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I really want to accompany dancers as I believe that will be the best way to nail the various compases. Most instruction books/videos/DVDs assume I want to learn solos. I have the Juan Martin book and Paco Pena's student repertoire book. Just lookin for something really directed towards dance accompaniment.
When I was in Madrid I got a DVD called 'Paso a Paso - Los Palos del Flamenco' which has about one minute devoted to the guitar, one minute to the voice, and 58 minutes to the dance. The guy who sold it to me swore it was in English as well as Spanish and Japanese. Only when I got home did I discover it is only in Spanish, which, sadly, I don't understand. Still, I can pick little bits up here and there. Something like that in English with instruction for the guitarist in accompaniment would be great.
RE: Best instructional for dance accomp? (in reply to Rob)
Rob, The CD/Book "Understanding Flamenco" by Faustino NUñez is excellent. The book itsn't great but the CD is a gem. You can get it from Flamenco-World and other sites. I'd personally try to steer clear of written work and tabs etc, and get stuff you can listen to.
Posts: 6447
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: Best instructional for dance accomp? (in reply to Rob)
quote:
The guy who sold it to me swore it was in English as well as Spanish and Japanese. Only when I got home did I discover it is only in Spanish, which, sadly, I don't understand.
Sounds like it might be a Herrero DVD, though I cannot find a reference to it. It may support English subtitles, check for Language under the main menu.
RE: Best instructional for dance accomp? (in reply to Escribano)
Not Herrero. It does offer me the choice of three languages on the main menu, but the English one is completely silent. I'll just have to learn Spanish...
RE: Best instructional for dance accomp? (in reply to Rob)
Rob
I took a look at one of the paso a paso - los palos del flamenco. And your right, the english version doesn´t work. (typical)
Use the DVD anyway, as I dont think there are anything else that covers what you are looking for.
The 58 minutes of baile will tell you how the dance is "constructed" which you´ll need to understand in order to accompany. Listen to what the player plays, and you´ll get an idea on what to play. You don´t have to understand what is been said, but an extra good point is that this way you´ll learn some spanish
RE: Best instructional for dance accomp? (in reply to Rob)
Hi Rob.
I do a lot of dance accompanyment and the truth is that I just make it up as I go. I'm lucky to have access to a good dancer and we just work out routines and I just have to remember where the highlights are going to be, the rest is just 'feel' and trying to 'dance' with the guitar.
So my advice my friend is to spend time tracking down a dancer. I know that might sound unlikley, but I'm sure there will be someone, even a beginner, that you'll come accross and it'll take off from there.
How about the university? or phone the Lorca Society in Glasgow 0141 221 8806. They might be able to suggest someone to contact.
RE: Best instructional for dance accomp? (in reply to Jim Opfer)
Thanks for the advice Jim. I've made contact with a dancer who teaches in Edinburgh and Dundee - Linda Skakel - do you know her? I'm meeting her on Thursday 13th. I said I wasn't up to playing for her class, so she is taking me for a couple of hours free tuition (she must be desperate for a guitarist!). So I have a week and a half to master Soleares, Bulerias and Alegrias! Easy! Wish me luck...
RE: Best instructional for dance accomp? (in reply to Rob)
Rob,
Well there you go! that's fantastic and I remember very scary! but the right thing to be doing.
The thing is, we all play at home and make progress but the thought of going out to some strange place with new faces, well it's a bit like wearing your speedos and doing a male take on that Ursula Andress stride out of that cold north sea, if you know what I mean!
Tall order in a week Rob, but try to keep it really simple. Don't do anything fancy, keep counting and if you can, remember to tap your foot and get into a swing.
In Solea, remember you can change from E to F on beat 3 and then bach to E on beat 10. (F is played open, 133200) Also, Am on beat 3, G6 on beat 6, F on beat 8 and back to E on beat 10. Mix these compas sequences around. Look forward to hearing how it goes.
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Wish me luck... 
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