by congabebe » Wed May 29, 2002 4:15 am
This is great. The beads are long and wooden and then the small plastic beads, The design of the beads is open v's, not the close mesh where the beads are 1/2 inc apart. More like open net. I think it is beautiful and now thanks to your help and advise, maybe I can learn to make it talk/sing like it is supposed to. I have tried thumping it on the bottom and it has a great tone like an udu? and so I know that if I learn to play it correctly, it will be great. Now if I can just get the band I play in to do more salsa/latin style music. I think it is great that you make them. I love making things. When I saw this gourd on ebay, I thought it would be neat to get into that but I make tons of stuff as it is. I am into sewing, needlepoint, painting, got into ceramics (if I had only known about udu's then). I never finished my music degree cause I couldn't decide what I wanted to do. I studied music and dance all through high school and when I got to college I played less than I played in high school. I found myself playing the same thing over and over again, going to juries totally freaked out from the stress of playing infront of anyone cause all I did was play for a bunch of judges. Don't get me wrong, I loved my teachers, but I got stage fright from the stress and just put it down and walked away. Took ceramics and thought I was going to get my degree in 'underwater basket weaving', but I dropped out to find myself. Now I reallize, I missed out on some opportunities, and when I borrowed my friend's congas, I found out how much I loved music and how I had let a part of myself die. I keep thinking about going back to school, but to study what? I love playing congas, but I checked out the University here and they don't have a 'latin percussion teacher', they have some great teachers mainly jazz and classical. I know about 6 really good drummers. They support themselves by teaching in public schools, playing on the side, some play on Beale Street or the Casinos, or they just starve between gigs. There are a handful of professional musicians in Memphis that make their living playing jazz. If I wanted to play latin percussion, I think I would have to move to actually support myself playing congas. At this point, I know of one salsa band/orchestre? , I have seen 2 mariache bands, and maybe one conga player that sits in occasionally with a R & B band. I guess my question to you is. You knew I had one coming ... How do you make it? Teaching and playing of course, but there are certain areas of the country that just started playing Santana again, like he was a new artist. Latin music has been around for a long time, but it is not like Rock or Country, it is very tough to making it playing them also. I wonder what you tell your students? Do you audition for 'percussion' at studios, do you make your name playing gigs with the best musicians you can find? I know the course that I was on, was to get a degree in music, and try to find a teaching job or studio, I wanted to play jazz, so I figured that it was either going to happen or not (coin toss). I never considered listing myself in the paper, 'flutist, to join serious rock band and likes beating on things...' Just kidding, I love playing but I am so new at this, that I don't feel like I can call myself a percussionist. I have thought, what if I do go back to music school and study 'percussion', what are the possibilities. I can always take lessons. And the rock band has really been fun, but I would have never done it without the help and support of my husband and friends. Should I take it to a new level? My husband plays bass, he played on 2 USO tours, went to L.A. to make it, came back to Memphis broke, nearly sold his bass and promised he would never play again. Of course, he plays now, but he went to school and got a computer type of job. He still loves playing. And he could go back to it if he wanted it, he is a great player, but he has never gone to music school. He took a few lessons, he can read music, but he has a great ear. I know that if someone called him tomorrow and said can you come and go on the road, he would have some serious concerns. We have a friend that plays steel guitar for Hank Williams Jr, a guitar player that played for Jerry Lee, I know Smoochie Smith (plays in the Sun Rhythm Section for Elvis), these guys are great players, but they struggle from gig to gig. In Memphis, half the people won't even agree to pay a cover, and the clubs have a tough time paying for a good band. The music business is tough and fickle. What does it take to be a real conga player? What did you do get the gigs playing in touring bands? And do you think a woman can make it in 'latin percussion', so far every recording artist I have seen has a male percussionist most are african american or latino. I did see a female percussionist with Faith Hill on the grammies, but that is the only one I have seen. Other than Shelia E., she is very talented, but I have never seen her play anything but timbales, or sing. She has earned her reputation, but I am embarrassed that I really haven't gotten to see her perform. She toured with Ringo, and she has a new recording out, but I know very little about her. In some way, I have just made my point. These questions are directed at anyone by the way. I know I have really strayed from the subject of Shekere's.
I am out of breath from typing. I am interested in some discussion on this.
Thanks,
Congabebe :0 :0