atrafanaPlays - La Tumbona (Buleria) - by Paco de Lucia
I am a complete beginner, what training package do you recommend?
Get the Flamenco Guitar Fundamentals. This is a course that presents everything to lay a good foundation.
What is the difference between the Flamenco Guitar 101 free lesson series and Flamenco Guitar Fundamentals? They seem to similar.
Yes they are similar in terms of framework but Flamenco Guitar Fundamentals goes deeper with narrated descriptions (yes, I speak there) and presents more detail. The free 101 series can be used as supplementary material for the Fundamentals course. Then you move on to Flamenco Guitar Total Training. This one is like a university curriculum that takes you from level 1 to level 4.
I already play, what package should I get to further develop my technique?
Get Total Training. This covers everything through 4 levels of difficulty.
I am a complete beginner in flamenco guitar, can you teach me?
Yes. In fact there are many advantages to having no playing experience prior to starting the lessons. This means you don't have any bad habits that will require unlearning. It is easier to work on a blank slate than adjusting/fixing what is already there. So, if you want to learn guitar and don't have any experience whatsoever, consider yourself lucky!
I already play flamenco, can you teach me more stuff?
Yes. I have had many students with varying levels of expertise on the guitar. We can build up on your existing knowledge, fix mistakes, adjust techniques, develop weak spots, work on new techniques and pieces, etc.
Can I come to lessons to learn a specific technique or a piece?
Yes. I receive students who pick one or a couple of videos from the atrafanaschool youtube channel and request detailed one on one instruction on them. We can do that. Or you can ask to learn or develop a specific flamenco guitar technique such as rasgueado, picado, etc. Same with specific pieces...
Do I need to buy some books or any other documents prior to the lessons?
No. I will provide you with all the documents you need for the lessons.
Can I learn flamenco and classical guitar together?
Yes. The two techniques have many overlapping points. So, you can play both classical and flamenco pieces.
In how many weeks / months can I play a piece?
I get this one a lot :-)
So, you are eager to play something that sounds nice as soon as possible. Or, there is an event coming up and you want to play a nice piece for your friends or family. We can certainly set targets like that and I can gear the lessons toward it. However, in learning to play an instrument it is risky to take shortcuts or rush certain techniques. I can do the necessary study plan and guide you to achieve your goal but you have to practise...
So, you are eager to play something that sounds nice as soon as possible. Or, there is an event coming up and you want to play a nice piece for your friends or family. We can certainly set targets like that and I can gear the lessons toward it. However, in learning to play an instrument it is risky to take shortcuts or rush certain techniques. I can do the necessary study plan and guide you to achieve your goal but you have to practise...
How long does it take to play advanced flamenco pieces, say Cepa Andaluza by Paco?
This is up to you. Again, we can set goals but it is dangerous to rush. My primary aim is to make you play well. However, I will be able to give you an estimate on how long it's going to take you to play, say, Herencia Latina by Paco Pena once we have done a few lessons.
How much am I supposed to practise per day?
Try to put in an hour. The key to practising is to have well focused, fully concentrated time with your instrument. So, instead of playing a few minutes here a few minutes there, try to consolidate that into a good hour on the instrument. If you have only 20 minutes to practise, make it a good 20 minutes with no interruptions.
Do I need to know how to read music for the lessons?
No. I'll teach you that along with the exercises. It is very easy to read music and it can be learned very quickly.
Am I too old to learn guitar?
No. I have taught students ranging form 8 to 60.
There are no age restrictions for learning the guitar.
There are no age restrictions for learning the guitar.
Are my hands suitable for playing classical / flamenco guitar?
There is no such thing. Anybody can play the guitar with any kind/size of hands.
Do I have to commit to regular lessons or can I have a few, or one every once in a while?
Majority of my students come for regular lessons once per week on a predetermined date-time schedule. However, you can come for one or a few lessons as well. Contact me and I'll schedule a session for you.
Do you teach group lessons?
No. My sessions are for individual students.
How long does a session last
1 hour
I have a steel-string acoustic. Can you teach me on that instrument?
No. You need a classical or flamenco guitar to learn from me.