by windhorse » Wed Dec 16, 2009 1:33 pm
Well, I thought about it for a while,, "do I hijack the thread on congas and dancing? Or do I start another about singing?" BTW, I think the whole package of the folkloric arts is every bit as valuable as just the conga or the percussion in general.
But, I do wonder how many are working on the song?
My main teacher and band-mate David has a mantra that a percussionist that sings is much more valuable than one who doesn't. And when he would sing during our rumbas I began to believe him. I remember, like it was yesterday, when I would stumble all over the rhythm if I attempted to open my mouth and talk, or even if someone said something while we were playing.. The tiniest shift of focus would send you reeling! But, I stuck with it over the years..
I've certainly opened up to working on singing. I've been trying to micro-adjust the inflection, the resonance, the volume, the control, and the lyrics to several of the songs.
Somehow, a few years back, I realized that the song was this really cool extra value in the percussion. Not separate from, but part of the percussion. If you study the song and work on the percussion at the same time you realize that it goes to the same place in the brain. The song IS percussion, so you're expanding the instrument you play with another depth. It's another level that 3 dimensionalizes what you're doing already..
Admittedly, I've become an addict.. I can't stop practicing and working on songs. The amount of my conga practice has lessoned,, but some of my ability to converse with conga tones during a rumba has benefited! Maybe it's the bata and not the song.. But, it sure is helping my overall ability to fill the role as a player!
What about the rest of you?
Sorry if this thread is already out there in another form, but if so, I haven't seen it in a long time.
Dave