Need Comment on Dennis Koster Books+CDs

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Guitarist

Posts: 13
Joined: Jan. 18 2007

Need Comment on Dennis Koster Books+CDs

Hi everyone,

I use Oscar Herrero materials Step by Step to learn Flamenco, but they concentrate on techniques with no rich explanations or nice solos!

I thought to add Dennis koster materials to my home study, because I found a lot of nice solos to learn and play with explanations.

Volume 1:

http://www.amazon.com/Mel-presents-Keys-Flamenco-Guitar/dp/0786673486/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-7610304-1742504?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179016504&sr=8-1

Volume 2:

http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Atlas-Flamenco-Book-CD/dp/0739024787/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/102-7610304-1742504?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1179015065&sr=8-3

For the people who tried Koster's materials, I hope to tell me if they really could learn the solos without the need to watch them on a DVD?

And I welcome for any kind of comment about other options to learn solos from beginning to advanced.

Thanks a lot,

Guitarist

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 16 2007 0:19:51

Wannabee

Posts: 131
Joined: Jan. 13 2007

RE: Need Comment on Dennis Koster Bo... (in reply to Guitarist)

I have the two Keys books, but not the book of solos.
I found book one fairly easy to get through, except for the bulerias at the end.

I am finally getting that worked out after 4 years. It is definitely easier if you have a DVD. You can watch things like the hand position, fingering and especially right hand techniques.

Book 2 ... it's still too advanced for me, although I can play some of the things in it. The section on Fan de huelva still baffles the heck out of me. I really enjoy that palo and want to play it, but it just doesn't seem to work for me.

One thing that I've found is that no learning materials are going to be perfect. They all have their strengths and weaknesses. You have to take what you can from each, and keep looking into other things as well, but at the same time...don't be afraid to review some of the things you studied way back when.

It's amazing how much stuff I missed the first time through.

The Manuel Granados books are good too, but they move too quickly. I wish there were half-speed versions on the CD...that would help me a lot.

Overall, I've liked the Graf-Martinez books the most, but I should have gotten the DVD versions. It really does make a big difference.

I have also learned quite a bit just by watching Youtube.com

Newvision learning lessons with Adam del Monte are good, but I wish they had more lessons on the site, some bulerias, some fandangos and perhaps a columbiana or two would be nice.

I hope this helps.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 16 2007 6:38:25

Guitarist

Posts: 13
Joined: Jan. 18 2007

RE: Need Comment on Dennis Koster Bo... (in reply to Guitarist)

Thanks "Wannabee" for your help...

Actually my idea is to work on two kinds of learning materials to not miss anything. I am happy with Herrero's Step by Step because he shows me the techniques very well, especially for the right hand. But he does not give me nice music to play! (This is what I miss)

I had the chance to see Koster's Keys book 1 and listen to the CD, so I can say Koster shows very well explanations with nice melody in his exercises. But of course he can not show heavy techniques in books. (But this is what Herrero covers)

I watched the demos of Graf-Martinez DVDs, and I think he repeats most of what Herrero shows in his materials. So In my opinion it will not help me.

Finally, about "Adam del Monte" website I still not feel good to buy materials that I can't touch and keep it in my hands. I want to read it any time I want and grab it on my music stands to work out and play, when I am sitting on my chair in front the mirror because I am trying to create Flamenco air for me.

Thanks again for your help.

Guitarist

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 16 2007 15:05:29

Stu

Posts: 2537
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: Need Comment on Dennis Koster Bo... (in reply to Guitarist)

wannabee:
I have the manuel granados books/cds and agree, right away he jumps in with some really quick stuff.

I have got around this problem by using the program "Sound Forge" by Sony. Its a music editing program which allows you to do something called a "Time Stretch" which slows down the song to the desired speed without changing the key. I have used this several times whilst working out fast bits of different songs.

You first of all have to rip the tracks from the cd to mp3 format and then open them in sound forge. and apply the time stretch.

If you get hold of this prog and need any help. let me know.

Stu

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 17 2007 16:51:39

wiseguy493

Posts: 73
Joined: May 9 2007

RE: Need Comment on Dennis Koster Bo... (in reply to Guitarist)

I first started with Dennis Koster's books and while they were not the most comprehensive or complete guides to flamenco, they did provide a LOT of very good material and explains concepts, rhythms, and palos very well. I would recommend them to anyone.

I did not start with the DVDs, only the books with the CDs. These books are currently out of print and only the first book is available through Mel Bay (they recently acquired the publishing rights). The second and third books are scheduled to be revised and published by Mel Bay within the next year.

I know this because I searched all over for the third book and could not find it anywhere, so I did some inquiring and managed to get in touch with Koster's assistant who is in the process of revising these books.

I have worked my way through both the books, as well as many other books, fairly casually in about 3 years now, and I have used the Koster books as a resource in understanding some compositional and rhythmic elements when attempting new palos. He doesn't cover as many palos as Manuel Granados, and his material is written in a less structured manner, meant to be skipped through accordingly and learned at your own discretion. I kind of like that approach because that's how I am. So I had gotten into parts of Book 2 before I had really finished Book 1, and I didn't feel like I missed anything because of it

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 17 2007 17:30:12

Guitarist

Posts: 13
Joined: Jan. 18 2007

RE: Need Comment on Dennis Koster Bo... (in reply to Guitarist)

Thank you for your replys and help ...

I don't think Koster's materials will be good for me at this level, because I am not sure if I am ready to do any exercise without whatching it on a DVD.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 20 2007 16:48:32

Franchiquito

Posts: 245
Joined: Aug. 9 2006
From: Italy

RE: Need Comment on Dennis Koster Bo... (in reply to Guitarist)

I didn't know him
searching on youtube i found this:

it looks like he as a good knowledge of sabicas

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 20 2007 17:54:58

stephenwyan

Posts: 1
Joined: Oct. 12 2011

RE: Need Comment on Dennis Koster Bo... (in reply to Guitarist)

Books are better and very old medium for sharing views and thoughts with other users.I love to reading old books like Shakespeare and other famous authors.

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Stephen King Books

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 12 2011 13:44:12

Ricardo

Posts: 14828
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Need Comment on Dennis Koster Bo... (in reply to Guitarist)

They are all tools for learning, depends how you use em. Some times I have seen in methods the right idea, but the demos are not so great. And video demos are important for all the stuff you can't get on paper. Encuentro is really the best in that regard, because of the level of the players in the series.

I recommend them all but Nuñez has good stuff regarding musical technique practice even based in part on traditional faletas, Chicuelo and Tomate more modern, and with Chicuelo you get some interesting stuff for Baile, Merengue II for cante accomp in general, and also Moraito for truly exemplary accompaniment of jerez style cante. Habichuela and Riqueni for interesting compositional ideas, etc etc...all good stuff to learn from. There is no proper "graduating method" for flamenco IMO.

Ricardo

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 13 2011 20:26:49