Congas Vol 2

Those who have already used Volume 1 will appreciate the continuity, and those who have not yet benefited from Enildo’s perspective will also find his insights enlightening in this    Volume 2.

This second volume goes even further, as Enildo offers more insights derived from his personal experience as a percussionist and teacher and from his collaborations with other musicians.

It is a new, deeper approach to the philosophy of the Congas, more intimate because it simultaneously provides instruction in rhythm reading, fundamentals of technique, rudimentary training, coordination, and the musical mastery necessary for today’s complete percussionist. As always the author emphasizes cultural issues to convey these concepts from the fundamentals through a logical and personal approach to developing skills for music reading, technique, and musical phrasing, making it the most complete method available.

The book is full of practical ideas on how a conga player can develop the basic components of a usable and modern-sounding vocabulary, adaptable to different musical environments, with real applications to music, projecting first and foremost the cultural language of the instrument itself, focusing on the fundamentals. The author also presents virtuosity exercises where more advanced students can investigate and experiment with more technically developed exercises, rudiments, phrasing, resources and rhythms and explore other paths, once the fundamental elements are understood.

Beyond the manual technique, the book includes dozens of challenging and fun rudimentary phrases that are used to apply the grips, but which also further develop vocabulary and skills.

Enildo also includes more transcriptions, by prestigious conga players such as Tata Güines, Giovanni Hidalgo or Patato Valdés, that capture the intricacies of percussion composition.

Those who have already used volume 1 will appreciate the continuity, and those who have not yet benefited from Enildo’s perspective will also find his insights enlightening in this volume 2.

Vol 2 is a new, deeper, more intimate approach to the Congas, the most complete method available that simultaneously provides instruction in rhythm reading, fundamentals of technique, rudimentary training, coordination, and the musical mastery necessary for today’s complete percussionist, but as always the author emphasizes cultural issues in order to convey these concepts from the fundamentals. It also provides a logical and personal approach to developing music reading skills, technique, and musical phrasing.

The accompanying CD makes practicing fun by using a considerable amount of play-along to put the information in this material into practice.