Who else wants to get their ensemble to learn and remember essential Latin and Brazillian percussion rhythms - and known them so well that they’ll never forget them?

PLUS… they’ll be having so much fun that they won’t even realize they are learning something very valuable to their musicianship!

Dear Friend and Percussion enthusiast,

Have you ever tried to teach students the essential parts of Latin American and Brazillian percussion rhythms, and then come back to it a few months later and they can’t even remember the difference between a mambo and a samba?

Well - its not difficult to see why - If we are teaching these rhythms in isolation then they will easily get confused about the differences between the different patterns.

It was a need like this that caused me to come up with this piece “A Conga and a Samba”. I thought if I could take the essential elements of just two common styles, and combine them into one piece then they’d remember those essential elements…

But I also realized that part of the problem with their memory was just associating the name of the rhythm with the style - that’s why I’ve included some special vocals in this work.

The essential parts of the conga rhythm showcased

The piece opens with a gradual build-up of the conga rhythm, emphasizing the anticipated note which makes these rhythms so distinct.

As Latin Music experts would know, many rhythms are based on the “clave” or “key” - and I’ve tried to keep the parts accurately reflecting the 2-3 Rhumba Clave which the section is based on.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Vocal Element ensures that the musicians in your ensemble link the knowledge of the rhythmic structure with the name of the rhythm

Because in this piece they are chanting “Everybody Conga” “Everybody Samba” plenty of times the students in the ensemble will internalize this knowledge. They’ll KNOW the time feel of a conga and a samba pattern later in life - even if they hardly ever play music in this style. The vocals happen time and time again, so even your audience will get the idea of the two different rhythms presented in just one performance.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Very Flexible to your ensemble and your available instruments

The piece is infinitely flexible - I’ve written it for 11 Parts - but this would be adaptable to whatever ensemble you have. I’ve never had a drum line, but I think it could be quickly and easily adapted to a marching corps situation.

As you can see, each player plays ONE instrument - This makes this piece super practical for rehearsals and performances - they pick up their one instrument and carry it onto stage. I deliberately write most of my music to be simple and practical to rehearse and perform.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

More than one dynamic Level presented, so that students understand that these styles are not just presented in one context

When the Brazillian samba appears for the first time, its really subtle - like it’s a samba played by a cool jazz band as backing music.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Once it gets into it however, it is more reminiscent of the Rio Carnival with its dynamic rhythms and driving surdo bass drums.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

No Part is unimportant - Everyone has a critical role to play, and everyone has a detailed part

Often with these types of pieces the person given the Maracas or the shaker is the least capable player in the ensemble, and they have to just keep the same pattern going for the entire piece.

This is hardly rewarding for them, and you can find problems arising if they get bored and distracted in rehearsals.

In this piece I’ve made every part as interesting as each other - In fact the Maraca and the woodblock part are absolutely critical, perhaps MORE important than the drum parts.

This way you can make the maraca player feel like they are important to the ensemble. You can also take the opportunity to give one of the more experienced players the Maracas or the woodblock in this piece, and give the less experienced players the drum parts. This way you’ll keep everything fresh and exciting, and you’ll demonstrate that everyone is important in the ensemble. The Woodblock plays the “clave” - “the key” that holds it all together… so make sure the ensemble understands this!

2:40 Of Engaging Music for Untuned Percussion

I’ve found that just under three minutes is the ideal length for percussion ensemble showcase music - It is just enough to make an impact, without boring the audience. There is no fluff, no padding and no improvised solos - just complete fun grooves and great sounding ensemble work.

Just have a listen to the exciting conclusion:

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Bonus CD Quality Recording

As with all the music on zcpercussion.com I include a quality recording, which you’ve been listening to on this website. The samples you’ve heard are compressed, but the included recording is recorded at CD Quality.

I also don’t mind if you distribute the recording to your students. They can download it to their media players, or burn it to CD’s

Don’t wait… get it now!

In a store, printed out this score would cost at least $49.95, but the internet allows me to distribute it to you for much less than that.

You can download and print this music today from this website for just $29.95.

So for less than the cost of ONE Audio CD you can get a piece that I know will work time and time again, and will become a stable piece of repertoire in your ensemble.

Click Here to get this piece now

Or….

Click Here to add to cart and continue shopping
at ZC Percussion

And don’t forget…..

So do yourself a favor and invest in a piece now that I know will become a standard in your repertoire of performance pieces for your percussion ensemble. Your students will LOVE it, and your audiences will too!

Up and On!

Zac Courtney