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About
Johnny Conga, a Volcano Percussion endorser, has been performing for 50 years, as a “multi-percussionist-specialist”, in the Art of Afro-Cuban/Caribbean drumming and Latin Jazz music. Creator of A Hand to Drum Productions/Online Learning. Johnny comes from the Bronx, New York. Born of a Cuban father and an Italian mother, he grew up in a household of music and dancing. He first learned to play the bongos at age 6 from a Cuban uncle. In public school he played flute for 3 years, and then the drum came into his life at 14 years of age. By the time he was 16 he was in his first band with Joe Panama, then with vibist Felipe “Phil” Diaz. The rest is musical history. Some of the artists that “JC” have worked with cover the gamut of “styles” in music. Here is a short list: Carlos Santana, Eddie Palmieri, Sergio Mendes & Brasil 77, Paquito D’Riviera, The Jackson 5, Willie Bobo, Mongo Santamaria, Cerrone(France), Gloria Gaynor, Johnny Pacheco, Dave Valentine and over 100 other major artist’s in the United States and abroad.
To date Johnny has been in 180 bands, over 300 recordings and has done 17 international tours, all around the world.
My latest Award winning Latin Jazz CD OYE!: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/congajohnny
My "How to Play the Conga Drum" videos on youtube.com (over 700,000 hits): http://www.youtube.com/user/JohnnyConga
Former Grammy Member (Pacific Northwest chapter)-Governor and “Latin-Rep” 2007-2011 Member of BMI as composer/arranger Member of N.A.R.A.S. (National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences) Member of L.A.R.A.S. (Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences)
Member of Percussive Arts Society Endorsed by Volcano Percussion Current
Host/DJ of FUSION LATINA Wednesdays from 8 to 11pm www.wdna.org
Have worked at KXLU-Los Angeles, 5 years, WDNA Miami,11 years, KBCS-Seattle-7 years Radio DJ/Host for 23 years attended Columbia Broadcasting School Hollywood CA 1978
Dance Companies: Olatunji Drummers and Dancers-New York City 1965 Chuck Davis Afro-American Dance Co-New York City 1966-68 72 New York City Ballet Co.-1972 Mattie Lascoe Caribbean Splash-Los Angeles-1980 Miami City Ballet Co.-Miami,Fla.-1994-97 “Drummin”-Tania Leon-Miami/Hamburg Germany-1997
Released first CD 1994 called Johnny Conga & Caribe + Roots of Rhythm on Skyward records. Http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/congajohnny
Recognized by State of Florida as “Folklorist”-1997
Former P.A.C. E.(performing arts and cultural education) Artist for Dade County, Florida 1995
Recordings on Columbia-ABC-Polygram-Island-Roxbury-Skyward-Infinity-Cuni and many others.
Producers: George S Clinton- Cheech and Chong- Trevor Lawrence-John Arrias- Pete Moore(The Miracles), John Robinson, Ken Mansfield, Paul Dunlop, Steve and Nat Kipner.(short list).
Former 'first' Latin percussion Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Miami-Dept of Perc.-1990-92 under the auspices of Professor Fred Wickstrom. Miami Florida.
Education: .
Studied Djimbe and drum set at Jazzmobile-IS 201-NYCity, with Ritchie “Pablo” Landrum and Charlie Persip.
Attended the East 3rd St. Music Settlement in 1972, and the Johnny Colon School of Music NYC. Studied timbales and bongos with Manny Oquendo and Nicky Marrero. Studied with Ubaldo Nieto(Machito Orchestra drummer) reading for timbales Attended Los Angeles Community College 1976-78 Liberal Arts program
50 years of performance in America and to over 50 countries around the world. Lived in Seattle from 2002-2013 .
I have taught at the following Institutions:
-Former Adjunct faculty at Shoreline Community College as the 'first' Latin Percussion course ever in any Community College in Seattle.2011- 2013
-Former Adjunct at Cornish College of the Arts as ‘substitute’ since 2005 for the Latin ensemble for Jovino Santos Neto
-Bellevue Community College Jazz Orchestra-workshop on Latin rhythms
-Puget Sound Community College- Latin percussion workshop for Jazz ensemble with Dr. Chris Stover
-Olympia Community College, Olympia WA.-substitute Instructor for percussion class
-University of Washington-workshop on Afro-Cuban drumming and music with Teacher Michael Smolker
-Former Instructor at “Music Works” Northwest-Bellevue, Seattle-2002-2003
Please visit http://www.facebook.com/JohnnyConga http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/johnnyconga
I had my very first pupil in 1972-from then on i have taught around the world. Making New 'lifelong friends' thru the Conga drum....My learning experience has grown as well thru the years and now I pass it on to help those 'Save Learning Time" with my methodology and techniques..I created this 'full course' so those looking to learn, did not have to search this information out..My course is the ONLY course like it in the United States and recognized by these institutions of learning I have taught at:
I have taught at the following Institutions:
First "Latin Percussion" Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Miami-Dept. of Percussionn from 1990 to 1992.
-Former Adjunct faculty at Shoreline Community College as the 'first' Latin Percussion course ever in any Community College in Seattle.2011- 2013
-Former Adjunct at Cornish College of the Arts as ‘substitute’ since 2005 for the Latin ensemble for Professor Jovino Santos Neto
-Bellevue Community College Jazz Orchestra-workshop on Latin rhythms
-Puget Sound Community College- Latin percussion workshop for Jazz ensemble with Dr. Chris Stover
-Olympia Community College, Olympia WA.-substitute Instructor for percussion class
-University of Washington-workshop on Afro-Cuban drumming and music with Teacher Michael Smolker
-Former Instructor at “Music Works” Northwest-Bellevue, Seattle-2002-2003
..This is my curriculum for my Latin Percussion course: The study of the Conga drum, Cuban methods as taught in Cuba today which include: Also my methods developed over 30 years of teaching Sound development-utilizing the 5 parts of the hand Heel/Palm/Fulcrum/Inner knuckles/and Tips of fingers- balancing of the hands…realaxation and breathing … Hand exercises which include my S.T.O.M.P method-Slap Tone Open Muffle Palm Rudimentary hand drumming and approaches on Conga drum One conga drum, 2 conga drums, 3 conga drums 4 drums Styles in Mambo, Rumba, Salsa, Son, Latin Jazz , Folkloric, R&B, Pop, Jazz and other styles Counting and keeping time Stick control for timbales Baqueteo patterns -Cascara(shell)of the timbal and cowbell patterns in clave Abanico- 7 stroke and 9 stroke rolls Styles on timbales-Danzon, Son, Mambo, Rumba, Salsa, Cha Cha Cha, Bolero, Latin Jazz, Afro-Jazz.. Latin Rhythm Theory Ensemble performance The Clave & pulse 6/8 Clave Son Clave Rumba Clave The Clave today Phrasing with the Clave Variations on the Clave Polyrhythms in Cuban Music Latin music and it’s history Cuban and Caribbean Rhythms taught are: Bolero-5 variations Caballo(Horse rhythm)-with variations Danzon Yambu Guaguanco-6 variations Cuban Rumba-with variations-Havana and Matanzas….Columbia/Abierto(open) 2Conga drums/one drum/New York street style rumba Abakua-one drum pattern to 3 drum patterns Plena(Puerto Rico) Bomba Bomba Sica Bomba Yuba Bambiche Merengue(Domincan Republic) Mozambique-old school NY style/Cuban variations Cumbia(Columbia)-with variations on one drum to 3 drums Bembe(Afro) variations Conga Comparsa(Carnival drumming) with variations Changui Calypso(Trinidad) one to 3 conga drums with variations Bossa Nova(Brasil) with variations from one to 3 conga drums Afro-Samba(Brasil) Baion(Brasil) Samba on 2 to 3 conga drums Songo with 9 variations Pilon on 2 and 3 congas Iyesa with variations 6/8 basic one conga drum to 3 conga drums Guarapachangeo with variations from 2 drums to 5 Ritmo Pa Ca Dengue Jala Jala Tumbaos(basic rhythmic conga patterns for Latin Dance music) with many variations Chaonda-lost rhythm… 6/8 Bell patterns on conga drum with variations Mongo Santamarias tumbaos and rhythmic approaches Mongos Merengue Mongos Afro Blue with variations and a variety of other rhythmic styles/rhythms and playing in odd meters 5 7 and 9
“Cognitive Discovery” with the Drum: A new way of learning how to use your brain in ways to develop your intake of information and how it's interpreted on the Conga drum.
This is my curriculum for my Latin Percussion course: The study of the Conga drum,
Cuban methods as taught in Cuba today which include: Also my methods developed over 30 years of teaching
New Foundations & Advanced Techniques..
Sound development-utilizing the 5 parts of the hand Heel/Palm/Fulcrum/Inner knuckles/and Tips of fingers- balancing of the hands…relaxation and breathing …
Hand exercises which include my S.T.O.M.P method-Slap Tone Open Muffle Palm
Rudimentary hand drumming and approaches on Conga drum
One conga drum, 2 conga drums, 3 conga drums 4 drums
"Styles" in Mambo, Rumba, Salsa, Son, Latin Jazz, Folkloric, R&B, Pop, Jazz and other styles
Counting and keeping time
Latin Rhythm Theory
Ensemble performance
The Clave & pulse
6/8 Clave
Son Clave
Rumba Clave
The Clave today
Phrasing with the Clave
Variations on the Clave
Polyrhythm’s in Cuban Music
Latin music and its history
Cuban and Caribbean Rhythms taught are:
Bolero-5 variations
Caballo (Horse rhythm)-with variations
Danson
Yambu
Guaguanco-6 variations
Cuban Rumba-with variations-Havana and Matanzas….Columbia/Abierto (open) 2Conga drums/one drum/New York street style rumba
Abakua-one drum pattern to 3 drum patterns
Plena (Puerto Rico)
Bomba
Bomba Sica
Bomba Yuba
Bambiche
Merengue (Dominican Republic)
Mozambique-old school NY style/Cuban variations
Cumbia (Columbia)-with variations on one drum to 3 drums
Bembe(Afro) variations
Conga Comparsa(Carnival drumming) with variations
Changui
Calypso(Trinidad) one to 3 conga drums with variations
Bossa Nova(Brasil) with variations from one to 3 conga drums
Afro-Samba(Brasil)
Baion(Brasil)
Samba on 2 to 3 conga drums
Songo with 9 variations
Pilon on 2 and 3 congas
Iyesa with variations
6/8 basic one conga drum to 3 conga drums
Guarapachangeo with variations from 2 drums to 5
Ritmo Pa Ca
Dengue
Jala Jala
Tumbaos (basic rhythmic conga patterns for Latin Dance music) with many variations
Chaonda-lost rhythm…
6/8 Bell patterns on conga drum with variations
Mongo Santamarias tumbaos and rhythmic approaches
Mongos Merengue
Mongos Afro Blue with variations
and a variety of other rhythmic styles/rhythms and playing in odd meters 5 7 and 9
“Cognitive Discovery” with the Drum: A new way of learning how to use your brain in ways to develop your intake of information and how it's interpreted on the Conga drum.