[Tom Terry]

I've learned a lot from the 2 vol JM "El Arte Flamenco de la Guitarra" and would recommend that for anyone studying flamenco to get a feel for its roots and styles. I recently bought his new book "La Guitarra Flamenca" which comes with 2 DVDs in the form of 6 "lessons" - actually there's many months of study in this stuff. It's a curious mix of basic instruction along with lots of more advanced material with lots of interesting falsetas in the various toques. The JM books are very good at notating all materials very carefully, standard music notation right over tablature notation.

I still have an old copy of "Flamenco Guitar" by Mariano Cordoba, published by Oak Publications but I think long out of print (my copy lists the price as $3.95!). There's some fun stuff in there, not terribly advanced falsetas but for example he has 4 Sevillanas that are every bit as good as the ones in JM's 2 vol. set.

I also have the Graf-Martinez books. I find it very hard to sit down with his stuff... I know it's good for me, but it's technical and lacks heart.

I strongly recommend taking any of your bound guitar method books to Staples or comparable store to have them spiral bound. You can also have the front and back laminated in plastic, all for around $10. It makes it much easier to flip through the books, and they lie open neatly.

[lwoirhaye]

I learned many of the basics from Dennis Koster's stuff - at the
time I was getting started his books were in a local store and
they were (as I recall) the only ones in stock with CDs in the back,
which is why I chose his method.

I recently got Juan Martin's solos book volume 2. Accurately,
I assessed that my skills were probably developed enough that
I wouldn't miss the vol. 1 studies.

Martin's Bulerias isn't the style the more exciting players of today
prefer - but all of his toques are played in Vol. 2 with precision
and grace. He emphasizes the feeling of the toque a lot and
I feel his approach is intended to teach the authentic feeling
of flamenco guitar, not really show off his playing - which is at
a high level but hardly dazzling compared to, say, Tomatito or
Gerardo Nunez.

[rooster]

I love his playing - I have the new DVD!

[Estanislao]

Originally Posted by Glamenco

I'm a new member on this site so, first of all, I'd like to say hello to everyone.
So hello all!

Well, I have been playing flamenco for some years now, and I have enjoyed it very much so far.

I have learned almost everything I know from Juan Martin's flamenco methods. But not long ago, I read quite alot of stuff on the web saying Juan Martin's method has bad compas and easily makes you bad habits which will be hard to break.
I really like Flamenco and I think it would be a massive shame if I'd be learning it the wrong way right now.

So I was wondering, has any of you got some (negative?) experience using with Juan Martin's methods regarding bad habits or bad compas?

Thanks in advance!

Glamenco

I come a little late to this discussion, but here goes.

I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder. That Juan Martin learned his flamenco in Spain and knows traditional flamenco is beyond doubt I think. as to his teaching, that might be another matter. i have his beginners book and without doubt it is geared towards just that beginners. That being the case it is somewhat simplistic, but then, that is what one would expect given the audience it is aimed at. That hasn't stopped one of the songs in it, Tempestad, from becoming very popular with folks as evidenced by the tremendous number of postings of it on youtube. I kind of like that rumba myself and am working on it. I also know at least on of the techniques presented in it, the rasgueo, is accurate as transcribed, though it is very old school.

Another thing to keep in mind where Juan Martin is concerned is that he picked up a Ph.D. in music here in the U.S. and the theory he was required to master, both for composition and play, has altered his music along ways which conform to the expectations of the academic world. Whether that is to the good or bad is a matter of personal choice, so it is what it is.

I've noticed in the videos I've seen that he lacks some of the passion one would expect of a great flamenco tocaor. That is probably due to his university training and takes away from his play as far as I'm concerned. But, then, that is my personal taste.

That being written, Serrano does include complete guitar solos, which is what most students are after I think. I haven't checked out Juan Martin's method, which was highly recommended to me as butter, though the same source considered Serrano excellent and recommended him as well. You might want to look into Martin.

I am using another method, one published by Graf-Martinez and highly recommend by my source as well. He is a German flamenco artist who studied extensively in Spain and takes a more traditional approach to the music by emphasizing compas for accompaniment, the foundation for good flamenco guitar work. Graf-Martinez's method includes DVD's if you purchase the complete package and does an excellent job of explaining specific techniques, something my book by Serrano is sorely lacking in.

A belated welcome aboard

Estanislao

[alval]

There are so many resources out there!
i think more than any other guitar style flamenco is so well documented and discussed.
having both the JM and GM books and video's [and paco pena"s!] i have personally found i do use these as a reference but not as a method....just too many interesting things avail....too many angles...for traditional playing also good to look at sabicas transcriptions etc...nothing to negative about them, guess the idea is not to spend 'too' much time with them...
The tradition is well covered and explained in these books but i think the bottom line is to interact with other players either in your town, online ie Jason McGuire's site, Ricardo Marlow's skype lessons etc or the many you tube options....mix it all up as that seems to be the flow of what most are doing.....i know the JM methods get a bagging but as stated it brings people to the music and has for a long time....

[flamenco1]

I started using Juan Martin's books and I found them very helpful to start with but I have since discovered Jason McGuire's website and I have to say that I think it is brilliant!

There are some great falsetas and playing along with the videos really allows you to get 'into' the compas. See what you think at flamenco-lessons.com

[Alatriste]

JM stuff is good. There are a bunch of haters out there of different varieties. Some of them even dress themselves up as instructors.