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mjhoerr -> Vengo de Minneapolis... falto caravana. (Apr. 26 2013 20:42:58)
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Hello Everyone,
I have been reading threads on this site for little while now and thought that it was time to introduce myself.
I live in Minneapolis, MN and have been playing for about three years now. I began by taking lessons with Michael Hauser here in MN and have been dropping in to play for baile classes at Zorongo Flamenco for a couple of years now. Also, have been taking lessons with Michael's brother Tony to work on theory and sight reading. Just recently started taking lessons with Payo Humberto who has been teaching me cante accompaniment. So currently taking lessons from three different maestros at irregular intervals. I wonder if taking lessons from more than one person at a time is productive but I want to learn it all, ya know?!
My flamenco journey began in 2006 when I went to study abroad in Toledo, Spain for a year. My understanding of Flamenco then was superficial; to me it just created a nice ambiance for pursuing those elusive espanyolas. I wasn't able to discriminate between flamenco pop or flamenco puro, it was all the same to me.
I have always profoundly missed living in Spain. A return trip in 2009 to go stay with a friend in Granada for the summer only intensified this. Having to leave Spain for a second time was extraordinarily difficult for me. In an effort to fill the void and preserve the memories of my friends I turned to Flamenco.
As an afficionado, I started out at out Los Delincüentes and Pata Negra, then became a Paco-Camaron fanboy for a year or so then got really turned on by traditional baile accompaniment. Right now the bee's knees for me is Cante. To me it is the end all and be all. I like listening to solo stuff but if a cantaor doesn't come in eventually I start to get bored. I've been working on understanding cante accompaniment but as soon as the cantaor starts in I have to keep reminding myself that I am supposed to be listening to the guitar. I guess my Spanish has finally gotten to the level where I can start to enjoy and appreciate the finer things.
Anyways, I am glad to have found this foro. You guys seem like a supportive bunch who will be a great resource in my development as a flamenco. To me flamenco=community and is not so much a form of music as a way of life; a way to remain connected to a place I have great affection for and means to pay homage to those who I have had to leave behind.
-Matthew
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