ABAKUA Lesson Review
Posted: Thu Jan 01, 2009 2:19 amOn a recent, self funded study trip I had the opportunity to learn and play with a conguero named Marcelo aka. ABAKUA.
It was a privilege to learn from a percussionist who had quite obviously spent untallied hours perfecting his approach and technique as well as his style of teaching.
As the student, I walked into the lesson with a thought out plan of what I wished to achieve; in the lesson and on the stage; this was no problem. In the past years of playing I have concentrated on fine tuning my technique and making sure that I am happy with the standard of my technique. My first goal was to be pushed even further in that area. In accordance Marcelo began to show me what it was that I was about to play and then after achieving a certain comfort level; how to use this new feature within the playing/performance situation. With every question I had, there followed an answer. With any weakness I presented (and was not able to detect) I was brought up on it and in turn, with my strengths came praise.
As well as technique and then later, some traditional patterns; Marcelo would step in every so often with a little history lesson on why we play this and how it should be felt. It was this that I found the most interesting. Whilst the playing is important, the history and the answers to the question…Why? is just as important (I feel anyway).
I found the lesson very rewarding and I plan on taking another trip up in the next few moths. Until then…I have some work to do.
It was a privilege to learn from a percussionist who had quite obviously spent untallied hours perfecting his approach and technique as well as his style of teaching.
As the student, I walked into the lesson with a thought out plan of what I wished to achieve; in the lesson and on the stage; this was no problem. In the past years of playing I have concentrated on fine tuning my technique and making sure that I am happy with the standard of my technique. My first goal was to be pushed even further in that area. In accordance Marcelo began to show me what it was that I was about to play and then after achieving a certain comfort level; how to use this new feature within the playing/performance situation. With every question I had, there followed an answer. With any weakness I presented (and was not able to detect) I was brought up on it and in turn, with my strengths came praise.
As well as technique and then later, some traditional patterns; Marcelo would step in every so often with a little history lesson on why we play this and how it should be felt. It was this that I found the most interesting. Whilst the playing is important, the history and the answers to the question…Why? is just as important (I feel anyway).
I found the lesson very rewarding and I plan on taking another trip up in the next few moths. Until then…I have some work to do.