Description

This is a detailed and well presented dvd (won an instructionals award) taking you through the start of flamenco theory and techniques.”Explore the passionate world of Flamenco! In this comprehensive method, Gerhard Graf-Martinez offers his extensive inside-knowledge–acquired from intense and friendly co-operation with “gitanos” and “maestros”–as well as his experience teaching at international seminars and workshops. Vol. 1 covers: three and four finger rasgueado patterns, basic tango patterns, pulgar (using the thumb), golpe (rhythmic tapping), and various compas”(the DVD uses deep menus and other helpful features so I’ve kept it as an ISO image.)The author’s detailed lesson contents and menu screen grabs are here:http://www.graf-martinez.com/flamenco-dvd/dvd-contents-volum…—————————————————————————————————–Content======Volume 1 is concerned primarily with building technique. It exhibits a finer-grained attention to detail than I have yet seen, starting with a discussion of the different playing-positions of Manolo Sanlúcar, Sabicas and Paco de Lucía, plus the traditional position and the casual one with legs crossed.There are explanations of rasgueado, followed by rasgueado exercises. All the exercises are simple but accurate flamenco rhythms. 3-finger, 4-finger and continuous rasgueado are covered.From here we pass to thumb exercises, and then thumb plus rasgueado, progressing to ayudado (thumb plus finger), taps, and the right-hand rhythm for rumba, followed by more advanced types of rasgueado.Presentation=========The benchmark in instructional flamenco videos was set by Encuentro Productions. The present production certainly matches this, and goes further to include features I have not yet seen elsewhere.DVD features include video sequences at slow and original speeds, muti-angle views, all examples underlaid with on-screen note/tab. 80 min.The demonstrations in the video, like the photographs in the book, are extremely clear. But further, by using the cursor buttons on your remote, you can vary the camera angle, from facing the artist to one of about 45°, which gives the best view of the right hand.When musical examples are played, the bottom third of the screen shows the relevant tablature, with a moving cursor showing the notes currently being played (if you have Finale, you already know how this feature looks). But not only this, you can switch at will from a full-speed version to a slow version; the transition is absolutely seamless.The picture quality is high, and the whole production is extremely professional.——————————————————————————————————