HOME DANCE LESSONS GUITAR LESSONS CANTE LESSONS CDS VIDEOS GUIDES FLAMENCO FORMS


HOME DANCE LESSONS GUITAR LESSONS CANTE LESSONS CDS VIDEOS GUIDES FLAMENCO FORMS
BACKGROUND

"Some of my most memorable experiences studying flamenco in Spain have been in my singing - cante flamenco - classes. Every day I would meet my teacher at a small studio in Barrio San Miguel, a Gypsy neighborhood in Jerez de la Frontera. As with guitar classes, cante flamenco teachers teach the songs they themselves sing in performance. I was fortunate in my teacher, who not only has a stunningly beautiful voice, but a kind, fun and generous nature. I've loved the form ever since, and I continue to strive as both a singer and singing teacher."

Katerina teaches cante flamenco at her home studio in South Pasadena. Working one-on-one, line by line, and song by song, she teaches students flamenco's essential cantes. Students also learn how to work with dancers and guitarists. Cante students often go on to perform with us and other flamenco artists.

ESSENTIALS:

  • WHERE? HOME STUDIO, 721 MOUND AVE, SOUTH PASADENA, CA 91030
  • WHEN? VARIOUS TIME SLOTS ARE AVAILABLE. CALL TO SET UP YOUR TIME.
  • HOW MUCH?
    • $60 FOR A SINGLE CLASS
    • $180 CLASS CARD FOR 4 LESSONS
    • $280 CLASS CARD FOR 8 LESSONS
  • HOW DO I GET STARTED? CALL KATERINA AT (626) 403-7489 OR
    E-MAIL KATERINA@STUDIOFLAMENCO.COM
  • WHAT SHOULD I BRING? A NOTEBOOK, AN AUDIO RECORDER.
  • CAN I PAY FOR LESSONS ONLINE? YES, ONCE YOU'VE SET UP YOUR LESSON TIME WITH KATERINA . . .
1: Choose the number of lessons you'd like to buy.
2: Click the button to buy classes via PayPal.
3: Print out your PayPal receipt and bring it to class.
Cante Lessons
HOME DANCE LESSONS GUITAR LESSONS CANTE LESSONS CDS VIDEOS GUIDES FLAMENCO FORMS

Essential Palos For Singers

All flamenco forms can be as simple as a folk dance or astounding displays of virtuosity. Certain forms are the foundation of any flamenco artist's knowledge of their art form and others are more challenging or rare. Below, we've grouped all the major forms so that you can get an idea of what form you'll be learning at each level as you progress.

Beginning Level
A foundational form, this is the parent form for all the 4-count forms.
A foundational form, this is the parent form for all of the 12-count forms.
This exciting, high-energy 12-count form is closely assoiciated with the city of Jerez.
This quick 4-count festero form is closely associated with the Gypsy Kings.
This 6-count folk and classical dance from Sevilla is an instrinsic part of the Feria de Sevilla.           
A variation of the tangos from Cadíz.
A slow, 4-count form.
Intermediate/Advanced Level
Garrotín
 A 4-count count song popularized by Federico García Lorca
An upbeat, 12-count form in a major key closely associated with Cádiz.
A 12-count Ida y Vuelta form based on Cuban rhythms.
A 6-count song and dance from the province of Huelva; performed frequently in tablaos.
A 12-count form thought to be the ancient prototype for the soleares
A 4-count song popularized by Federido Garcia Lorca.
Advanced Level
The hybrid form combining the music of the soleares and the tempo and beat structure of the bulerías.
A 12-count form with an unusual beat structure.
An arythmic form associated with a companion 4-count dance form, the tarantos.
A four count, primarily dance form.
HOME DANCE LESSONS GUITAR LESSONS CANTE LESSONS CDS VIDEOS GUIDES FLAMENCO FORMS

Cante flamenco is an oral tradition for which there is no written music. The letras (lyrics) are widely available and distributed amongst flamenco artists, and many are also available on the internet and in flamenco CD jackets. The style is performed as a solo with guitar accompaniment (and even sometimes without guitar - a palo seco), and as accompaniment for dancers.

Instructional Materials

Websites
Instructional Materials
Flamenco Básico

We created this series of CD/Booklets to directly answer the needs of our students and our own needs as teachers.

We put a lot of emphasis on not just "doing" flamenco, but on understanding flamenco. We needed an English-language resource that would take a flamenco piece apart section by section and show students exactly what the singerr, guitarist and dancer was doing at each moment in a performance. We also needed a practice tool useful for us as professional artists and for students.

We couldn't find anything like that, so we created our own.

Each Flamenco Básico CD presents one or two flamenco forms. That form is presented in its entirety and the companion booklet breaks down that form, explaining moment by moment what's going on.

The CD also includes rhythm tracks for practicing. The booklet includes chord diagrams, and guides for playing the falsetas.

Flamenco Básico CDs are available through CDBaby and iTunes. Just click the links to order a CD or download an individual track.

MOJÁCAR: Flamenco Básico - Volume 1: Tangos & Tientos
The booklet for Tangos y Tientos is only available online.
Download your copy here.
MOJÁCAR FLAMENCO: Flamenco Básico 2: Bulerías

The booklet for Bulerías is included with the CD.
José Manuel Gamboa
Cante por cante:

In this CD and the accompanying booklet, the great flamencologist José Manual Gamboa explains the underlying form of sixteen essential cantes.

The examples, recorded especially for this project, are each clear, easy to follow samples of the cantes being performed.

Letras/lyrics are provided for all of the cantes in this CD.
Solo Compás Series

This ever-expanding series of CDs and DVDs are essential tools for all flamenco artists. Each CD includes working tracks for each palo.

I've used these used for many years, and I've had to purchase duplicate copies more than once. Letras/lyrics are provided as booklets in all of the CDs.

Although mostly aimed at dancers and guitarists, each CD includes a useful sample of the cante for the palo presented.

All of the flamenco artists performing on these CDs are exceptional singers and great role models for all flamenco singers, from beginning to advanced levels.

Websites
Even if you speak Spanish, it can be hard to pick up all the words to your favorite flamenco songs. Below are some great resources for cante letras.
Las Letras Del Flamenco An extensive discussion in Spanish on the art and history of flamenco letras.
Letras de Flamenco This site organizes letras by cantaor/a and, where possible includes a video of the artist performing that letra.
Camarón, la leyenda del flamenco This site lists letras sung by Camarón by album.