Editorial Review:

In Volume I, Tomasito reveals the time­-tested conga method which he himself studied with "Changuito" and other master congueros at the ENA conservatory in Havana. Volume I starts at the absolute beginning and is designed for the person who has never touched the congas, but is also of great value to the advanced player who wishes to understand the foundation and rudiments of the approach that has allowed the ENA and the other Havana conservatories to consistently turn out so many world class congueros each year.

Volume I begins with simple exercises to develop technique and systematically works its way through rudiments and "recursos" for use in solos and fills and basic rhythm patterns such as Salsa, Cha-Cha and Bolero. These are presented using the unique Step by Step DVD Method, which enables the student to learn the patterns by watching the DVD and imitating Tomasito as he builds the patterns stroke by stroke. This, combined with a special type of notation designed to be simple for those who don't read music, results in a conga course that really works, rather than just another reference book to add to the bookshelf!

Customer Reviews:

Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0

Excellent - Excellent - Excellent:

Mr. BongoMan here:
I have play percussion for almost 10 years now. I finally gave way to the congas about 2 months ago. This is by far the best "Conga Method" I have seen.
It starts at the basics and thats the most important element in learning anything new. Some reviewers claim the DVD is to slow. That's how you learn the proper way. Once you master the basics, then get to the rhythms. No rush; perfect practice makes perfect! For example, you can feel more power and tension by just adjusting your... more info

Good but slow, get Volume II also:

This book/DVD is very slow moving but it is also very clear. There are only a few actual rhythms in this first volume. The good part is this approaches conga technique very clearly and if you do the exercises you will improve greatly. It is very important to get the proper technique FIRST because relearning rhythms after you have bad technique is counterproductive and slower in the end. You can also hurt your hands as I did at first. However, as another reviewer mentions this IS rather boring and slow. I... more info

The Thomas Cruz Conga Method:

An excellent step by step guide that provides excellent details in both music theory and Cuban conga technique. Very user friendly!

The best conga teaching method ever:

As a conga newbie, I really appreciate the way this book and DVD were laid out. Yes, it's slow, but thanks to that I have been able to learn and learn well. So, don't pay attention to Naoise O'hannain's review.
Before Tomasito's method, I tried countless of other books and vidoes and none of them taught me a thing...
Once again, if you're a beginner on congas and you're a smart person, buy this book and DVD package and you won't be disappointed. Otherwise, if you're like Naoise O'hannain, go buy... more info

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