The transmission of flamenco guitar related knowledge in the context of my city of residence, Toronto, has the potential to be a very interesting case. I have identified a flamenco guitar studio (It’s not a big secret, but I won’t identify it just yet. I will say that they are a wonderful and enthusiastic subject!), that is founded on a strong flamenco guitar tradition that started in Spain, with a wide spectrum of implications in terms of performance technique, instrument construction, and cultural norms for music transmission just to name a few. It is especially interesting to study, as there is not a very strong presence of flamenco culture within the city, and how one ‘authenticates’what is being transmitted may be a sub-topic of interest as well. This small study I an conducting is going to be a great way for me to work out some of the basic research questions I have, although perhaps not soon enough for my liking in terms of prepping for the SSHRC deadline.

The grant is due in a couple of weeks, and I have just sent a draft of my materials to my two references. Once completed, it will go through an internal review at the University by our Faculty, who will then put it forward for consideration by endorsing it with a departmental appraisal. Whether I can get this grant or not, I suppose I will become a full time student in order to pursue the thesis which is the equivalent of 6 credits. The convoluted nature of the application process doesn’t leave much room for me to think about how it may be perceived, as I am mostly concerned about crossing all my Ts and dotting all my Is. Of course, the excitement of being able to explore and learn more about flamenco music as a result of this research is not entirely lost on me. All in good time.

What I am excited about is heading off to Vancouver in about 18 days. I won’t have much time to pack and think about it until a few days before I’m leaving, but I’m going to try and take it easy and not go too crazy with trying to see everything at the conference. Instead, socializing and learning from others through more personal means will be the goal. Besides, Vancouver is a beautiful city, and hopefully there’ll be a chance to drop by on some old friends and colleagues.

I wasn’t particularly troubled, as I am one of those avid computer users that do quite well when there is no internet or technology around, as long as there are books, musical instruments, and some baking ingredients at hand. Without technology around to distract me (I rather dislike television), I turned my attention to the guitar that sits in his living room like a piece of furniture. He received it as a gift and it is rarely loved. I took the opportunity to figure out what guitars are all about. I mean, how hard can they be?

Before I knew it, AE was pulling out DVD guitar lessons, and bugging me to show him what I have learned because, surprise surprise, a guitar that makes musical sounds is better than a guitar that just sits there and looks pretty. After learning enough chords to get a I-IV-V progression going, Auld Lang Syne popped into my head for some reason, and the rest is history.

It was, and continues to be, my pleasure to share with him my passion. He is the most enthusiastic student, and I am the proudest teacher and supporter. Since then, he’s advanced to taking flamenco guitar lessons, stretching his fingers like a pro, and strumming with style.

I have never seen any one pick up an instrument so fast, but if he can learn how to skate from youtube videos alone, fight off bugs in a fraction of the time that it takes me (and I consider myself rarely sick), I really shouldn’t be surrpised he can master basic techniques in merely weeks. His musicianship still needs a lot of work, mind you, but for now he’s having fun, and music making is not about perfectionism as some people will try to tell you (like yours truly).

The sound and sight of AE practicing Asturia or trying to improvise Malaguena on the beautiful guitar he’s got is a constant reminder, that music is not just about the sound, but all the things that surrounds it. In fact, he has inspired me to learn more about Spanish and Flamenco traditions, which was oddly missing in my undergraduate study of ‘European’traditions. He’s not playing in Carnegie Hall or even your local bar any time soon, but man does he enjoy himself.

These days, I’m just happy we come home from work, and instead of turning the television on first, he now runs to pick up the guitar. I can’t think of a better way to unwind.