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Hi, my name is Rob, and I have been playing guitar for some considerable time. Spent most of that time writing songs and not really developing advanced playing techniques. I have always loved Flamenco music, ever since I watched 'The Hit' on TV as a young teenager and heard a guitar music that has enchanted me ever since. Finally decided that now I am getting on a bit, I would like to really learn how to play this music that I love. So, I am principally here to find advice as to good teachers, courses, books videos etc. I think I am a pretty good guitarist when I perform my own songs etc, but as far as Flamenco goes, please regard me as very much a novice. My very best regards to you all!
RE: Hello from Yorkshire, England (in reply to Escribano)
Thank you for your welcome, This seems like a great resource and I am looking forward to finding out so much. I am in West Yorkshire, so if there are any other members out there anywhere close to Bradford, Shipley etc, I would love to hear from them if they get wind of performances, meetings, lessons etc. Best rob
RE: Hello from Yorkshire, England (in reply to RRowl)
Hi Rob if your looking for a teacher I would recommend Nick Wilkinson he's not so far from you in Manchester. he's a great teacher, a phenomenal player, and a really nice guy
RE: Hello from Yorkshire, England (in reply to Johnc)
Hi John, Thanks for your reply. Maybe manchester is a bit far away at the moment. I have thought about contacting Samuel Moore, in Leeds - he is connected with the Cervantes centre there. I just feel I need to get a little more of the mindset before I leap into lessons; that and the cost! I might try and get up to the Cervantes centre more often. All the best rob
Posts: 6444
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy
RE: Hello from Yorkshire, England (in reply to RRowl)
quote:
I need to get a little more of the mindset before I leap into lessons; that and the cost!
I understand, but it is too easy to pick up bad habits on your own, which will have to be unlearned, just because they sound near enough e.g. tremolo, the rasgueos, compás, pulgar.
My teacher started with Soleares and coupled with Manuel Granados's Manual Didactico De La Guitarra Flamenca: Vol 1, it got me off to a good start.
RE: Hello from Yorkshire, England (in reply to Escribano)
Thank you for your advice, Escribano, I completely agree that one needs a teacher to offset bad habits. I had a look for the book you recommend online and it seems like it might be quite hard to get hold of and expensive. When I say the mindset, I mean that I need to understand the rhythms more, get the idea of what is going on with the technique into my head, before I launch into lessons. I have been listening to flamenco for years, but never really put that much effort into learning the intricacies; after all, there is a whole world full of music and styles, and without any particular desire, or a specific reason, sometimes it can seem strange to choose just one as ones focus; that is, until one chooses that focus! I have been playing my guitar for nearly 40 years now, and I have many, many bad habits; but I always saw my guitar as a tool for writing songs, and never saw myself as a guitarist, just happy to be a songwriter; so technique was never such a focus, apart from some tuition early on. But now I feel that I do have a focus, so I am so pleased to find this forum and to be discovering so much information. My best Rob
We have done a number of workshops with John Walsh who is a great player here on the Foro. Hopefully he will be back in March so come down for that if you can.
There are a few people nearer to you too. Kevin and some others that I don't thing hang out here.
Lots of stuff gets posted on Facebook if you can tolerate that place.