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.