When it comes to choosing some castanets we have to bear in mind the size of our hands, because the castanets mustn´t be too big, nor too small. We must also look closely at the sound that they make. This will depend on the material out of which they are made: fabric, fibre, granadillo wood, ebony... Castanets are for life. If they are good, it is very difficult for them to break or to become damaged, which is why it is worth making a decent initial investment, and to buy some professional ones from the start; the semi-professional ones sound very bad.
Mastering the castanets is something that takes a long time and many hours´ practice, and for this reason you must take advantage of every available opportunity to practice. To avoid having any problems with neighbours, what is usually done is to put rubber bands, which absorb the sound, around each of the two castanets.

As a dancing accessory, the shawl is used in advanced levels, when one can already execute a soleá, or a seguiriya... The shawl must be large enough to comfortably cover the dancer´s outstretched arms. It mustn´t be mistaken for the smaller shawl that is worn with faralaes dresses (which have ruffles or flounces). Another important aspect is that it shouldn´t be too heavy, so that it can be handled properly.
The colours of the shawls are usually black, white, ivory and red, and they tend to be hand embroidered. If the shawl is to be used for dancing, it would be best for it to be black, because it will end up on the floor on many occasions. However, the shawl can also be a good accessory for dressing up, and not only in a flamenco style. It is perfect for combining with an evening dress, and it will add a distinctly Spanish touch to our appearance, as well as being elegant. In this case, we will be able to choose whatever colour we prefer; white and red are particularly becoming.

The fan that is used for dancing is bigger than traditional ones, and is known as a pericón. It is usually plain coloured, without any patterns. Like the shawl and castanets, it will be used once a high standard of dancing has been acquired in certain choreographies. Plenty of studying and practice are required to handle it correctly.