Gustavo L.

PERSONAL BIO

I am a North American flamenco guitarist currently living in Sevilla, Spain. My music is grounded in traditional flamenco and incorporates elements of jazz, classical, and world music. My fascination with music and the guitar began early, and I picked up the instrument in earnest at the age of 19. Starting on electric guitar, my focus switched to flamenco after a few years. My initial curiosity towards flamenco quickly became a full-fledged obsession, as I was enamored with the strength, depth, and complexity of the art form.

Initially self-taught, I later refined my playing with several of North America’s top flamenco guitarists. In spring of 2014, I independently recorded Punto Lejano, my first full-length studio album, at Empty Sea Studios in Seattle, WA. This original flamenco-jazz album draws on a variety of musical sources.

In 2017, I was awarded a Fulbright performing arts fellowship to pursue intensive flamenco studies in Sevilla, Spain, at the Fundacion Cristina Heeren de Arte Flamenco. Here I deepened my knowledge of flamenco under the tutelage of master guitarists Pedro Sierra, Pedro Barragán, and Paco Cortés. I still reside in Sevilla and will remain here through summer of 2019 for additional musical studies with Eduardo Rebollar of Artes Escenicas Rebollar.

I'm also influenced by the music of Paco de Lucía, Pepe Habichuela, Manolo Sanlúcar, Tomatito, Moraíto Chico, and Miguel Ángel Cortés.

TEACHING APPROACH

My approach towards teaching prioritizes the student's self-described goals. If students want to be challenged and pushed hard, I push them hard. If simply enjoying the instrument is most important, that's perfectly okay too. I believe it's impossible to separate technique from other aspects of one's musicality, such as expression. Therefore, all students will start with the fundamentals of technique and will build on this as they move into the study of rhythm, harmony, accompaniment resources, and more. The responses to the Student Questionnaire, along with a short, introductory discussion, will allow us to create a plan tailored to each student.

I believe all healthy learning relationships start with respect, and not just from student-to-teacher, but also from teacher-to-student. I've always felt the best teachers are those capable of uncovering and giving life to the strongest qualities already present within a student. Therefore, I encourage all students to be proactive and engage in their own learning plan. My primary role is to be the guide.

To paraphrase the great flamenco singer Enrique Morente: "In flamenco there are no teachers, only disciples."