Rumba Guaguanco Conversations

Book excerpt: Interact and Learn is the overriding theme of this outstanding book and companion online audio. This progressive self-study course is designed to exposethe percussion student to the seductive and complex Cuban rumba style knownas 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 courseand 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