Issue 17 - October 28th, 2012

I would like to invite you to be part of this Weekly Magazine by raising questions and giving me suggestions through e-mail so this magazine can become a good material for all flamenco lovers, researchers and musicians. Enjoy it!

A.- Comments, Questions and Answers:

QUESTION: Sometimes I find it difficult to get focused when I practice, and I noticed that I acquired this bad habit from my past experiences, I mean while trying to learn myself from DVDs etc. For example, when I watched videos from YouTube, I used to wander from one channel and/or subject to another and I know I am going nowhere like that.

So can you give me some tips to be able to concentrate better?

B.- Videos of the Week:

1) Making of Ruben Diaz Special Tv Program in Málaga (2 videos)

C.- Video Recommendation of the Week:

1) Kenny Werner Master Class by the Artist House of Music

A.- Comments, Questions and Answers:

QUESTION: Sometimes I find it difficult to get focused when I practice, and I noticed that I acquired this bad habit from my past experiences, I mean while trying to learn myself from DVDs etc. For example, when I watched videos from YouTube, I used to wander from one channel and/or subject to another and I know I am going nowhere like that.

So can you give me some tips to be able to concentrate better?

ANSWER:

This “DVD mentality” is a very common problem in people that does not have a teacher.

The good thing is that you are already on the other side of the problem, because you understood by experience that one-way methods don’t work. This is the first step.

One needs to be supervised to attain something satisfactory on guitar.

This lack of concentration is a result of lack of satisfaction on HOW you are practicing and the results you get. It may be a vicious cycle. That is:

1) You start studying a subject but you get no satisfaction from it because several reasons: a) The most common one: You realized that, after a while, you don’t understand the subject or you need further knowledge and/or practice to grasp it; b) The subject is on a much higher level than the one on which you are; c) It’s not really related to what you are searching for; d) It’s not what you expected.

2) You are not satisfied regarding the first subject so you fly to another one.

3) You repeat steps 1 and 2 continuously, so you fly from one thing to another.

4) You can’t get any better playing (results) because of this wandering all over.

Here are some tips:

1)Work on one topic at a time:

http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo752.html

2)Avoid Procrastination:

 http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo755.html

3)Set some goals:

 http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo749.html

4)Build up Confidence in Yourself:

 http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo754.html

5)Avoid Negativity:

 http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo753.html

and most important of all:

6)HAVE FUN! When one has fun practicing it’s very easy to concentrate:

 http://www.rdiaz.org/rdvideo756.html

It's better to practice only one thing well than to try to cover many areas and become overwhelmed as a result of that. In fact, the study of technique, rhythm and repertoire should be dynamic and not a static thing.

n fact, if you get absorbed in what you are practicing day by day following properly CFG study program you will get the results you want in a short time.

B.- Videos of the Week:

1) Making of Ruben Diaz Special Tv Program in Málaga

1) Making of Ruben Diaz special Tv Program in Málaga

C.- Video Recommendation of the Week:

1) Kenny Werner Master Class by the Artist House of Music

This is another video by maestro Kenny Werner totally related to the subject we discussed today. It’s about freedom and satisfaction in music. A very inspiring lecture! I am sure you will derive a great benefit out of it.

1) Kenny Werner Master Class by the Artist House of Music

ISSUE 13