My Journey Report of a Special Flamenco Guitar In-depth Training Program
《百日傳承專業佛蘭明高結他證書課程》– Helen Chau
I just completed the 100-day Flamenco guitar program. I would like to share concisely my journey of Flamenco guitar learning in these four years.
I yearned for more in-depth knowledge after the elementary and intermediate course since 2018, so I joined the 100-day Flamenco guitar program in 2022. The program featured in Sevillanas provided a step-by step progressive training. The program was divided into five parts with the first to fourth sections began with basic musical background of Sevillanas, and followed by exercise of essential short pieces and Palmas, understanding of song structure, and practice of master pieces. The last section, the fifth part, was smartly designed for learners to develop their own personality through song creation.
我剛剛完成了由歐老師最新開設的佛蘭明高結他進階之師資培訓課程《百日傳承》，並由去年6月開始至今剛好一年了。同時，我也想跟大家分享過去共5年裡有關學習
佛蘭明高結他的奇異旅程。其實我是在2018年報讀歐老師佛蘭明高結他網上錄音函授證書初級班課程及2020年中級班課程。其後因更渴望獲得更深入的知識，所以我在2022年繼續參加了《百日傳承》這課程。
而這課程的特色，是集中在一個特定的曲目如Sevillanas，課程設計內容能讓學員全面了解和提供了循序漸進的培訓和指導。 課程分為五個部分，第一至第四部分以Sevillanas音樂歷史背景，然後是Colpa和Palmas的練習，理解歌曲結構和基本循環練習；以及一些大師的傑作。 最後一部分，即第五部分，更巧妙地設計了一些課題習作，讓學員通過歌曲創作的實踐，來充份地發展自己的創意，個性和風格。
What I have experienced in the program?
I practised essential pieces with different keys of Majors, Minors, and Phrygian modes that are essentials for the Palos that allowed mixed key signature for the four section Sevillanas. With song track provided, I practised Palmas aiming to understanding how Palmas (clapping) and Baile (dancing) Dance synchronized together with Toque (guitar).
By understanding how each worked, I found greater meaning of the role of toque. Further, I practised songs that were played by different Flamenco Masters such as Mario Escudero, Alberto Velez，Juan Serrano as well as Paco Peña too.
Upon completion of each part, I was asked to do a reflection on my learning. This was a great learning reinforcement approach. It deepened my leaning which was what I need. Each reflection served as a sounding board to remind me of major elements of Sevillanas.
我在《百日傳承》這課程中經歷了甚麼？
我練習了不同大調、小調和自然調模式的基本作品，這些調式是曲目的必備品，允許Sevillanas四個Copla部分的短曲各有不同調式之特點；並提供的歌曲錄音作示範參考。我練習了Palmas，旨在瞭解Palmas（鼓掌）和Baile（跳舞）舞蹈如何與Touqe(吉他）同步。 通過瞭解每個人的工作方式，我發現了Touqe角色的更大意義。 此外，我練習了由不同的佛蘭明高大師演奏的歌曲，包括Mario Escudero, Alberto Velez，Juan Serrano和Paco Peña。
當完成每個部份的面授學習跟進後，歐老師要求對我的學習進行自我反思報告，並規定每次都要做的。我認為這是一種很好的學習強化方法。 它加深了我的理解與領悟，這正是我所需要的。每一次的反思可作為如共鳴板般的迴響，提醒我有關Sevillanas的重要元素。
In part 5, it was the last part of the entire program. This section was challenging but in a happy way because this part made my learning in Sevillanas more complete. The development was meant to turn a musician into an artist. This part was about Personality development through song composition and song play. This involved composing song and by leveraging the skills to express feeling and style of a song. The process required hard work and full awareness of how well a song was played in accordance with the Compàs (cycle count).
在第5部分中，它是整個課程的最後部份。 這部分很有挑戰性，但以一種快樂的方式，因為這部份使我在Sevillanas的學習更完整。 這一發展旨在將音樂家變成藝術家。 這部份是通過歌曲創作和歌曲演奏來發展個性的。 這涉及創作歌曲，並利用技巧來表達歌曲的感覺和風格。 這個過程需要努力工作，並充分意識到一首歌曲是根據Compàs（節奏空間）的多少來演奏的規律。
My experience in this learning journey had been fun. The satisfaction was high although I had to put in tremendous of time to work out each technique and each skill; be it a Tremolo, Rasgueados, Picado, Arpeggios, Pulgar, and Apagado, each part required independent practice.
My left hand was crippled several times. However, the good news was that I made progress and found a better approach to manipulate the skill. I saw a strand of light to professionalism. To me, the last section served as a strong platform for learners to stand firm on building further knowledge.
I learned a lot from this program. I appreciated my hard work and discipline. Very importantly, it was Master Au’s enlightenment and encouragement that helped shaping my progress. Although I still feel that my skill has not yet been close to perfection, I am proud of where I am now. I hope the imperfection remains as a great driver for further improvement.
我的經驗總結今次《百日傳承》學習之旅充滿趣味性。 儘管我不得不投入大量時間來研究每種技術和每種技能，但滿意度卻很高;無論是顫音，Rasgueados，Picado，Arpeggios，Pulgar和Apagado，每個部分都需要獨立分開來練習。
不過，左手因在頻密練習下也多次受傷。然而，好消息是我取得了進步，並找到了更好的方法來提升這些技能。令我看到了專業精神的一絲曙光。對我來說，最後一部分是一個強大的平台，讓學員堅定地建立進一步的知識。實際上，我從這個計劃中學到了很多東西。 我亦很欣賞自己的辛勤練習和紀律。非常重要的是，是歐老師的啟發和鼓勵，也很大幫助及積極地推動去塑造了我全面的進步。 雖然我仍然覺得在演奏的技巧方面還需繼續不斷努力；同時，我為我現在經過歐老師在這個《百日傳承》的專業特訓課程內之個別指導後，能一直堅持並最終能完成這個相當有挑戰性的任務而感到十分自豪。
誠然， 我亦期望在演奏表現方面目前尚未達至完美的部份， 我會再加強針對性的基本功練習來作為首要目標。因為，我相信「imperfect」仍然是進一步改進的重要驅動力。
作者簡介：周瓊蕾 (Helen Chau) 大學講師 los duende flamenco興趣小組文書
How I create my song?
I followed this pattern – determined a theme, set the Palos, worked out chord
Progression of the selected key signature, and created melodic lines that fitted the theme and met the cycle count. With the pattern set, I followed the structure of Sevillanas from Entrada, sailda Paseo, Copla to Ending. that Entrada was quite free in Sevillanas, but as a learner I followed the traditional 3.5 phrases format for the introduction I realized that it was insufficient to follow the pattern and structure. What was missing was the matching between melody lines and Palos to produce a song that one could tell that was Sevillanas. My work was eventually accepted by Master Au in the 4th round revision after I narrowed the range of progressive chord, adjusted Salida kicked-in in an adequate space, enhanced the last note of each melodic phase and the made better transition in beginning of Entrada in order to meet the Aire of Sevillanas.
我是如何創作我的歌曲？.
基本上，我遵循以下這種模式 - 確定主題，設置Palos，計算出所選調式的和弦進行 ，並創建適合主題及滿足循環節奏計數的旋律線。設置模式後 ，我遵循Sevillanas 的Enrtada,Salida,Paseo,Colpa到結束共3.5 句chording compàs其實是不夠的。 缺少的是旋律線和Palo之間的匹配，以產生一首可以說是具代表Sevillanas的歌曲。可喜的是，我的作品最終在第4輪修改後被歐老師接受了。因我縮小了漸進式和弦的範圍，在足夠的節奏空間中調整了Salida，增強了每個旋律階段的最後一個音符，並在Entrada的開頭更好的過渡以滿足Sevillanas的風格與味道。
【3】The meaning of my first composition -《Sunset Beauty》_ Sevillanas in A
Going through all processes of the song creation and added together with all the skill training, here I am with a song ‘Sunset Beauty’ that I would like to share with you. This is only one complete section of a whole Sevillanas which should consist of four sections. The reason I like about nature like Sunset is that it is always captivating and beautiful. During sunsetting, it is fascinating because there are multifarious changes in the sky in every few seconds. Although the moment of sunset is very brief, by nature of the universe it always comes back. It is in the loop of our daily life cycle sinking down and rising up each day with hope. The positivity and beauty are what I like. I hope you will like it also.
我首個Sevillanas創作作品《美麗夕陽紅》的涵義
經歷了歌曲創作的所有過程，並加上所有的專業技能培訓後，在這裡我有一首歌《美麗夕陽紅》，我想與大家分享。 不過，這衹是屬於Sevillanas其中一個colpa，因為整首完整的Sevillanas由4個不同調式的colpa組成。
我喜歡日落這樣的自然景象變化的原因，是它總是迷人而美麗。 在日落期間，它令人著迷，因為每隔幾秒鐘天空就會發生各種各樣的變化。 雖然日落的時刻非常短暫，但根據宇宙的本質，它總會像潮水漲退般的循環來回。 它也處於我們日常生活週期的迴圈之中，日落日出就像是代表我們每天常懷著希望，向著目標不斷努力快樂向前奮鬥的一種正面積極心態。所以夕陽紅的美麗是我喜歡的； 我希望大家也會喜歡它！
∮ Video: Flamenco Guitar原創作品《Sunset Beauty》_ Sevillanas in A by Helen Chau
(備註：樂譜僅供los duende fans club會員內部分享)
(free tab for los duende fans club members only)
To all Los Duende members share music with me
My best regards to Raymond Au
Helen Chau
致所有Los Duende成員與 我分享音樂
及Raymond Au最誠摯的問候
周瓊蕾 2023.5.22
