Gecko -> RE: Learning flamenco (Jan. 29 2006 18:51:27)
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This is just my opinion and experiences as a relative beginner. Others may have different opinions and experiences. When younger I played a lot of 6 & 12 steel string, acoustic guitar. Then I did not play at all for about 20 years. When I retired I moved to New Mexico, USA where there is a strong Hispanic influence and a thriving flamenco community, at least in Santa Fe and Albuquerque, but it is in other areas as well, just to a lessor extent. Like you I became enamored with the Gypsy Kings, Omar Liebert, Jesse Cook and others thinking they were playing flamenco. In fact I attended and still attend their frequent concerts here. I am also able to attend Maria Benitez flamenco shows a couple of times a year. About two years ago I decided to start to play again only concentrating on what I thought was flamenco. As I began talking about this to people I soon was told and sometimes not to courteously, that what the Gypsy Kings, Liebert and Cook normally play is not flamenco. Here their music is called fusion, gypsy or New World flamenco. Now after a period of study, playing some easy stuff and talking and listening to many others, I too realize that their music is not what is referred to, in knowledgeable circles, as flamenco. There are others here, far more qualified than myself that can tell you why it is not considered flamenco, in its truest sense. Now that is not to say that they are not great artists in their own right and I still enjoy listening to them and attending their concerts. In fact I will be attending an upcoming Jesse Cook concert as well as a performance by Chuscales. I started out trying to learn flamenco on my own and found that for me at least it was too difficult. I searched for a flamenco teacher in my local area and could not find one, but I did find a classical guitar instructor and have been taking classical lessons for about 10 months. About 3 months ago I tried the flamenco again and found that is was remarkably easier for me and have been making, what I believe to be, pretty good progress since. In the best of all possible worlds I would start by taking flamenco guitar lessons. If that was not possible I would take classical lessons and after a few months begin studying flamenco on my own. To me, at least, some aspects of flamenco are difficult to learn, particularly the rhythm structures which are referred to as compas. Likewise some of the techniques are fairly difficult to learn as well, particularly on your own, but here is where my classical lessons have helped greatly. BTW do you own a guitar? I suppose you know there is a notable difference between a classical guitar and a flamenco guitar. They are not the same instrument. Can you play flamenco on a classical? Yes, but the sound won't be the same and your speed. later as you develop some, will be less, or at least more difficult to obtain (higher action on a CG, normally). As far as "diving in and playing something real fast." Well maybe, in a year or two. [;)] I'm just getting to the point that I can do some of Martinez's first lessons at a fair, yet not 100%, speed. At this point I refuse to sacrifice good technique for speed. I'm told speed will come naturally with practice which I do 2-3 hours or more daily (between classical and flamenco).
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