studying in Spain (Full Version)

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Mark -> studying in Spain (Jan. 24 2008 13:09:13)

I was wondering if anyone here has studied flamenco in Spain for any extended period of time and if they'd care to share their experience? I am strongly considering doing this but I do not know where to get started or what kind of cost I'm looking at. I am an American citizen and I've heard of people somehow working in Spain as waiters and living in attics for free but I don't know what my options are at this point and it sounds like it ends up costing a lot of money for a short time if you study with someone very well-known and accredited. I thought I'd ask here because you guys are always really positive and helpful it seems so perhaps someone could at least point me in the right direction.



Ailsa -> RE: studying in Spain (Jan. 24 2008 19:45:07)

Hi Mark,

The guys who live in Spain will be best able to advise you about working as a waiter or such. My guess is that while it might be easier to get a waiting job somewhere touristy it might not be so easy in a place where there's lots of good flamenco, like Jerez or Granada. But that may be a misunderstanding on my part.

A couple of years ago I spent a couple of weeks studying at Escuela Carmen Cuevas in Granada. By UK standards this was inexpensive, but it was a school largely for foreign students so perhaps not cheap for local people.

There were a lot of students there for much longer periods - some months anyway. They tended to rent a room in someone's house. This was cheap, but not free.

Perhaps my English cynicism, but I'm not sure anything comes for free! But if you can do it, it will be a great experience, and I'll be envious! OK gotta go to my tedious job now [:)][:)]



flyeogh -> RE: studying in Spain (Jan. 24 2008 21:55:14)

Mark now is not the best time as unemployment is going up so waiters work long hours for not very much leaving little time for flamenco and the dollar (and for that matter pound) are very poor at the moment. Sorry to be a damp squid. If you speak some spanish have you thought about teaching english? I've a friend who has had some success with that.

My spanish stepdaughter suggested you get a spanish girl friend. Warmer and cheaper attic, two can almost eat for the price of one, etc[:)]



Ron.M -> RE: studying in Spain (Jan. 25 2008 8:23:31)

Hi Mark,
In a LOT of European countries, there are an awful lot of people willing to work long hours for pretty little money.
This will be your competition.
My advice would be to get some sort of job in the US and save as much money as you can and when you get to Spain, live as cheaply as possible.
Depending on how advanced you are, a good 1 hour lesson with a good teacher will give you stuff to think about and practise for at least a few weeks IMO.
Don't get too "romanticy" about it.
Learning guitar takes a LOT of time.
A lot of the basic stuff can be picked up from DVDs, Books and this Forum.

Pointless paying a lot of money for a 1 to 1 with say..Manolo Sanlucar, if you haven't got the basics of Flamenco compás down...

Obviously I don't know how far you've got yet, but even if you are at the early stages, a long holiday bumming through Andalucia is inspiring and also gives you lots of time to practise.

But really...I don't think about supporting yourself on an unskilled job there is a great idea without something else to fall back on.

cheers,

Ron



Mark -> RE: studying in Spain (Jan. 25 2008 8:44:41)

Thanks for the input guys. It definitely sounds like the best option is to work for a bit and save up money. My main purpose is that I want a year or a couple years to devote exclusively to guitar. I don't know if flamenco is my passion, but I do know that there seems to be a niche for it as a guitarist in America and that it might be easier to make a living for a while as a flamenco guitarist than any other kind. Are there any professional guitarists/flamenco guitarists on this forum who have anything to say about this?



HemeolaMan -> RE: studying in Spain (Jan. 26 2008 16:26:24)

you wont make a living in the us being a flamenco guitarist without alot of grumbling.

or at least, very feew have managed successfully.

i hate to be a party pooper, but you are much better off reserving guitar for your enjoyment and artistic fulfillment than relying on it as means of sustenance.

having a job thats boring and requires desk time may be bad, but insurance and 401k's are superb. you can't top that. plus, if you play the game right, you will have saturday sunday and friday to job out and play.

playing as a professional only.... you'd have to find many sources of income. work is not steady, and there are a million gutiarists out there. truth be told, club owners dont give a damn what you play as long as people dont leave because of it.

so, get some lessons here, figure out if you really have a burning desire for it and then save up money at the same time. make friends in spain, friends you can stay with for a bit til you get your feet off the ground. find a job, find a hot girl, get lessons. always pay rent. and fix things if possible, people like when you fix their stuff lol.



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