Exploring Bulerias

About Exploring Bulerias

Bulerias is one of flamenco’s most complex and diverse palos (musical styles). On stage it brings an intense, dramatic close to dances like Alegrias and Solea. It’s the music of choice to play and sing at flamenco social gatherings -- nearly everyone knows a few verses and dance steps. The ‘fin de fiesta’ that ends flamenco tablao shows is a playful encore of bulerias letras improvised by the performers and their friends.

The festive, frantic, and sometimes joking mood of Bulerias injects a shot of energy into any setting. For guitarists, it’s an incredibly fun palo to play. Some falsetas (guitar solos) are surprisingly simple technically -- that’s what makes it possible to play them at high speeds. The rhythm is complex and takes a lifetime to master, but it’s not hard to get started with simple material.

We’ll explore Bulerias in three different keys and variants:
1. Bulerias de Cadiz, which usually closes Alegrias dance or guitar solo.
2. Bulerias en La Menor, which has a special flavor and features somewhat easier chords (for those shy of barre chords).
3. Bulerias por Medio, a common key for Bulerias in improvised social setting.

You’ll end the course with a small collection of falsetas for each type of Bulerias.


Class Materials Needed

Guitar - nylon strings recommended
Capo - we’ll use it for Bulerías de Cádiz to make left hand stretches easier

Class Goals

  • - Learn to recognize Bulerias when you hear it.
  • '- Learn to play compás (rhythm) and a few falsetas for three different variants of Bulerias.
  • - Expand your technical abilities in flamenco guitar, particularly in thumb, rasgueo, and arpeggio techniques.
  • - Deepen your understanding and internal sense of flamenco’s 12-count compás. - Enjoy playing a really fun palo with flamenco guitar enthusiasts all over the world!

Age Range

Adults

Skill Level

One year of playing experience (any style) is recommended. Ideally, students will already know basic chord shapes and be able to change chords smoothly. Being comfortable with (or at least tolerant of) barre chords will help with Bulerias por Medio.

Beginning guitarists are welcome but may find this course very challenging.

No knowledge of music notation is needed. I’ll teach using a combination of TAB and demonstration.


Watch To Learn More

Here’s a short clip of ‘Bulerias por Medio’, a little fancier than the material we’ll cover in class, but similar in feeling and vibe.


$179.00

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When

The class will meet for ten weekly 60-min live online sessions at 1:30 pm ET | 10:30 am PT | 17:30 UTC on the schedule below. The first session is on May 9.
(Convert to my time zone)

Enrolled students receive lifetime access to the video recordings of the classes.

Jul
18th
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Exploring Bulerias: Review of Bulerías Por Medio
Leah Kruszewski

How It Works

Students can connect to the online platform using a tablet or computer with reliable internet. To actively participate online students also need a webcam with microphone. The class is covered by the Lessonface Guarantee.

Book 1:1 online lessons with Leah Kruszewski on their Lessonface profile.

Leah Kruszewski

Leah Kruszewski

Multi-year Teacher of the Year for Flamenco and Classical Guitar, Leah loves introducing flamenco guitarists to the rhythms and melodies of southern Spain and guiding classical players as they develop their technique and repertoire. She also enjoys guiding beginners in Loog, fingerstyle, and acoustic guitar (ages 6 & up, please).

About Lessonface, PBC

Lessonface's mission is to help students achieve their goals while treating teachers equitably. Since 2013, we've hosted more than 20,000 students and 2,000 teachers for live music, language, and arts lessons and classes online.

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