At its most personal and intimate level, aire is that distinctive essence which marks true Flamenco virtuosos. A great player has an aire, an aura that defies definition, yet marks him as unique, with a style that is instantly recognizable by those in the know.
As you immerse yourself more and more in the world of Flamenco music, you will develop a sense for the different kinds of aire in Flamenco, as well as the knack for expressing them in your own musical performance. Listen to recordings, attend concerts, and watch videos of the best Flamenco performers, to develop your deep ‘aficion’ (love) for the art of Flamenco. Allow the Cante to speak to your heart as well as to your mind. Drink from the fountain of inspiration, and you will grow as an artist. Flamenco requires more than a faultless technique and lightning-quick fingers. Musicality – the art of music – suffers when technical brilliance is the ultimate goal. A few notes played with heartfelt emotion can speak more to the depth of human experience than all the technical expertise in the world.
Devote your efforts to produce a steady, throbbing pulse in the compas, making sure, by your phrasing and accentuation, that the music says something with meaning. You will then be playing true Flamenco right from the start, not a dime-store imitation.