Andy Culpepper -> RE: Foot tapping different palos (Nov. 14 2009 7:09:21)
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Pie (as in Spanish for foot, not the delicious dessert [8|]) is now more important than ever in Flamenco. In fact it is taught and practiced by most professionals as a completely essential element of flamenco like palmas. I have no doubt that 50 years ago, Mario Escudero and other other "old time" flamenco masters may have discouraged it (but I can't figure out exactly why?). But flamenco is very different nowadays, specifically it is much more rhythmically complex. And failing to use any external expression of time is almost sure to get you lost. Of course if you're doing a solo Solea or something, foot tapping is not required (although again it can't hurt), but if you're going to work with dancers or any kind of group you're going to have to deal with extreme syncopation, tempo changes, pre-specified spaces in which you don't play. All of which is way easier to pull off if you keep time externally. Same reason why singers do palmas while they're singing or between verses... to get inside the rhythm. It actually is something that needs to be learned..I'm still struggling with it...it's certainly not easy to do all the time, a lot like rubbing your tummy and patting your head. Edit.. To get a little more back on topic, I was taught in Solea to tap the accents.. 3,6,8,10,12. Or for SpB 3,7,8,10,12. It's very true that most people's foot patterns will change throughout a performance, especially in Bulerias, and equally that everyone's are different.
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