Hello, Foro! I've been following the forum for about two months now, and decided it was time to register, participate, and with the humility of a novice guitarist, hopefully to contribute.
But before I jump into a formal introduction, I owe you all a debt of gratitude for the guidance I obtained in making my first flamenco guitar purchase. I'd been playing flamenco for about six months on a Cordoba C5 before I realized I needed a proper flamenco guitar. Long story short, I bought a Cordoba F10, was unhappy with it, entered into discussions with Andy Culpepper, and as amazing as that experience was, an insane deal on a Francisco Navarro Grand Concert turned up on eBay, and I just had to have it.
In short, I owe you all for exposing me to the fine work of Andy Culpepper and Francisco Navarro. While Cordoba certainly makes fine guitars, the foro's collective guidance gave me the patience and determination to acquire a guitar that -- while way out of my league in terms of my own skill level -- will inspire me to grow into it. And for not much more than what I paid for the Cordoba F10! With that said, please don't give me hell for not starting out with the all too well known right of passage, the Yamaha CG171SF.
A bit about me as a guitarist. I dabbled in rock (read: Green Day, Bad Religion) when I was 12 (I'm 27 now), felt unfulfilled playing three bar chords repetitiously for three minutes a song without the accompaniment of percussion and singing, and dropped the hobby. Three years ago, I looked up "Spanish classical guitar" on YouTube, and one of the search results was this unfamiliar name, Paco de Lucia. Then Vicente Amigo. Then Sabicas. Paco Pena. Manolo Sanlucar. Admittedly, I was looking for something more like Armik to groove to while I was working, and I got a whole lot more than I bargained for.
It was an amazing period of discovery. I felt like I'd been listening to flamenco music my entire life, if only indirectly. While I was born and raised in the US, both my parents are Egyptian, and so I grew up listening to my mom singing Oum Kalthoum, Farid Al Atrache, and Abdel Halim Hafez. As such, flamenco just sounded so familiar.
Shortly after discovering flamenco, I ran to Guitar Center, picked up a Cordoba C5, and started taking lessons in January of this year with Robert Hanson, a local DC classical guitarist studying under Eliot Fisk at the New England Conservatory. We started off with some Fernando Sor and Francisco Tarrega, and then Juan Martin's Level 1 Solea. Money started getting tight once I left my policy job at a political non-profit and began work as a barista at a coffee shop, so I discontinued lessons with Robert (who is awesome, by the way), and began teaching myself out of Juan Martin's book.
As an aside, I'm aware of mixed feelings about Juan Martin, but I do feel it's worth mentioning that I am completely satisfied with my experience. Last I heard from my guitar teacher, I was likely ready for Level 2 or even some Level 3 pieces, but I decided to try and "master" Level 0 before I move on.
Anyhow, I've become something of a flamenco evangelist. I talk to EVERYBODY about it. Once, at a used bookstore near my house, I was talking to the sales clerk about music, and I told her to hang tight for a moment. I ran home, made her a mix CD (some Grisha, some Paco Pena), and returned. From bus rides to bathroom breaks, I'm always listening to flamenco and spreading the word.
A word about my temperament. I'm a natural born peacemaker, so in the midst of heated conversations about strings, Juan Martin, flamenco puro vs. Vicente Amigo, etc., you can rely on me to be the cooler head. I might not prevail, but you can expect nothing but positive energy from my correspondence.
I leave you with this AWESOME video of burgeoning female talent, which I think flamenco guitar needs more of:
Welcome to the forum, that was a great intro!! Flamenco evangelist, I love it [:D]
There are certainly not enough female flamenco guitarists around. You seem very eager, and it looks and sounds like you've made awesome progress in a short time. Good to have you here, keep it up!!
OLEE AMIGA!!! GREAT INTRO to the forum. I agree, its great to see female flamenco guitarists! Welcome to the forum!! Bienvenida a eso foro !! ahlan wa sahlan !! (assuming you speak arabic or at least understand , there are a few arabic speaking flamencos here in the forum, including myself. )
wait im confused , who is "Kenney Kamal Elkomous" and who is "Nirish" in the video, the same person??
haha what a nice coincidence just two days ago I came across nirish's "kikombo" videos on youtube and added her I was watching andress's colombiana and then hers poped up and then her buleria etc ................ welcome to the forum Kenney !! [;)] btw the cycle went on and I found those cool girls as result of her buleria LOL
Ha, it looks like I have some confusion to clear up. I am, last I checked, a man. I just posted the video of Nirish because I love seeing women play flamenco guitar. Thanks all for the warm welcome.
Hey FlamencoEgipcio, Enjoyed your intro and welcome to the foro!
There are some other woman flamenco players, Bettina Flater for example.
I Like seeing both genders play flamenco, the thing that I dont think ive ever seen in flamenco is a woman-man duett with the guitar, it happens alot in the classical guitar world though..
I hope you have a nice stay here and learn alot!
I think this is a very good place for growing in knowledge, both on playing the instrument, the full art of flamenco and also the art of building the guitar and what lies behind that part[:D]
Wow, it's really interesting hearing Bettina do cante in English. Well, she's not really doing cante, she's singing like Jewel or Sheryl Crow, but interesting nonetheless to hear the juxtaposition of English lyrics to flamenco melodies and harmonies.
i remember that buleria played by nirish (shirin) i learned it ages ago its quite fun to play , So welcome and join in with stuff , although xmass may slow things down a bit Makes me wonder how many others are following the forum but do not register .......¿
