CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby JohnnyConga » Tue May 06, 2008 8:19 pm

Here is a new revision of what I am teaching for my CC/I....


RHYTHMS:
1.Bolero 5 variations
2.Caballo with variations
3.Danzon
4.Yambu on conga drum
5.Guaguanco- 5 variations
6.Rumba with variations/columbia/abierto 2 drums/one drum/NY street rumba
7.Abakua split hand style and one drum patterns
8.Plena split hand on congas
9.Bomba tradicional
10.Bambiche
11.Merengues with variations
12.Mozambique-New/Old skool
13.Cumbia with variations one drum and 2 drums
14.Bembe variations
15.Conga Comparsa with variations
16.Changui
17.Calypso
18.Bossa Nova with variations
19.Afro-Samba-and Samba on 2 congas
20.Songo with variatons-Basico/Changuito's
21.Pilon with variation
22.Iyesa with variations
23.6/8 basic with variations 1 2 and 3 drums
24.Tumbao in 7/4
25.Guarapachangeo with variations
26.Ritmo Pa Ca
27.Dengue
28.Jala Jala
29.Mongos tumbao's
30.Mongos merengue
31.Mongos Afro Blue with variations
32.Tumbaos-1-3 drum variations
33.Orisa wth variations
34. La Clave-2/3 3/2 Son Clave- 3/2 2/3 Rumba Clave
35.Chaonda
36.6/8 bell patterns on Conga drum-short bell and long bell
37.Counting and tapping
38.Reading for percussion
39.Music and Rhythm theory
40.CongaRobics
41."Play along" with the music
42.Techinique/breathing and relaxing
43."Styles" pop/soul/jazz on conga drums
44.Sound Development
45.Ear training





CHEK ME OUT AT MYSPACE.COM........
http://www.myspace.com/jcjohnnyconga
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby trivursio » Wed May 07, 2008 6:49 pm

Johnny's Conga Camp review (May 2008)

Hello, my name is Alex Guzman. I currently live in Kissimmee, FL by way of Philly and Puerto Rico. I have been playing congas and djembe for the last two years mostly doing the video, youtube, and drum circle thing. It’s become quite a passion and I’m trying hard to catch up since I started late in life.

Having just had one of the big milestone birthdays, I decided to treat myself to a drumming related trip to get professional help on technique, playing, rhythms, etc. I researched quite a few options including camps, total drumming immersions, etc. I finally decided on Johnny Conga’s week long intensive camp. I was fortunate enough to combine this with the Seattle World Percussion Festival that was happening the weekend before my classes with Johnny would start. I decided to attend to Johnny's conga camp for several reasons.

I’m usually a good judge of character after speaking to a person just one time. After making the initial contact with Johnny, he confirmed my decision. I was totally right. Before getting to the technical parts of the camp, etc., I have to say that Johnny is a very straight up, professional person. He is very quick to share his vast knowledge acquired during more than 40 years of professional experience. None of the “watch me, I’m faster and better than anyone out there” business.

Fast forwarding to the day I arrive in Seattle, Johnny picks me up at the airport and we arrive at his home where I meet his very kind wife who makes me feel totally at home right from the get go. It was late on a Friday and the day before we are to start our weekend long festival experience. He shows me his studio and we briefly go over what to expect, my desires, his experience, etc.
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After an awesome time in the festival and meeting JC’s friends and fellow musicians, we start work on Monday morning. What can I say, when Johnny says “Intensive”, he is not kidding. He quickly corrected some of the technical issues that go along with being a self-taught conguero. Things that quickly come to mind – lazy left hand, fingers not positioned correctly, ergonomics, efficiency, clarity, keeping correct time, etc., etc., etc.

Johnny is pretty clear on what you will learn and he does not disappoint – sound development exercises that will make you sound like the real thing, different variations of many rhythms both from the old school and new, how and what to play during real life scenarios, and many other things to mention. If you want to know what a real conguero/percussionist/working musician does, then I would recommend Johnny’s camp.

While there, I saw and experienced Johnny implementing what he teaches while gigging/rehearsing with a Funk/R&B band, a folksy/blues trio, and a latin/brazilian fusion band. I got the opportunity to sit in and play with one of the bands and it was a real joy.


So what did I get out of the camp…. Years worth of instruction packed into a heavy duty week. I have much material that will keep me busy for a long time. I got tips on the proper way to practice and maximize my time. I can’t speak enough of Johnny’s professionalism as both as a percussionist and his ability to share his knowledge in a comprehensive manner. I can go into details and make this a good ten pages long but I’ll suffice by saying that if you’re debating making this part of your journey, “DO IT”. You will be glad you did and you will come out with much more than you anticipate. I gained a friend and mentor for life….
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby JohnnyConga » Thu May 29, 2008 5:39 pm

Looking for a few new Conga Camp attendees.....chek out my last review/critque of my CC/I....anyone interested please email at johnnyconga@live.com or at johnnyconga2@hotmail.com ....accepting attendees for the months of June July or August...Gracias...Thank you...Johnny Conga...
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby JohnnyConga » Sun Jul 06, 2008 8:14 am

Here is a photo of my newest Conga Camp attendee Gerard Golden from Ireland, who will start his Intensive with me this monday for a week... I am also expecting my first attendee from Perth,Australia in August, who will also be attending for a week...for those that may be interested in attending please email me at johnnyconga@hotmail.com and not thru this forum...Gracias/Thank you...Johnny Conga...
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby ABAKUA » Sun Jul 06, 2008 1:56 pm

From Perth! By any chance would it be Freddy Poncin? He's over in Perth, oppositte coastline to where I am, but we've chatted heaps online, he used to be on the previous forum also. Nice guy.
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby JohnnyConga » Sun Jul 06, 2008 4:08 pm

NO Abakua his name is Robert West and he's an elderly gentleman around 60....the average age of my students have been from 35 to 60 years old....my youngest is 10. ...Johnny Conga...PS I have performed in Perth, a very beautiful area of Australia, the beaches are incredible....
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby JohnnyConga » Thu Jul 17, 2008 5:24 pm

Hi Abakua ....my bad Mr.West is from Canberra,Australia....I have now finished my last CC/I with Gerard Golden, who completed most of the camp for the 5 days with me....he will also when he gets back home to Limerick,Ireland write about his learning experience with me....
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby JConga » Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:50 pm

Ok I am BACK!....I guess I will use Mozilla Firefox from now on for logging in.. It seems to work better than Internet Explorer...as u can see I am posting....here is a photo of my last Conga Camp-"attendee" from Ireland Gerald Golden...I currently have Mr. Ritchie Fernandez from Long Island NY for my Conga Camp this week... and I have someone coming in September from Canberra,Australia.....anyone interested????....please email me privetly at johnnyconga@hotmail.com ....don't forget to chek my videos out on youtube.com type in search.. "How to Play the Conga Drum"....Gracias/Thank you...Pearl Artist-"JC" Johnny Conga....
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby Mike » Thu Aug 07, 2008 6:37 pm

JConga wrote:Ok I am BACK!....I guess I will use Mozilla Firefox from now on for logging in.. It seems to work better than Internet Explorer..


You´re so right in doing so, I have always switched to Firefox lately, and there has never been any Internet or computer problem at all. Great browser.
Sorry for being off topic.

Anyway, great infos and pics. I wish I had the time and money to come over and learn from you. One day...
Peace & drum
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby goldski » Sun Aug 10, 2008 11:58 pm

Ger fom Ireland here.I had trully a great experience attending the study camp with JC.I wont write about the actual excercises/rhythms that I did as this is fully explained in previous posts.Moreover,JC helped to clarify the misunderstandings that I had regarding technique,learning from videos creates all sorts of confusion and habits.JC helped me to set a platform or how to challenge and develop my abilities.It certainly is an intense course and lets you know that you are not pushing yourself hard enough when you practice by yourself.JC is a great teacher and made me feel very welcome at his home.You learn everything in this course,a history of the music from his amazing record collection,rhythms,excercises and watching a master at work from seeing him play live.JC happy birthday man, speak with you as soon as i get home to ireland.
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby JConga » Tue Aug 12, 2008 3:51 pm

THANKS GER....here is a photo of Ritchie Fernandez, my latest 'attendee' from Huntington,Long Island-NY, who completed the CC/I with me this past week....he will be posting his experiences here soon .
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby JConga » Sun Aug 17, 2008 6:39 pm

Had a 3 hour 'session" yesterday with our member here "Chupacabra" from Victoria,Canada...his review should be here soon...forgot to take a photo together... :( ...Johnny Conga
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby JConga » Tue Aug 19, 2008 4:12 pm

I am accepting New "attendee's" for my CC/I....please email me at johnnyconga@hotmail.com for the information...also don't forget to read the reviews from my former attendees.....and feel free to email them and ask them about their experience with me......"Conga Sensei"...Johnny Conga
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...PS I also teach the "Ladies" as well ..this is one of them "Joey" and has been with me now for over 4 months .... :D
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby JConga » Wed Sep 10, 2008 2:14 am

Latest Review from my last "attendee" Ritchie Fernandez, from Long Island,NY

After a year and a half of playing, which to me at the time seemed like I was starting to get some chops (ha ha), I was looking to change things up a bit. I had some time off from work so I decided to look for some kind of “Conga intensive” somewhere. That’s when I heard about “JC” Johnny Conga, and specifically, about his “Conga Camp”.

It was just what I was looking for, so I sent JC an email to ask about it. Mind you, this was a year before my planned vacation, but I didn’t want to be shut out if he got booked early.

Talking to JC was like talking to an old friend. Even before we had met face to face he offered me help and advice on my playing just as if I had been one of his long-time students who had been returning from a long absence.

When I finally got to JC’s house I was shown to my room and made to feel like I had never left my own home in New York. For a week I was part of the family.

The first day began as they all would with breakfast and coffee in the living room watching a little TV while JC caught up with things online. After I had fueled up my tank, we spent the next 6-8 hours upstairs in the studio working on my conga education. This included work on my technique and sound development, instruction on many (30+) new patterns and tumbaos, many awesome demonstrations, and many examples of the different rhythms from JC’s truly unique collection of music. In the evenings I had time to practice(!) if my hands weren’t too sore or my brain too befuddled, and then time to catch up on my own email.

Make no mistake about it. This was definitely an “Intensive”. I played a lot and learned a lot. But it would have been a wasted week if JC hadn’t been such a great teacher. I’ve had a lot of music lessons over the years (piano, guitar and now conga), and I can say that Johnny Conga is truly one of the greats for his patience and ability to convey the material.

In addition to the lessons, JC took me along to four gigs he had scheduled for the week. It was great to see him play live with a band, and it was awesome to be “with the band”. Way different than my usual 9-5 desk job as a “computer specialist”.

I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that this experience has to some extent changed my life. It was one of those few moments that are frozen in time because of their rarefied quality. The Intensive was unmatched, and the friendliness and hospitality extended to me by JC and wife Maggie was unparalleled.

If you are fortunate enough to have some free time and are thinking about going to Seattle for JC’s “Conga Camp/Intensive” I promise you will not be disappointed. Instead, like me, I’m sure you’ll walk away from it thinking that you’ve just enjoyed a privilege few people get to experience.
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Re: CONGA CAMP - Study with Johnny Conga

Postby JConga » Sun Sep 21, 2008 4:30 pm

CHECK OUT MY MOST RECENT REVIEW ABOVE....ANYONE INTERESTED IN MY CC/I?....THIS MONTH I HAVE A MR. ROBERT WEST FROM CANBERRA AUSTRALIA ATTENDING MY CONGA CAMP/INTENSIVE...JOHNNY CONGA
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