Taking Online Flamenco Guitar Lessons? Let The Music's Roots Inspire You!

Are you fascinated by all things Flamenco? Have you ever wondered about the culture that introduced the world to this passionate music? Learn about the roots of this fiery music with your fellow aficionados through online Flamenco guitar lessons. We believe that by learning the history and culture of Flamenco music, you will unleash its potential to inspire you and all who hear you play.

Flamenco music has enticed many of its fans to search for its origins. A single point of origin, however, eludes even music historians, who have not come to any definite conclusion with respect to its history. One thing is certain: Flamenco music evolved from a multitude of cultures and influences. Moorish, Christian, Gypsy and non-Gypsy cultures have all contributed to the sound.

The word "Flamenco" most likely has its roots in the Arabic language. In the early nineteenth century, the word was a slang expression meaning "a snob." In an ironic twist, the word's meaning shifted radically, becoming a word which described the marginalized Gypsy (Gitano) population of the region. A few years later, people began using "Flamenco" to describe the Gypsies' songs and dances. Finally, at the century's end, the word assumed its modern meaning, the "Cante Flamenco" denoting a type of Andalusian song that shared its origins with both the Gypsy and non-Gypsy cultures of Andalusia.

The Gitanos, an itinerant people, arrived in Spain in the fifteenth century, ending their migration from northern India to Spain in 1492. The Gitanos were well-known for their musical talent, especially for their performance in the song and the dance. Their Indian background influenced their musical taste as well. Their singing style, called "voz rajada" (cracked voice) expressed perfectly the oppression and tragedy that the Gitanos experienced in their daily lives.

The Gitanos were only one ingredient in the musical environment that produced Flamenco music. Moorish, early Christian, Judaic and North African cultures which blended in multicultural Andalusia, helped to give Flamenco its unique flavor. Islamic music, in particular, contributed its form and phrasing to the Flamenco sound. Since the Andalusian region itself has a history of unending occupations and conquests, it is no surprise that Flamenco music is filled with passion and conflict.

Despite its close association with modern Flamenco music, the guitar did not play much of a role in the early days of the art form. Since Flamenco music was a mirror of workers' everyday lives, its early players accompanied themselves with the tools of their trades, such as the blacksmith's hammer in the Martinete. Clapping their hands, beating sticks on the ground in simple accompaniments, these musicians shared their music as they worked, celebrated, and mourned the events of their daily lives.

One story claims that the Gitanos, having heard the classical guitar, adapted its techniques to accompany the Flamenco Cante (song). The techniques, however, are so widely divergent that one would be hard-pressed to make that connection. In fact, the Flamenco guitar's accented phrasing more closely resembles techniques found in Arabic music composed for the ‘ud, dating back to the time of the Moors.

Assimilation and integration have continued to mark the progress of this truly multicultural music. In its journey, Flamenco music incorporated some kinds of Andalusian folk music, South American songs, and even later, jazz and European popular music. Flamenco music continues to evolve to this very day. Today's Flamenco guitar students will become tomorrow's innovators in this truly proletarian art.

Emre Sabuncuoglu, one of the founders of the Los Angeles Guitar Academy, holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California's prestigious Thornton School of Music. Emre's warm style of relating to others helps him reach out to a diverse student population at the academy's studios, located throughout the greater Los Angeles area. He incorporates visual, kinesthetic, and auditory cues to accommodate each student's distinctive learning style.

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