Flamenco Information Page
The Academy of Flamenco Guitar
Note: Important Upgrade (Click above link for Info.)
Director: "Flamenco Chuck" Keyser
P.O. Box 1292, Santa Barbara, CA 93102
(805) 563-0922
E-Mail:BuleriaChk@aol.com
(painting by Rowan Hughes, 1998 )
Hey, I'm working on a photo, too....if only my digital camera wouldn't fog up....
Click on the highlighted links to access the other Web resources at this site.
"He was born with the gift of laughter, and a sense that the world was mad" (Scaramouche)
Welcome to the fascinating and powerful world of Flamenco! We hope your visit here will enrich your life in ways yet unimagined!
Note: the documents in this section are in Adobe Acrobat format. You can view them, but not print them – they are included in the Flamenco Course below, and are printable there for close study.
The Compas Analysis is an introduction to Flamenco compas (rhythm) and its accompaniment, written by "Flamenco Chuck" Keyser. For all aficionados (guitar, dance, and song). The Addendum includes updates and additions to the Compas Analysis.
"A Flamenco Journey" is a report of a trip under an arts grant to study in Madrid and Moron de la Frontera, written by Susana "La Ceniza". It is a fun read, and is a personal impression of the Flamenco scene in Madrid and Moron ca. 1976.
Music Theory for Flamenco - a discussion of the foundations of music theory relevant to Flamenco (for guitarists and singers). Now in Portable Document format. Requires Adobe Acrobat reader 3.0..
The documents in this section are in Adobe Acrobat format.
The Flamenco Forms is a basic discussion of the Flamenco Compas forms, written by "Flamenco Chuck" Keyser. It is continually being updated.
Flamenco Philosophy (a section of the Compas Analysis) My own take on the meaning of Flamenco to me, and why I do it, by "Flamenco Chuck" Keyser .
(Note: you can download and view these documents on your coputer
Quick and Dirty 12 Count Compas Analysis (1/01/98 Last Modified 1/10/98) A brief (hopefully concise) analysis of Solea Family compas counting. Intended as a handout for aficionados and teachers who can fill in the gaps...
Statement of Purpose for the Compas Analysis (from the Flamenco Mailing List)
Basic Flamenco Guitar - an introduction to basic Flamenco guitar techniques and application of the music theory to the guitar.
-- by "Flamenco Chuck" Keyser
Flamenco Guitar Multimedia Course
The Academy
of Flamenco Guitar (click for more info)
I offer a multimedia course in Flamenco Guitar (4 data CD’s): The Academy of Flamenco Guitar offers a multimedia method (text, video, and audio tapes) for home study. Check out our brochure.
(Note: the version of Introduction to the Flamenco included with the Academy material is not the same as the Web version, which is also available in hardcopy form.)
Here is a brief description of the course http://users.aol.com/BuleriaChk/private/Summary.pdf
Included in the course are Soleares, Bulerias, Alegrias, and Siguiryas falsetas.
Flamenco Compas Audio Files! Audio examples of Flamenco compas forms in the Analysis (under construction). But Read Me regarding the format, first!
Flamenco Tapa
A Flamenco goodie which will change from time to time on an irregular basis, depending on the quantity and quality of the contributions to the Church of Flamenco Chuck ......;-)
Varios: - additions and updates to this Web Site.
YouTube Videos
(from my course – ca 1989)
Bulerias Solo: "Flamenco Chuck" ca. 1987
Solea Solo: "Flamenco Chuck" ca. 1987
Dance Videos
Jerez Bulerias: "Opening of the Grape Harvest" Jerez 205
Pilar Ogalla: por Taranto - Jerez 2005
The Flamenco Dancer Mailing list (Join Us!)
The Flamenco Dancer Yahoo Group
The Plaka Greek Restaurant (now closed)
(George Alexiades’
“Plaka” Greek restaurant was my halfway house between Flamenco and Reality in
the 1980’s –
and by far the most Flamenco restaurant
Santa Barbara, CA has ever experienced……J )
George Alexiades: Table Dance - Plaka 20th Birthday 1990
Diana Ferrari: Diana's Dance - Plaka 20th Birthday 1990
Photos
I would like to acknowledge my deep appreciation for the Gitanos in Moron de la Frontera who were such good friends to me during a difficult period in my life. In particular, my friends Gonzalo and La Chica, my teachers Agustin Rios (guitarist, singer, and flamenco extraordinaire), and, of course, the late Diego del Gastor, and all the others that were so tolerant of us half crazed American aficionados trying to understand the art they had inherited and created. Also, Mercedes (Leon) and Albano, who helped me learn to accompany dance in their studio in Madrid, and many others in the studios at calle Amor de Dios (below pension La Granja).
I would also like to express my deep appreciation for the generous support and encouragement of Dr. David Broad in helping me keep my Flamenco Projects alive, as well as to Donn Pohren and Brook Zern for their encouragement, their own work, and their dedication and commitment to the art of Flamenco, to Susana "La Ceniza" for her contribution to this page, to Rowan Hughes for his painting and for my Flamenco guitars, to my students for their support and encouragement, and to all flamenco performers and aficionados, past, present, and future (with a few, uh, exceptions); without you there would be nothing......
And my appreciation for my good friends George Alexiades, Luis Goena (legendary for keeping SB Folk Dance alive and well), and many others during my transition from Flamenco to Steady Work and back again (I’m now retired and back seriously into Flamenco….)