Flamenco Guitar Lesssons
I give Flamenco Guitar Lessons in person and online.
At this time we are just beginning to come out of lock down.
Therefore, the following information is specific to this situation.
Flamenco Guitar Lessons Buckinghamshire
Most flamenco guitar lessons are in Buckinghamshire.
However as the situation becomes much safer, I may teach in locations where I perform.
In normal circumstances I regularly perform all over Britain.
I often pass the same town 2 or 3 times in the same month.
Additionally I pass the same towns on my route.
Therefore, if you would like a flamenco guitar lesson once a month for example it is most likely that I can help.
Garden Guitar Classes for safety
This information may no longer be relevant.
I give individual tuition and group classes in my pleasant large garden.
When you arrive, you can come right through to the garden.
A seat will be set up at 3 metres from me or any other students.
You may bring your own bottled drink but my house has a back door direct to toilet and kitchen.
Please use the anti- bacterial wipes for any surfaces that you touch.
Spring and summer are soon here.
These flamenco guitar lessons will be in a lovely relaxed environment.
Flamenco Guitar Students
Each person is unique.
You will have your own reasons for seeking flamenco guitar tuition.
Therefore, the following are just a guide to some of the guitarists who approach me for lessons.
The Absolute Beginner
Please don’t be shy.
I was an absolute beginner once; in fact, we all were.
If you are thinking that you would like to play flamenco guitar please do get in touch.
Transition from another style to flamenco
You may already play another style of guitar and perhaps quite well.
As such you will have some technique and knowledge.
We can talk and see what would work best for you.
The Experienced Flamenco Guitarist
Sometimes experienced flamenco guitarists approach me.
They have been playing for several years but they are looking for new inspiration.
There are times for many guitarists when problems develop.
Things are not going right.
If that is your case, I can work with you to find the root of the problem and the solution.
My Flamenco Guitar Teaching Method
The truth is I am a little old fashioned.
I like to simply show you how to play flamenco and explain how it works.
Certainly, if video recording the lesson helps you please do so.
I do not really feel comfortable with books, music and tablature scores.
These may however, be useful to you for your own private study.
Flamenco Guitar Teaching Videos
I have added two videos below.
In the first video I explain how to play rasgueado “abanico” and in the second continuous forward rasgueado.
My feeling is that videos can never replace a careful complete flamenco guitar class.
They can however, be useful support material.
Learning to accompany flamenco dancers
I work with flamenco dancers all the time.
From time to time, I organise workshops where my guitar students accompany flamenco dancers.
I always teach the accompaniment in lessons leading up to the workshop.
This is essential.
The idea is to apply what we have studied as guitarists in a real situation with a dancer.
With the preparation done you can really test yourself and enjoy playing for flamenco dance.
Accompanying flamenco singers
This is a little more difficult to organise.
Flamenco singers in Britain are at a premium and so not necessarily easily available.
Nonetheless whenever there is an opportunity, I will let you know.
Once again, I prepare you in advance by showing you the chord sequences that you need.
Then when you get the opportunity to accompany a flamenco singer you have a basis.
The two foundations of flamenco
Let us consider the thinking past and present.
It may have been Sabicas who said that to play solo flamenco guitar properly first you need great experience in accompanying “cante y baile”.
The song and dance (“cante y baile”) are considered the foundations of flamenco.
That was the case in the beginning and I believe it still is.
However one must be reasonable.
It is natural that we flamenco guitarists love our instrument.
We listen to our favourite flamenco guitarists.
Their compositions are magical.
Naturally, then we want to play those pieces or at least try.
My approach is to say certainly let us learn and play the pieces that we love.
While doing so it will not hurt if we give a little time to understanding the basics of flamenco.
Flamenco guitar in performance
Would you like to perform in front of an audience?
Of course, this is not for everyone.
Some guitarists like to enjoy playing for their own pleasure.
However, if you feel that you are a performer, I want to help you.
I often have engagements where it would be perfectly acceptable to have a second guitarist.
Mostly this is my shows with flamenco dancers.
Could this be something that you might like?
If so, I am very keen to encourage you.
I say this because for some guitarists the responsibility of the public performance helps them to grow.
You would need to have a very steady rhythm and a complete understanding of the structure of each piece.
Flamenco guitar styles
It is perfectly natural that you might like one flamenco guitar style more than another.
There are no good or bad flamenco styles.
You might like the most recent modern flamenco style or you may prefer older styles.
I do not teach to a particular style.
My approach is to teach you flamenco very completely.
You can then develop your own personal flamenco guitar style.
Flamenco guitar courses
This section as much as anything is about positive forward thinking.
I am not expert but I hope and believe that there will be a real solution to the current pandemic.
Residential and non residential
I have given many guitar courses over the years.
Sometimes they have been long weekends other times they have lasted for several weeks.
At the earliest this may happen in 2022.
I am developing my ideas and listening to my students.
Watch this space and I will update as the project begins to develop into a reality.
Guitar Lessons for Blind Students
I have a little experience in guitar to blind students.
This was back in Spain.
It was not very frequent.
Maybe three blind guitarists over a 10- year period.
The crucial point to grasp is that not having sight is absolutely not an impediment to playing flamenco guitar.
Unlike other guitar styles flamenco is not based upon a written score.
Certainly, you can find standard music notation and tablature but neither are essential flamenco learning aids.
In fact, as you may know flamenco in its most authentic and original expression is not the accurate repetition of a composition.
On the contrary simple reproduction of a score is sometimes even considered worthless.
What this means for blind guitar students is that you can play flamenco very well without reading a single note.
My Guitar Students: Development and Success
In this section I am going to discuss how my guitar students are developing their flamenco guitar skills.
I will write specifically about individual students because I think that it is interesting to discuss each person’s own success.
In each case I change their name so as to respect their privacy.
Guitar lessons with 'Margaret'
Margaret is now retired.
For many years Margaret has wanted to learn to play flamenco guitar.
But with life commitments she never managed to find the time to focus on her guitar playing.
She comes to me as a complete beginner.
I am most happy with that. It means that we can start working together with no other previous ideas.
One thing that is great about Margaret is that she is very open minded. I do not teach flamenco from a book or music score.
As Margaret has no previous experience of guitar lessons with books, she thus has no expectations.
Guitar lessons with 'Andrew'
Andrew is already quite a competent classical guitarist and is accustomed to reading music from a score.
However, he gets that flamenco does not work that way.
At first, I think he said that it was a bit of a struggle to work without a written page.
Fortunately, when I suggested filming the key points of our lessons with his camera he found that this was very useful support material.
Flamenco Guitar Student 'Anthony'
Anthony has been studying flamenco guitar for about 3 years.
In that time, he has used Internet based learning material, including free flamenco guitar lessons on YouTube.
He has done very well so far.
However, he feels that he does not really understand flamenco.
I am helping him to develop:
- Correct technique
- Understanding and feel for ‘compás’
- Knowledge about the meaning of each flamenco form