how young can you start - an 11 year old playing congas

[rumbaman]

How is everyone . All my blessings to all . I have a friend she was telling me her son is 11 and loves music. She wants to incline him towards congas 'cause she thinks he loves playing the drums . Do you all think congas would be a good percussion instrument for a youngster or the more traditional drums.


rumbaman

[mjw]

I saw a Richie Garcie clinic once - he had the opinion that people tend to shy away from congas due to the technique that is required to get the sounds out of the drum - whereas with traps/kit, the student only has to hit them with a stick to get the sound out.

(However, in no way am I implying that kit players are less skilled or dedicated than any other musicians.)

With the 11-year-old, if he's dedicated and really wants to put in the time and effort to learn, then he'll probably be a great student and turn out to be a good conguero. Maybe agree to spend a couple of hours with him showing him a couple of simple rudiments/patterns - you should be able to ascertain whether he's interested or not.

I've lost count of the amount of 'grown-up' musicians who have come to me for a couple of introductory lessons and given up when they realise that they won't be playing solos straight after learning which end of the drum to hit!

I'm sure everyone else can share similar experieces!!

[hueroconguero]

11 is not too early to start. I started teaching my daughter when she was 10 and after a year she is quite good, nice slaps and a steady tumbao. I have nice congas at home, so it was not an investment. I would be hesitant to buy any child any instrument that they have never played before, especially without lessons or practice time lined up. They will just get bored or frustrated. Hope this helps.

[Charangaman]

Hey fella's,


My nephew is also 11, he has a trap kit and when he's over at mine loves to hit the Congas.. However the difficulty is his short stature and small hands which, being unused to Conga - get hurt with his over-enthusiastic slapping..

Maybe for kids so young smaller/budget Congas are the way forward..

[SkinDeep]

LP'S YOUNGEST ARTIST
HERE'S ONE WHO WAS BEING TAUGHT BEFORE HE WAS BORN!!!
CHECK IT OUT BROTHER, SUAVE.



Edited By SkinDeep on 1139525347

[ABAKUA]

I have a friend who's father is an old school advanced percussionist here.
His dad would play him clave etc from birth, I have a photo of him aged 2yrs old and he is wearing headphones listening to Irakere (his Dad is a big Irakere freak, close your eyes and he plays just like El Niño) anyway, the kid has been learning congas and timbal and drum etc since age 2.

He is now 21 and is an absolute animal on congas, bongo, timbal, drums etc etc. By far the best in Australia and sabor, speed etc on par with some of the best in the world I have no doubt whatsoever.

As said before, 11 yrs old is not too young to start. In many latin and carribean countries amongst other places including Australia, by age 11, there are some serious rumberos already.
Example, Los Ibellis Junior from Cuba (aged 9 through to 17) Michel Eddy Duarte (from French produced doumentary "Lucumi") my friend stayed with him and his family during his study trip of 4 months twice in Cuba
"Eddy" as he is like to be called seen below on Iya with Pancho Quinto:

The kid from Cuban group "Obbara" as seen on the DVD Cajon Espiritual, and son of former NG La Banda drummer, Julienne Oviedo Sánchez who at 13 recorded the world famous first CD with Afro Cuban All Stars
seen below on Timbal top left corner:

Most recently we discovered a prodigy conguero jamming in the markets by himself on 2 congas. He is aged 13, is primarilly self tought apart from things he got here and there from some passing drummers, but the kid plays a mean rumba, holds the parts very well and has great feeling. We have taken him under our wing and will be developing his skill. Kids are great, they are a sponge, absorbing knowledge so easilly and quickly.


But most importantly, what does the kid want to play?
He needs to WANT it in order to BE it. No point forcing or pushing the kid into congas if he wants to play drumkit and vice versa, though if he likes both, then get him to learn both! And timbal while he's at it also!



Edited By ABAKUA on 1139537741

[Bataboom]

My african drum class youths are 11-16 years old, they are started out great and learning to love drumming. We practice together once a week, if we have to cancel at any time they get upset Young people love drumming all ages. As for conga playing that young, if he is interested in it then he should be given the oppartunity to learn his desire might be a life long thing.

[caballoballo]

How Young ? the flavor is in your veins from start,you just need to awake it. I remember when I was in elementary school(6/7 years old) and I use to look for a chair with a good flat sound so I can bang on it the sound of the tunes I heard on the Radio. Many times I got my ass kick by the teacher for my wild behavior. If you teach a child something right from start,he will never forget to do it right. So it is very important to know the fundamental of the rhytm for a good lesson to be teach.



Edited By caballoballo on 1139584162

[ABAKUA]

[tfunk]

never too young to expose them!!


tfunk

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... congas.jpg

[ABAKUA]

RESPECT!!!

Thats way cool!! Is that your child?

[tfunk]

Yes Abaqua, that's my little one. His name is Mason, and I promised myself to expose him to congas, and percussion from the beginning, he's 10 months old in that pic (last Nov.). If he decides to love it, he'll get more time to enjoy it than his Dad...I got started so late. He seems to like it alot for now.

peace,
tfunk

[niallgregory]

Thats agreat photo man .the kid is cool as !

[Ivan]

My 1 year old nephew...

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... 020227.jpg

[tamboricua]

My 2 1/2 year old son!

Saludos,

Jorge Ginorio



Edited By tamboricua on 1139601966

Attachment: http://mycongaplace.com/forum/eng/uploa ... mboki1.jpg