How to Perform With Castanets

Castanets are used by dancers in flamenco dancing, a lively and beautiful Spanish dance. If you're learning to use castanets, there are a number of things you must keep in mind, from the castanet vocabulary to the fine points of how to hold the castanets. Playing the castanets is generally learned along with flamenco, but follow these basic tips to make sure you're ready to add the castanets.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Determine which castanet is the macho (male) castanet and which is the hembra (female). Usually, the hembra castanet has a mark on it, but the macho castanet should also be deeper in pitch than the hembra.

2. Hold the hembra castanet in your dominant hand and the macho castanet in your other hand.

3. Make sure that the tension of the knot in the castanets is adjusted properly so that they lie slightly open when at rest in your hands.

4. Study the vocabulary of the castanets. Be able to quickly produce "ta" (macho castanet tap), "ri" (macho castanet roll), "pi" (hembra castanet tap), "chin" or "pam" (striking macho and hembra castanets together) and "pan" (strike macho and hembra castanets simultaneously).

5. Create a drum roll sound if necessary by alternating "ta" and "pi" taps in rapid succession, or by doing short finger rolls on each castanet alternately.

6. Flourish your castanets often and in a flamboyant manner to enhance your flamenco performance. Castanets are an exciting rhythmic element of flamenco dancing, so use them with confidence in your performance.

Tips & Warnings

• Be creative and innovative with your costuming in flamenco dance performance as well. Your dress won't enhance the quality of your castanet playing, but the dress and the castanets are both tools for making your flamenco performance aesthetically whole.