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'Up at 5 am to practice before I go out, practicing from evenings until 3 am when no one is here. I think I'm developing strange practice habits....passing out or crashing in to catch up on sleep, you could say I live a dedicated life, or maybe I need a life!
I said mine Val, any thing you would like to say perhaps? Work sucks but it is a fact of life. I think though, that you're right about the sleep, I tend to get it as I do manage.......another thing is playing to the point of aches and pains. Ouch!
No I'm just starting a thread, and perhaps it will take off, but no you're not thick at all. I just think that sometimes being devoted to something can bring out the quirks in us all.
Well, you have plenty to do, but still, I wouldn't give up on anything unless I was absolutely sick of it....I mean if you love the guitar give it time and it will come back to you! Dancing is also important to you isn't it? But it's good that you have your priorities straight. Nice home? Yes, or it's going to be! Life takes many roads to travel.......
RE: Strange practice habits.... (in reply to gato)
The question is what you want to achieve practising this way. Do you earn your money from flamenco or do you work another job? I only say/ask this because of personal experience, I have no idea what you do so don't take this personally:
I did the exact same thing for way too long. My experience was that practising in my room alone was good to a certain degree, but I could only play in my room for myself. Playing for others and with others I had no experience in and couldn't do it at all.
I actually used to turn down meeting with other guitarists and the like because it would keep me from practise . It wasn't until I learned to let go of the obsessive need to practise alone (which can turn into a sickness if you're not careful), learnt accompaning at schools, met other musicians and tried to play with them, perform with them, that I realized the experience I was missing.
I'm technically not as good as I was before, but I'm more versatile and matured as a musician.
Again, this could have absolutely nothing to do with your situation, I was just putting my 2 cents in...
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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things
RE: Strange practice habits.... (in reply to John O.)
quote:
John O. My experience was that practising in my room alone was good to a certain degree, but I could only play in my room for myself.
Amen.... I feel this is where I'm at. Even something as simple as trying to video record something to upload here was a challenge. My problem is finding other flamenco aficionados in my area....I really need to move out of the 'sticks'
RE: Strange practice habits.... (in reply to Francisco)
Chances are they're hiding somewhere in your area. Of all the flamencos in my area (many more than I could have imagined) not one of them visits this forum at all. I met them all by going to a dance school one morning and knocking on the door.
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Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things
RE: Strange practice habits.... (in reply to John O.)
I agree, they're out there somewhere. I have posted flyers at the local guitar shops, and have asked local guitar teachers. The closest I came was a local teacher informed me about a guy that taught finger style blue grass and was also into 'boss nova stuff'. There aren't any dance schools that teach flamenco, but there was a group of ladies that belly dance. I did approach them, and asked if they knew what the time signature of the music they danced to was thinking I could maybe play some flamenco for their belly dancing classes. They didn't seem that interested, and it didn't seem very conducive for a beginning flamenco guitarist to try to learn how to play for a dance class. I'm only about 5hrs drive from Albuquerque, and I know there is a flourishing flamenco scene there. Seems my only option at the moment.
RE: Strange practice habits.... (in reply to Francisco)
You know what I'd do? Jason McGuire is from Texas. Far from you, I think, but he's bound to know if there's any scene near you. He answers all messages - I'd give that a try.
_____________________________
Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things
RE: Strange practice habits.... (in reply to Guest)
quote:
Is moving an option?
Not any time soon. You're right tho, 5hrs isn't that long especially since we make it to Alb. a couple times/year anyway. I have had some people online recommend Pedro in the past, should I just shoot him an email?
RE: Strange practice habits.... (in reply to John O.)
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and there is so much going on that all you need to do is put your foot in the door, and try to find a parking space!
There is no excuse around here not to get in to the Latino cultural experiance if you want it. People are open wide, and the area is rich with performers of all kinds.
The thread is doing fine though, I get your point John. You could go out or you could stay in, it all depends on what your personality is like......but you don't have to earn a living in flamenco to be involved in it around here where I am. You're right about getting involved....
RE: Strange practice habits.... (in reply to gato)
There are all kinds of people from Central, South America, and Mexico, and etc, not to mention the American Latinos (US) here in the San Francisco Bay Area, and people from Spain. The area is rich with Latino Culture. You are definitely going to find it here.......It's exciting.......
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