Conga

Courses /
  • Instrument

Explore Cuban Music and Develop Your Skills

Conga lessons are available for all skill levels, from beginners to professionals, in both individual and group sessions. We’ll journey through the diverse genres of Cuban music, including Rumba (Guaguanco, Yambú, Columbia), Palo, Abakua, Bolero, Danzon, Cha Cha Cha, Pilon, Mozambique, Mambo, Charanga, and Son.

You’ll learn proper instrument positioning, various playing techniques, tone shaping, rhythm, and essential playing vocabulary. Lessons also include an exploration of music history and key figures associated with the conga and its genres. The content can be customized to emphasize either Afro rhythms or popular rhythms like Cha Cha Cha, Son, Bolero, Pilon, and Mambo, depending on your interests. With an emphasis on enjoyment, we’ll gradually build your repertoire and support the development of your own musical ideas and expression.

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Teacher

  • Mounkassa Williams (Bebito)
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    Mounkassa Williams (Bebito)

    Cuban drummer and percussionist Wiljoph Sunday Mounkassa Williams was born in Madingou (Congo-Brazzaville). At the age of three, he returned with his mother to her homeland of Cuba.

    He was discovered by the master and great musician Rafael Inciarte (clarinetist and musical director of the group Compay Segundo) and was accepted into the secondary school for artistic professions REGINO ELADIO BOTI [GUANTANAMO, CUBA]. There, Wiljoph Sunday began his training as a drummer.

    After four years, he entered the ESTEBAN SALAS music college (SANTIAGO DE CUBA, CUBA), but shortly afterwards moved to Havana for family reasons. There he began his career as a professional musician and was represented by various companies and agencies such as: Ignacio Pineiro, Benny Moré, Turarte, Musicaribe (Varadero-Matanzas), etc.

    In these companies, where he was under contract as a professional musician (as a drummer), he had the opportunity to become part of well-known music groups such as: La Ritmo Oriental by the master and great musician Enrique Lazaga, Aroma de Cuba, Jose Luis Quintana (Changuito) and his Tierra Firme, Latin Bells, Michel Maza and his orchestra, Vania Borges and Band, Yoel Drigs and Puro Sabor, and many more. He also had the opportunity to accompany excellent singers such as Oma.

    Courses

    • Afro-Cuban Percussion Ensemble

    • Bongo

    • Cajón

    • Conga

    • Timbales

    Languages

    German, English, Spanish