In my opinion in order to play the Conga drum takes many different 'skill sets'... NOT EVERYONE can play percussion..I have met people who cant chew bubble gum and walk., don't know left from right, can't take direction, has no concept of 'timing', and also physically cannot produce on the drum.
The Conga drum has come a long way from the 'primeval' instrument it used to be.. It has become more sophisticated and to learn to play it today is much more complicated as well.
As a player with 50 years in on the drum and teaching how to play it to thousands around the world, I can tell u that in one lifetime you won't learn it all on the drum but you can become proficient on it and in some cases actually have a life with the drum...Yes there are a lot of misconceptions about playing the Conga drum...hitting it is not playing it!..that's two different things all together... If you REALLY want to learn find a 'qualified' Instructor that has a 'history' of teaching how to play and is also well informed about the music, the cultures, and the history that surrounds the Conga drum....also check his references and try to talk to any of his ongoing or prior pupils...NOT everyone that plays, can teach...That takes a full curriculum to do. IF the Instructor actually has one...Most do not...so for those that are not in the know about what there is to learn, this is what I offer...
This is my curriculum for my Latin Percussion course:
The study of the Conga drum,
Cuban methods as taught in Cuba today which include: Also my methods developed over 30 years of teaching
Sound development-utilizing the 5 parts of the hand Heel/Palm/Fulcrum/Inner knuckles/and Tips of fingers- balancing of the hands…relaxation and breathing …
Hand exercises which include my S.T.O.M.P method-Slap Tone Open Muffle Palm
Rudimentary hand drumming and approaches on Conga drum
One conga drum, 2 conga drums, 3 conga drums 4 drums
Styles in Mambo, Rumba, Salsa, Son, Latin Jazz, Folkloric, R&B, Pop, Jazz and other styles
Counting and keeping time
Latin Rhythm Theory
Ensemble performance
The Clave & pulse
6/8 Clave
Son Clave
Rumba Clave
The Clave today
Phrasing with the Clave
Variations on the Clave
Polyrhythm’s in Cuban Music
Latin music and its history
Cuban and Caribbean Rhythms taught are:
Bolero-5 variations
Caballo (Horse rhythm)-with variations
Danson
Yambu
Guaguanco-6 variations
Cuban Rumba-with variations-Havana and Matanzas….Columbia/Abierto (open) 2Conga drums/one drum/New York street style rumba
Abakua-one drum pattern to 3 drum patterns
Plena (Puerto Rico)
Bomba
Bomba Sica
Bomba Yuba
Bambiche
Merengue (Dominican Republic) old skool new skool
Mozambique-old school NY style/Cuban variations
Cumbia (Columbia)-with variations on one drum to 3 drums
Bembe(Afro) variations
Conga Comparsa(Carnival drumming) with variations
Changui
Calypso(Trinidad) one to 3 conga drums with variations
Bossa Nova(Brasil) with variations from one to 3 conga drums
Afro-Samba(Brasil)
Baion(Brasil)
Samba on 2 to 3 conga drums
Songo with 9 variations
Pilon on 2 and 3 congas
Iyesa with variations
6/8 basic one conga drum to 3 conga drums
Guarapachangeo with variations from 2 drums to 5
Ritmo Pa Ca
Dengue
Jala Jala
Tumbaos (basic rhythmic conga patterns for Latin Dance music) with many variations
Chaonda-lost rhythm…
6/8 Bell patterns on conga drum with variations
Mongo Santamarias tumbaos and rhythmic approaches
Mongos Merengue
Mongos Afro Blue with variations
and a variety of other rhythmic styles/rhythms and playing in odd meters 5 7 and 9
“Cognitive Discovery” with the Drum: A new way of learning how to use your brain in ways to develop your intake of information and how it's interpreted on the Conga drum.
So if your 'serious' about learning to 'really' learn how to play the Conga drum and "ALL" that comes with it email me at
johnnyconga@hotmail.com and we'll take it from there..Thank you...