newbie intro..
5 posts
• Page 1 of 1
by jmdriscoll » Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:51 pm
Hey everybody, I have been checking out the site and reading the forum here a lot in the past few days. Although, I have posted a couple of posts already, I wanted to introduce myself to the nice people of this forum. I will probably be asking as many questions as the next guy, and this way you won't be scratching your heads wondering.. where did this jmdriscoll guy come from?!?!
Anyway, my name is Mike and I live in Richmond, VA. I picked up an "uber cheap" set of CP congas a few years ago, and messed around with them in a very non traditional and non serious way. Maybe it was some of the mainstream music that incorperates congas that made me interested first, but after about a year of instructional DVD's and books, I started to venture out to listen to other genre's of music. I stumbled across a few latin jazz and salsa compilations, and have slowly become hooked on this type of music while equally becoming slowly detached from a lot of mainstream stuff. I think that the reason that I started to like latin jazz, salsa and other jazz in general is because of the musicianship involved. There is so much emotion in the music, and it seems like each instrument is equally respected and given a chance to talk in a lot of songs. For about the last year, I have been taking my playing much more seriously. At this point I have a complete understanding that I will never progress if I don't practice daily. I used to piddle paddle around here and there, maybe once a week... but for the last year, I have been dedicating at least an hour out of each day to practice playing. I have had a teacher for the better part of the time that I finally got serious about learning this mystical and magical instrument. It was about a year ago, when I decided that I am going to learn the tradional patterns associated with playing the congas and bongos, mainly out of respect for the history that surrounds the instruments.. also cause dem beats sound so nice. Recently I was able to scavenge up a nice set of 3 matadors off of craigslist for not much more than a song relatively speaking. Been stoked about that, and have been doubling up on my practice ever since. I have also picked up the Tomasito' books/dvd and have been enjoying those very much. Just short of writing a book, I just wanted to extend my thanks to all of you who have posted the helpful information that is on here already. It truly inspires me to keep on playing despite some days when i feel like I am not progressing.
Mike
Anyway, my name is Mike and I live in Richmond, VA. I picked up an "uber cheap" set of CP congas a few years ago, and messed around with them in a very non traditional and non serious way. Maybe it was some of the mainstream music that incorperates congas that made me interested first, but after about a year of instructional DVD's and books, I started to venture out to listen to other genre's of music. I stumbled across a few latin jazz and salsa compilations, and have slowly become hooked on this type of music while equally becoming slowly detached from a lot of mainstream stuff. I think that the reason that I started to like latin jazz, salsa and other jazz in general is because of the musicianship involved. There is so much emotion in the music, and it seems like each instrument is equally respected and given a chance to talk in a lot of songs. For about the last year, I have been taking my playing much more seriously. At this point I have a complete understanding that I will never progress if I don't practice daily. I used to piddle paddle around here and there, maybe once a week... but for the last year, I have been dedicating at least an hour out of each day to practice playing. I have had a teacher for the better part of the time that I finally got serious about learning this mystical and magical instrument. It was about a year ago, when I decided that I am going to learn the tradional patterns associated with playing the congas and bongos, mainly out of respect for the history that surrounds the instruments.. also cause dem beats sound so nice. Recently I was able to scavenge up a nice set of 3 matadors off of craigslist for not much more than a song relatively speaking. Been stoked about that, and have been doubling up on my practice ever since. I have also picked up the Tomasito' books/dvd and have been enjoying those very much. Just short of writing a book, I just wanted to extend my thanks to all of you who have posted the helpful information that is on here already. It truly inspires me to keep on playing despite some days when i feel like I am not progressing.
Mike
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted"
"Music and rhythm find their way into secret places of the soul"
"Music and rhythm find their way into secret places of the soul"
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jmdriscoll - Posts: 104
- Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:51 pm
- Location: Richmond, VA
by jmdriscoll » Fri Jun 29, 2007 1:44 pm
Luis, thanks.. and I will. I have gotten to the point where any time that I get a free moment, I'm working on some rhythm or variation. Playing the drums takes the edge off, relaxes me, and I find much enjoyment in doing it. I don't have any grandeur illusions of ever making a living doing this.. But I am on a quest to decipher as much as I can and about all of the rhythms associated with the congas. This will hopefully allow me to gain freedom in my playing and eventually lead to me being able to fully express myself through improvisation.
Grateful, will do.. But I have to admit that they will be hard to let go of since they are such great resourses of info. I was actually able to pick mine up used from amazon.com. for a good price. I think that vol3 was the only one that I had to buy new. Just have to watch for a bit and a deal comes along every now and then. My vol2 has a printing error on the cover, so it was half price. I don't know if it is any use to you, but vol1 is on there now for like $16. I watch the books there pretty regularly anyway, so if I see something, I'll send you a pm.
Congatick, thanks man. My teacher has inspired me to dedicate a lot of my time toward learning this instrument. Maybe cause I smile in amazment when we get together and play. Maybe because he gives me words of encouragement as well. But this forum, is another sourse of inspiration, because I know that there are others like me who have encountered some of the same problems and experiences that I have along their paths of learning. Also because there are many people here who seem to have an invaluable knowledge on this instrument that I would have never known without the use of this forum. BTW.. the rest of the site is pretty damn cool too and nicely laid out.
MD
Edited By jmdriscoll on 1183125228
Grateful, will do.. But I have to admit that they will be hard to let go of since they are such great resourses of info. I was actually able to pick mine up used from amazon.com. for a good price. I think that vol3 was the only one that I had to buy new. Just have to watch for a bit and a deal comes along every now and then. My vol2 has a printing error on the cover, so it was half price. I don't know if it is any use to you, but vol1 is on there now for like $16. I watch the books there pretty regularly anyway, so if I see something, I'll send you a pm.
Congatick, thanks man. My teacher has inspired me to dedicate a lot of my time toward learning this instrument. Maybe cause I smile in amazment when we get together and play. Maybe because he gives me words of encouragement as well. But this forum, is another sourse of inspiration, because I know that there are others like me who have encountered some of the same problems and experiences that I have along their paths of learning. Also because there are many people here who seem to have an invaluable knowledge on this instrument that I would have never known without the use of this forum. BTW.. the rest of the site is pretty damn cool too and nicely laid out.
MD
Edited By jmdriscoll on 1183125228
"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted"
"Music and rhythm find their way into secret places of the soul"
"Music and rhythm find their way into secret places of the soul"
-
jmdriscoll - Posts: 104
- Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:51 pm
- Location: Richmond, VA
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