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This is an amazing audio and notation encyclopedia of every djembe and dun dun part for 50 Rhythms!

Mano Secreto; Demystifying the secret hand technique for conga drums

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Have you heard of the Mano Secreto? It is the secret hand technique used and first made popular by percussion legends Changuito and also Giovanni Hildago. Prior to these great conga players there was another player named tat Guines in Havana Cuba who was developing this technique. Why is it secret? Because until recently (well about 10 years or so ) no one else could do it. Now everyone is doing it but there are not a lot of great instructional videos about it unfortunately. [...]

Going beyond the drum circle; learning to play your drum correctly

drummers of all ages

You have just been to your first drum circle and you are fully charged up and excited to play drums. Or maybe you have been to several drum circles or drumming events. It was fun and exciting to play your drum with other people. You want to do it more and more. So what happens next? Maybe you are having fun playing in your home to a CD, DVD, iTunes or by yourself at the beach. [...]

Drumming and playing music in bali

Playing music in Bali

This last month I had the good fortune to be able to go to Bali once again. My focus was on teaching west african drum classes in Ubud and also playing with every band I could sit in with or gig (work) with. I had no idea that the musicians and drummers I would meet would be so receptive and talented. I had many interesting and surprising moments and experiences there as well. [...]

How to start (or to continue) to play drums when you are over 40 years old

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Does age matter when playing or performing drumming and percussion music? Yes and no.Many of us who have been playing for a while would obviously like to keep playing for a while. I myself am over 50 years old. I am constantly playing with players half my age and sometimes more. Of course there are always going to be some age or physical limitations, but there does not have to be any cramp in your style and with the proper maintanance and care of our bodies there should be no reason why we can not play well into our 90′s! They do in Africa! [...]

Playing cold at a hot gig in Bali, Indonesia

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What do you do when you are completely cold and suddenly have to play hot? Last night the islands best trumpet player performed with his band at Bali’s version of Yoshis called interestingly enough, Ryopshi’s! Any coincidence? Great sushi and great tunes. Rio Sadik, the trumpet player, singer and “star of the show”, ( as James Brown would say), was in rare form. The venue was so packed you could not move. Raymond, my impromptu agent and good friend here in Bali, Indonesia called his long time pal Rio earlier to confirm me sitting in but I think I got there way to late and there was already another conga player there. [...]

The working drummer: get contracts/make solid agreements

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If you are a gigging drummer or musician and just starting out playing here is some important advice and information. I am going to share some information with you that will help you to never have to suffer the way I have with unreliable people or people that do not understand or respect drumming or drummers. [...]

Respecting the instrument you play: lesson one

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One of the first most important lessons to learn when we first buy or get given a drum is to respect the instrument as you would any other instrument such as a violin or guitar. The drum is so much fun many of us do not even think of it as an actual musical instrument and frankly in our western culture, many people do not see drums as musical instruments. So lesson one from [...]

Basic’s: “clave concept” an introduction

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It is all about basics and fundamentals. One of the fundamentals of all West African drumming is the clave concept.  What is the clave concept?

In Spanish, the clave is the cornerstone on which a wall is built. Musically and  for our purposes here, we will talk about the clave  not only an instrument (two pieces of wood struck together), but also a musical form and concept.

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The clave concept [...]

How to Play Congas: Very basic technique, position and tones

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“With out strong framework the house will collapse’. In this ‘follow along” video/ conga lesson we will begin to explore how to position your hands and also how to make basic sounds on the conga drum. This is part one. For more info go to: www.michaelpluznick.com

MP plays Toca congas w/DJ Steve and guitar at BBC club, Koh Samui, Thailand

Michael P and Dj Steve Bray on Koh Samui

Percussionist and conga player Michael Pluznick plays Toca congas, bongos and djembe to the electronic music of DJ Steve from England with Bobby Parrs on Guitar. Filmed on location at the BBC bar Big Buddha, Koh Samui, Thailand, Asia.

How to Play Congas: Very basic technique, position and tones

Michael Puznick on Toca congas in Bangkok Thailand

“With out strong framework the house will collapse’. In this ‘follow along” video/ conga lesson we will begin to explore how to position your hands and also how to make basic sounds on the conga drum. This is part one. For more info go to: www.michaelpluznick.com

beautiful clouds and sunsets from my travels abroad and coming back home

clouds, sunsets and world music and world percussion by Barababaja Percussion Ensemble of the BIg Island and SF, California.

Vocals (part one) by Zahira and part two by Boaz Hashimoto Martin. Photos by Michael Pluznick. Percussion by Jesse Seymour and Michael Pluznick.

Barabajaba: Rumba De Obatala

From Barabajaba Music and drumming group on the Big Island of Hawaii and San Francisco California as well. Featuring Jesse Seymour Vocals and Michael Pluznick joing him on percussion.

How to buy a used conga drum

Used Toca congas

Here are some tips on and about buying a used conga drum. [...]

Barabajaba: Rumba De Obatala “HD” @Big Buddha from ‘Rise Up’ CD

Barabajaba Percussion Ensemble from Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii and Bay Area California present Rumba De Obatala, a special tune off of the new Rise Up CD. Based on traditional afro cuban drum patterns. Filmed at Big Buddha Temple, Bo Phut, Koh Samui Island, Thailand. Orisha chants and vocals by Jesse Seyomour and Zahira. Shot in HD (high definition) on Canon 7D digital camera.

“Kaki Rumba”: Afro Cuban/West African fusion by Michael Pluznick

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/milesdean

From the MIchael Pluznick CD, Rhtyhym Intergration. Kaki Rumba: Afro Cuban/West African fusion filmed and photos from Asia, Hawaii, California and beyond

“Rumba Columbia Caha” from ‘Rythym Intergration’ CD by Michael Pluznick

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michaelpluznick

“Rumba Columbia Caha” is from the new CD entitled available on I Tunes! enter: michael pluznick. ‘Rythym Intergration’ by Michael Pluznick featuring a variety and fusion of different vocal traditions by Perdo De Jesus and Tika Morgan with percussion by Michael Pluznick, this piece uses congas. Shot with Nikon D90 digital slr camera and sony cybershot dsc-w290 and Panasonic GF1 4/3rds camera

Candamble drum class in Brasil (Brazil)

Candamble Afro Brasilian (Afro Brazilian) drum lesson in Bahia Brazil with Master Bira. From our study trip to Bahia, Brazil (Brasil).

Sunset w/ world /latin jazz very high up on a Bangkok roof top!

Sunset w/ world /latin jazz very high up on a Bangkok roof top! Bangkok Sunset from high atop the Omni Tower condos in Sumkumvit, Nana district of Bangkok, Thailand. World music and world jazz music by percussionist and drummer MIchael Pluznick with JOel Lindheimer. This music is available on CD Baby. Enter: michael pluznick

Congas: basic hand position and playing techniques

“With out strong framework the house will collapse’. In this ‘follow along” video/ conga lesson we will begin to explore how to position your hands and also how to make basic sounds on the conga drum. This is part one

congas to djembe/djembe to congas

When an established conga player transitions to learn to play djembe he or she has certain advantages and disadvantages. When you play congas, there is much emphasis on pushing in to the drum to make tone. On a goat skin djembe, do to the thin tight skin, you must pull the sound out.

work on pulling and keeping your hands in near the rim

Despite this energetic difference, the technique for making tone [...]

LP Galaxy Giovanni Series Congas Test Drive/demo by Michael Pluznick

Giovanni Series Congas

These congas represent the state of the art in conga drums and are truly great drums. [...]

survival skills

In my time I have seen everything happen at playing sessions. From people breakdown crying, to fist  fights. Drumming, as we all know being incredibly theraputic, can bring  out both the best and worst in people, or at least some deep rooted “stuff”.

playing djembe on the street at night

It is important to know when to communicate and also how to.

I have a history of problems with neighbors about “noise”. Let’s [...]

Leave your ego at the door please..

Don’t let your ego in the way of making you a great drummer. A great freind and teacher  used to tell us before class. “Leave your ego at the door”. When we come together to drum, to learn or to play together it is important we come with respect for each other no matter what level of playing we are at.

Everyone can drum and everyone has their own unique beat or inner rhythm. [...]

“Miles Dean” World Jazz Music w/Orchids and Flowers of Thailand Part#1

Orchids, nature, clouds and more set to world music and world jazz by percussionist, photographer and composer Michael Pluznick, with friends Bill Ortiz *(from Santana) on trumpet and co composer Joel Lindheimer on guitar.