All the books & Mini Courses below are in digital format: PDF and MP3. They can be purchased by scanning the QR code to the left and indicate what you are purchasing in the purchasing notes. I will send you a link to download the material soon after payment is received. Reach out to me with any questions. 206-276-6401
Self-Study eBooks
Cost $20
Cost $20
Cost $25
Bembe Conversations Self-Study Course
Bembe rhythms are traditionally played to transport the songs sung to the Orisha of the Yoruba pantheon. This course of Bembe teaches the student the dialog between the drums and the songs sung to the Orisha. The course is complete with historical information that traces the Origins of Bembe from Yoruba land in Nigeria to modern-day Cuba. Easy-to-follow charts and audio tracks accompany each of the rhythms and songs you will learn. This course is super easy for beginning students and yet has plenty of challenging content for the professional Latin Percussionist.
Rumba Guaguanco Conversations Self-Study Course
Interact and Learn is the overriding theme of this outstanding book and companion online audio. This progressive self-study course is designed to expose the percussion student to the seductive and complex Cuban rumba style known as guaguanco. The author offers a generous dose of text and percussion charts to be used with the recorded exercises. The rumba ensemble typically includes: claves; low, midrange, and high-pitched conga drums; the madruga (shaker)palitos (sticks applied to a hollow wooden cylinder), and vocal elements. The comprehensive quality of this book might best be illustrated by the author's emphasison using the three conga drums as pitched, melodic instruments. Sitting and hand positions and drum techniques are clearly illustrated with photographs as is the convenient instrumental glossary.This book also provides useful course and lesson objectives for self-evaluation. The companion Audio presents percussion concepts and instruments individually and in conversation. All in all, this Book/Audio package offers a fabulous introduction. Includes access to online audio. There are three forms of Traditional Rumba - Yambu, Guaguanco, and Columbia. Not only are there are three forms of Rumba but also many regional ways to play it. The three main regions are Santiago, Matanzas, and Havana. This book I will show you how to play Rumba Guaguanco from Havana.
Traditional Afro-Cuban Concepts in Contemporary Music Self-Study Course
This course examines the infusion of traditional Afro-Latin and especially Afro-Cuban concepts into contemporary Western music. Upon completion of this book you will have mastered many new skills that will help you become a more accomplished percussionist and, more importantly, a more complete musician. By exploring the role of percussion in traditional Afro-Cuban music, you will understand the important contribution drums make towards a complete musical piece, and that a drum is not merely a rhythmic placeholder but truly a musical instrument worthy of recognition. While this book focuses primarily on hand percussion, its basic principals are also applied to the drum kit. There is no standard notation in this book; rather, the rhythms are illustrated with easily understood charts based on counting out subdivided beats. The companion audio offers examples of all major points.
Self-Study eBooks
Bembe Audio
Bembe Conversations Self-Study Course
Bembe rhythms are traditional played to transport the songs sung to the Orisha of the Yoruba pantheon. This course of Bembe teaches the student the dialog that occurs between the drums as well as the songs sung to the Orisha. The course is complete with historical information that traces the Origins of Bembe from Yoruba land in Nigeria to modern day Cuba. Easy to follow charts along with audio tracks accompany each of the rhythms and songs you will learn. Making this course super easy for beginning students.
Rumba Guaguanco Audio
Rumba Guaguanco Conversations Self-Study Course
Interact and Learn is the overriding theme of this outstanding book and companion online audio. This progressive self-study course is designed to expose the percussion student to the seductive and complex Cuban rumba style known as guaguanco. The author offers a generous dose of text and percussion charts to be used with the recorded exercises. The rumba ensemble typically includes: claves; low, midrange, and high-pitched conga drums; the madruga (shaker)palitos (sticks applied to a hollow wooden cylinder), and vocal elements. The comprehensive quality of this book might best be illustrated by the author's emphasison using the three conga drums as pitched, melodic instruments. Sitting and hand positions and drum techniques are clearly illustrated with photographs as is the convenient instrumental glossary.This book also provides useful course and lesson objectives for self-evaluation. The companion Audio presents percussion concepts and instruments individually and in conversation. All in all, this Book/Audio package offers a fabulous introduction. Includes access to online audio. There are three forms of Traditional Rumba - Yambu, Guaguanco, and Columbia. Not only are there are three forms of Rumba but also many regional ways to play it. The three main regions are Santiago, Matanzas, and Havana. This book I will show you how to play Rumba Guaguanco from Havana.
Tradtional Afro Cuban Concepts Audio
Traditional Afro-Cuban Concepts in Contemporary Music Self-Study Course
This course examines the infusion of traditional Afro-Latin and especially Afro-Cuban concepts into contemporary Western music. Upon completion of this book you will have mastered many new skills that will help you become a more accomplished percussionist and, more importantly, a more complete musician. By exploring the role of percussion in traditional Afro-Cuban music, you will understand the important contribution drums make towards a complete musical piece, and that a drum is not merely a rhythmic placeholder but truly a musical instrument worthy of recognition. While this book focuses primarily on hand percussion, its basic principals are also applied to the drum kit. There is no standard notation in this book; rather, the rhythms are illustrated with easily understood charts based on counting out subdivided beats. The companion audio offers examples of all major points.
eMini Courses
These self-study mini-lessons provide a great way to learn about very focused areas of study. Each course is distributed in full-color digital (PDF) format with accompanying MP3 audio files. All files are delivered electronically for you to download.
Latopa Bata
Latopa for Bata
Latopa for Bata introduces students to the complex rhythms and music that are played in honor and worship of the Yoruba deities known as Orisha. The course presents foundation rhythms for each of the bata drums – the Iya, the Itotele, and the Okonkolo – called the basic ride, and more complex conversations that represent call-and-response sections between the instruments.
Ogun Bata
Ogun for Bata
Ogun for Bata introduces a total of seven new rhythmic patterns for itotele, okonkolo, and iya bata drums. The rhythms are associated with the Yoruba Orisha, Ogun. They include a foundation rhythm called the basic ride, and more complex conversations that represent call-and-response sections between the instruments.
Latopa Shekere
Latopa for Shekere
Latopa for Shekere introduces a total of seventeen new rhythmic patterns for high, medium, and low-pitched shekere. Normally played on bata drums, the rhythms have been adapted for use with the shekere. They include a foundation rhythm called the basic ride, and more complex conversations that represent call-and-response sections between the instruments.
Ogun Shekere
Ogun for Shekere
Ogun for Shekere introduces a total of seven new rhythmic patterns for high, medium, and low-pitched shekeres. Normally played on bata drums, the rhythms are associated with the Yoruba Orisha, Ogun, and have been adapted for use with the shekere. They include a foundation rhythm called the basic ride, and more complex conversations that represent call-and-response sections between the instruments.
