23/02/11 12:53Interview with Paco Fernández. Flamenco Guitar Master class. Encuentra el Flamenco.

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23rd February 2011

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Maestro Clases de GuitarraFlamenca. V.1&2 (book 1&2DVD 1& - Paco Fernández

Maestro Clases de GuitarraFlamenca. V.1 (book 1 DVD 1) -

Paco Fernández

Maestro Clases de GuitarraFlamenca. V.2 (book 2 DVD 2) -

Paco Fernández

Sastipén talí - (salud y libertad)- Paco Fernández

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Interview with guitarist

Paco FernándezPresentation Book-DVD

Maestro Clases de Guitarra Flamenca

Interview: Pablo San Nicasio Ramos

Coming from a long line of flamenco performers and bullfighters, Francisco Fernández Vargas, “Paco Fernández” (Seville,1967), has just presented his interactive guitar-teaching method with DVD from “La Sonanta”.

The official presentation took place January 31st at the Casa de la Provincia in Sevilla.

How long have you been teaching guitar?I have to admit that teaching guitar was something that had never occurred to me. It’s not that I don’t like it, but I justhadn’t considered it. About ten years ago, at the Albuquerque flamenco festival along with Manolo Soler, I had to explainto the people attending, nearly all dance students, the rhythmic differences between the styles of Lebrija, Morón andSevilla, something which got through to them and greatly improved the results of the guitarists and dancers in attendance.

That’s what got me started in teaching, I enjoyed making lessons so that people could understand flamenco better. I’vehad students ever since then, and it’s been very rewarding teaching some of them, like right now, I have a Japanese girlwho plays guitar like crazy. And now I’ve got this DVD with original material of my own.

What would you highlight about this work?It’s a DVD in High Definition, with simply spectacular sound and image. There are four pieces from my record “SastipénTalí”, siguiriya, bulería, soleá por bulería and the alegrias that give the album its title. There’s also an interview, a familyfiesta with unpublished material that doesn’t appear in the transcriptions, and a book of sheet music I consider veryaccurate for the four compositions. Everything’s there, exactly the way I play it.

And something especially noteworthy?I can only say it’s dead on, no ifs ands or buts. Paco Lucía himself, when I told him about this new work, he asked me ifthe transcriptions were good, because he’d had bad experiences in that respect. It often happens that what’s written and

23/02/11 12:53Interview with Paco Fernández. Flamenco Guitar Master class. Encuentra el Flamenco.

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what you hear on the original recording have little to do with each other, but in this case the results are perfect.

I’m very grateful for the work done by “La Sonanta”, and especially Gerardo, the person in charge of all this. A terrificflamenco connoisseur with a fabulous collection of guitars who does everything in his power to spread the flamenco wordthroughout the world.

What’s your target audience with this teaching DVD?You might think it’s for advanced guitarists, since there are fourcomplete pieces as I mentioned. But there’s more than that,there are picado and arpeggio exercises, one which is titled “A MiAire” which is an excellent warm-up. There’s also advice aboutpositioning, technical details in general and the option of adivided screen to see clearly how to place each hand withprecision. In other words, it’s also useful for beginners.

For someone who doesn’t know you, who is PacoFernández?I’m a guitarist from a family with a long flamenco andbullfighting tradition, because on my father’s side are theCaganchos, Gitanillo de Triana… I began playing guitar veryyoung, in fact I remember always having played. And singing,because at eleven I used to like to sing some siguiriyas…youmight say I’m a frustrated singer.

My uncle Rafael Vargas was my first teacher, that’s where Ibegan picking up material by ear. My father saw I would be ableto make a living this way, and he took me to a teacher, MiguelPérez, whom I’m very fond of. I was with him for a few years. Then I went off on my own path, although I had a great deal ofcontact with Rafael Riqueni who also gave me classes, and withwhom I played second guitar for a few years.

Some people say I have some elements close to rock music inmy playing, it’s possible, because I’ve always had close contactwith the Amador family, Raimundo and Rafael, good friends eversince the times of the Gitanillos tablao in Camas.

Paco Fernández is the second sibling of four, the oldest is mysister Esperanza, the singer, and then my younger brother andsister, José and Curra, all with flamenco running through theirveins. Generally speaking, I’ve played for dance companies, like Joaquín Cortés, with whom I spent three years and towhom I am profoundly grateful. I’ve also composed…such as for my record “Sastipén Talí”.

Where is the future of Paco Fernández?

23/02/11 12:53Interview with Paco Fernández. Flamenco Guitar Master class. Encuentra el Flamenco.

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I’m playing guitar a lot thanks to the Instituto Cervantes. Not long ago we were in Brazil and Algeria, and in a few monthswe’re going to Japan…Tokyo and Hiroshima. I’d also like to record some new pieces I’ve been composing. But the world ofrecording companies is very difficult, with little stimulus for guitarists, so we have to bear the entire cost of the process. This is something we must try to change.

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