Having received a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Culture, I had an invaluable opportunity to delve into the world of flamenco guitar in its heartland – Córdoba, Granada, and Jerez. Across these vibrant cities, I was consistently impressed by how authentically the traditional flamenco guitar teaching methods mirrored the essence of this passionate art form itself.
In Spain, flamenco guitar maestros rarely rely on formal textbooks or pre-composed “student pieces.” Instead, the learning environment is intimate and direct: teacher and student sit face-to-face, and the student learns by observing and imitating the teacher’s own falsetas and rhythmic patterns. This approach ensures you are learning flamenco as it lives and breathes today, not a diluted or historical interpretation.
Naturally, the complexity of the material adapts to the student’s level. Beginners are introduced to simpler passages, while advanced players tackle more intricate compositions. However, the core expectation remains constant: every student is encouraged to play with musicality from the outset. Technique is not an end in itself, but a tool to enhance musical expression. This philosophy allows students to quickly move beyond sounding like mere students and develop a genuine flamenco voice.
I’ve adopted a similar philosophy in my own flamenco guitar teaching, though with a crucial adaptation. The typical Spanish student has been immersed in flamenco music since childhood, absorbing its nuances long before picking up a guitar. For those of us from outside this cultural context, we need to build our understanding of the flamenco world alongside our technical skills. Unless a student already possesses a solid grounding in flamenco, I often guide them towards Juan Martin’s seminal work, El Arte Flamenco de la Guitarra. While numerous excellent resources exist, El Arte stands out as the most effective starting point I’ve found for students to truly hear and play flamenco with understanding and feeling.
My Journey to Flamenco
My own musical background was initially rooted in classical and jazz guitar and composition.
As flamenco’s captivating power increasingly drew me in, I reached a point where I felt compelled to choose a primary path among these styles. In a sense, I “cheated” and embraced flamenco. For me, flamenco encompasses the depth of emotion found in classical music, the improvisational freedom and intellectual rigor of jazz, and the raw, visceral energy of rock music. While flamenco now takes center stage, I continue to compose in both classical and jazz idioms, though undeniably infused with the spirit of flamenco. You can explore my flamenco-inspired compositions further on our website for Mojacar Flamenco.
