ELEMENTARY AFROCUBAN ENSEMBLE

Instructor: Armando García

This unique series of classes combines history, theory, and practice of Afro-Cuban music. The course will be offered to students of all levels, specializing in any instrument (including voice). Students will be able to understand and play the fundamentals of Afro-Cuban music, become familiar with the basic techniques of traditional Cuban percussion (timbales, congas, bongos, and hand percussion) and perform most traditional works. The course integrates this rhythmic foundation with the other fundamental instruments of the Afro-Cuban music ensemble (piano, bass, brass, woodwind, strings, and voice).

The course is structured into four semesters, through which students may progress during their course of study. These are:

Afro-Cuban Ensemble 1

• Introduction to the history of Cuban music
• The Cuban clave (the foundation of all Cuban rhythms)
• African folkloric music style such as Bembé
• Cuba’s national music/dance style - the Danzón

Afro-Cuban Ensemble 2

• Bolero — the most universally acclaimed genre of romantic Cuban music
• Cha-cha-cha — a popular music/dance style originally called "nuevo ritmo", or "new rhythm", and subsequently known simply as "cha-cha"

Afro-Cuban Ensemble 3

• Mambo — a style created by Orestes López and Israel López Cachao, made popular worldwide by Damaso Pérez Prado
• Son — one of the most popular styles associated with Afro-Cuban dance music

Afro-Cuban Ensemble 4

• Rumba — a traditional style of popular music that uses only percussion and voice in three styles. These are Yambú, Guanguanco, and Columbia
• Songo — created in the 1970s by Juan Formell, leader of the dance band Los Van Van, that employs the rumba of clave

Throughout this program of study, students will develop a sophisticated appreciation of technique, rhythm, and the key elements of Afro-Cuban musical harmony, such as the "montuno" progressions. They will also deepen their historical and cultural knowledge of Afro-Cuban music and ultimately develop the necessary tools for enriching their studies and professional careers.

Suggested Bibliography:

Mauleón, Rebeca. 1993. The Salsa Guidebook: For Piano and Ensemble. Petaluma, Calif.: Sher Music Company.

Mauleón, Rebeca. 1999. 101 Montunos. Petaluma, Calif.: Sher Music Company.

The Latin Realbook. 1997. The Latin Realbook. Petaluma, Calif.: Sher Music Company.

Instructor:

Armando García is Australia’s leading musical arranger and trumpet player in contemporary Latin Music. Armandito is from Santiago de Cuba, also known as the “Cradle of Son”, because of its connection with traditional styles of Cuban music. He settled in Australia after ten years on tour with the band Sonora la Calle and the Lady Salsa performance group in Europe, the UK, New Zealand, and Australia. Since 2006 he has taught Afro-Cuban Ensemble in the Department of Contemporary Performance of the Australian Institute of Music. He directs the Sydney-based Afro-Cuban salsa band Armandito & Trovason.