Ron.M -> RE: Encuentro Videos (Sep. 22 2003 20:59:40)
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Hi Phil, Without a doubt the Tomatito video is excellent. I got it last Christmas and was delighted! It's like having the best seat a a private concert. The technique? Fantastic! The music? Phenomenal! As a teaching aid? Well, there I've got to think! In my own opinion there are fans of Flamenco, and Flamenco Guitar. And there are fans of "Virtuoso" Flamenco guitar. If you are from the latter group then, like many, one can take 6 months working one's way through the music book and playing, reverse winding, and replaying the video over and over again until one can sort of play through the piece and no doubt at the end of it all, consider oneself a Junior Tomatito! But is that the case in reality? There is a TV program here in the UK called "Stars in Their Eyes" which invites ordinary folk on to impersonate various singing stars of the past and present. I sure there are similar shows in other countries. Some of them are very, very good indeed, but the truth is that the "lookalike" John Lennon with the convincing voice just goes back to being ordinary Joe Bloggs after the show. I doubt personally that a lot can be learned by watching and listening to only the very best. A lesson from someone like El Carbonero would be far more rewarding IMO. The things I picked up from the tape are mainly that Tomatito plays pretty hard. He doesn't just "tickle" the strings. Every action is very positive, strong and clean. His technique has been acquired over many years, not just practising, but working with other guitarists plus singers and dancers. He doesn't make mistakes because he has played the same notes and phrases for years and years in front of all types of audiences and situations. In short, it's his job and he's good at it! You ain't gonna pick that up off a tape. Better going to a local peña, watching Ondajerez or buying some CDs of singers with good, solid accompanists IMO. Still, all that being said, it's a good video. I wouldn't mind having the whole series, but they are expensive! cheers Ron
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