Tag: congas
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Mano Secreto; Demystifying the secret hand technique for conga drums
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… Read More »
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Going beyond the drum circle; learning to play your drum correctly
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… Read More »
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Drumming and 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… Read More »
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How to start (or to continue) to play drums when you are over 40 years old
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… Read More »
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Playing cold at a hot gig in Bali, Indonesia
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… Read More »
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The working drummer: get contracts/make solid agreements
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… Read More »
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Respecting the instrument you play: lesson one
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… Read More »
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Basic’s: “clave concept” an introduction
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… Read More »
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How to Play Congas: Very basic technique, position and tones
“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 Read More »
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MP plays Toca congas w/DJ Steve and guitar at BBC club, Koh Samui, Thailand
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. Read More »
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How to Play Congas: Very basic technique, position and tones
“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 Read More »
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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. Read More »