24 2005

RE: Juan Martin (in reply to Romanza)

maybe there could be a different thread about tuition books?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 11 2007 8:39:57

Wannabee

Posts: 131
Joined: Jan. 13 2007

RE: Juan Martin (in reply to Guest)

Sorry, I should have just written the names out.

GM = Graf-Martinez

DK = Dennis Koster

I think the Graf-Martinez is the best beginner course overall, although I think there are good things from each.

I still find the little compas exercises at the beginning of the Koster book to be very useful. His explanation of compas is the clearest of any that I have seen, but the examples he uses are very old style. Not that there's anything wrong with that, if you like Nino Ricardo, Sabicas and Diego del Gastor's style then the Koster books are a good place to start.

If you want a more modern sound, get the Graf-Martinez books. (get the DVD's)
I wish I had done that from the beginning. It would have saved me a lot of grief.

The Oscar Herrero series is probably the most authentic series out there, but I only have vol 2 of the Step by Step. So I can't really comment on the whole series. I find this material great, but not easy. The techniques exercises are great and all the rasgueado patterns are a must.

The Manuel Granados books are excellent, but again pretty difficult for beginners.
I still have trouble doing some of the things from book 1. I wish there were a dvd set for this series or even slowed down recordings, but it is a great resource.

I haven't tried the other series you mentioned..so I have no clue about it.

I hope this helps.

Cheers

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 11 2007 8:40:52

Guest

[Deleted] (in reply to Romanza)