▓ Reflection on Los Duende Flamenco Guitar Recital 2025.11.14 by Dr. Helen Chau ▓

November 14, 2025 marked another key milestone in my marathon Flamenco guitar development journey. I learned and gained a lot from various stages from self-practise, group rehearsal to performance of the event.  The show gives me an opportunity to reflect on how to grow my knowledge in Flamenco.

At preparation and rehearsal stage, I learned from the others of how to fit myself better into the group performance especially to do Palmas to go in sync with the beat. Mok Sui Kei is a great sounding board helping me to see my blind spot.  I received valuable guidance from SK especially on strumming accent to make my solo Rumba piece more in the mood.  

∮ Video: Dr. Helen Chau : Rumba Flamenco

https://youtu.be/70KdmZmPk5s?si=I4anRnNaJ2b10nJO

In addition, he showed me how to better manipulate tremolo technique to produce better sound for my duet piece.  We were getting support from each other.  The causal audience was great in giving feedback. The provision of the decent environment was a crucial integrated element to assemble the team together for group rehearsal.

(Photo during rehearsal : Joy , Pauline & SK)

Apart from the group practice, I had several meetings with Yu for our duet piece. Without any prior experience in doing a duo, we shot a video to seek comment from Raymond.  At the end, we figured out a way to work it out. This is a great learning experience. Ole! It was amazing to see ourselves in the mirror of how we did our run with the pai Rasgueado and finished the song at the same pace. Thanks to Yu for his patience and woke up early to secure the space for our practice.

I learned from Raymond indirectly of how to organize a music event.  Ride on the December 5th event in 2023, I gained a fuller picture of how to organize a music event.  Apart from that, the song chose was tuned by Raymond; in particular, the Historia De Un Amor piece that was selected by me in the outset was with less Flamenco taste.  With another version of the same song provided by Raymond, the melody arraignment brought the song to a different level.

∮ Video: Dr. Helen Chau : Historia de un amor

https://youtu.be/MGbC2Xav60Q?si=I9T7HHEHKHVWoUx4

Au Sir’s enlightenment enabled us to optimize our group performance.All the plans and arrangements, from initiating the concert, profile photo shoot, coordinating with HKCC, arranging billboard poster and the show materials, working out run down for who does what, to even meal plan, that Raymond did were obvious.  He demonstrated how to pass his role to the second echelon.  Au Sir, you are truly a role model.  Ole!

At the performance stage, I learned more about how to collaborate with the team seamlessly. I also learned to overcome stage fright partly because of the accumulated experience and partly because I was executing several tasks in one sitting that I had no time to worry.  I am glad that I did it to an extent to which that I was without some kind of nerve rush inside of vein and therefore no more shaking and sweating. I learned from the audiences too; their positive response was a great signal telling me that they were together with me. 

The show left great memory for all. A new learning page with plenty of white space to be filled.The more I learn and play, the more I feel I have yet master even one Palo.To be able to master anything is an Everest goal.Fortunately, the ten-thousand-hour path to mastery is still in my belief, although I understand learning Flamenco can be a lifetime endeavour.Now, I marched forward one more step which gives me stronger reason to immerse myself further into Flamenco.

With the aim to fit myself more into the Flamenco art, I will have to continue stay focus on each technique in order to bring myself up to a higher level.  For fulfil my goal, I will continue my daily routine practice to build up my skill but hopefully increase my confident too.  I will continue seeking feedback and sharing music as a way to overcome my sudden panic, mitigate nervousness, and for improvement.  I figure that by playing a larger collection of songs and different Palos may help to train up my skills and develop other part of the muscle I did not use often. I am mindful to practice technique/song slowly.  With tiny improvement from each practice, I am confident that my focus and persistent can help me to gear towards the mastery destination one day. 

Having said this, I am not putting much pressure on myself because learning is enjoyment to me.  More importantly, I learn Flamenco guitar is mainly for my self-entertainment though it turns out to be edutainment, which is even more satisfying. Ole!

Helen Chau

2025.11.20