One percussion instrument at a time? Or more?
Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 5:43 pm
Kind of a carry over from a different thread and from conversations I have been having lately.
There is a phrase "The fox that chases two rabbits, catches neither."
Applying this to percussion, do you guys believe you should master one instrument completely before
moving onto the next? Or do you work at several instruments simultaneously?
Myself, I started on bongos and when I added congas I felt they really informed each other as musically.
The technique was a little different, but the material I was learning on the congas really helped me with
bongos.
Then when I started learning rumba, I spent time with all the instruments, shekere, bell, clave and palitos.
For me it's better to play rumba/folkloric knowing all the instruments, tumbadoras and everything else.
I'm looking forward to learning bata soon and have the feeling that this will only help the other instruments as
well.
Of course I understand the concept of specializing in one instrument as well, or limiting oneself to just a couple. Not that
I disagree, it's just not the way for me.
There is a phrase "The fox that chases two rabbits, catches neither."
Applying this to percussion, do you guys believe you should master one instrument completely before
moving onto the next? Or do you work at several instruments simultaneously?
Myself, I started on bongos and when I added congas I felt they really informed each other as musically.
The technique was a little different, but the material I was learning on the congas really helped me with
bongos.
Then when I started learning rumba, I spent time with all the instruments, shekere, bell, clave and palitos.
For me it's better to play rumba/folkloric knowing all the instruments, tumbadoras and everything else.
I'm looking forward to learning bata soon and have the feeling that this will only help the other instruments as
well.
Of course I understand the concept of specializing in one instrument as well, or limiting oneself to just a couple. Not that
I disagree, it's just not the way for me.