Latin Percussion on Drumming Instruments for Beginners

Learning Latin Percussion on Various Instruments is great for both complete beginners and established drummers wanting to take their skills to the next level with Latin percussion. Students begin by choosing their instrument from Drum kit, Congas, Timbales, Cajon, Bongos, Bata, Shekere, Guiro. Experienced educator Arturo Rodriguez takes into account the skill level and instrument of each student and then develops a learning plan based around four main topics: technique, execution, musicality, and style as described below by the instructor - (a) Technique: The Technique is how you hit the drum and the ergonomics of the action. Includes hand placement, wrist, elbow, and arm movement, and how to place your body in relation to your instrument. (b) Execution: Execution is the delivery of percussive sounds. Exercises are required to develop your execution and I will show you the most important exercises you can learn as a drummer. These exercises will help develop your speed and coordination. (c) Musicality: Musicality is learning how to groove staying in the pocket and playing the music with a good feel. As a drummer, you must be able to hear and identify all the other instruments and rhythms occurring in a particular song. (d) Style: Many different contemporary music styles like rock, funk, pop, jazz, country, folk intersect with the Latin music styles of salsa, merengue, bachata, Brazilian music, West African Hi-Life, Afro Pop, and traditional styles like bembe, rumba, macuta, arara, iyesa, etc.

About the instructor: Arturo Rodriguez is an accomplished musician, author, teacher, and DJ with over 30 years of experience. A well-known and worldwide performer, Arturo has shared the stage with Tito Puente, Dave Valentin, Pete Escovedo, Brandi Carlile, and Crosby, Stills, and Nash, just to name a few. Hailing from a childhood filled with music, Arturo is the son of a passionate salsa dancer and percussionist. Today, Arturo is a popular influencer in the Seattle music scene with an amazing talent for bringing people together and moving through the boundaries of jazz, pop, rock, and even folk music. He has published three texts on ethnic percussion and leads his own music and community-focused company. Arturo’s early love of percussion led him to study with several prominent ethnomusicologists, and eventually became the genesis of his own company which offers self-study courses, workshops, and public and private training for beginners through advanced students.