ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Dr. Jesse Willis is currently an Associate Professor of Music at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina. He holds degrees from Texas Tech University (BME, DMA) and the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (MM). Willis is a Yamaha Performing Artist and is an educational endorser for Vic Firth and Remo.
ABOUT THE CLINIC: Salsa Percussion FUNdamentals
Our clinic will address the elements of a cohesive and dynamic salsa band’s percussion section. The basic grooves and parts on congas, bongó and timbales are often taught in many books and videos, but it is crucial to understand how these fit into a cohesive salsa percussion section. As a salsa tune evolves, each player must execute specific changes that literally shift “gears” and drive the music forward. Our session aims to demystify these concepts and make them accessible to all attendees. The clinic will begin with an introduction to standard instrumentation, basic tone production, and the fundamental components of salsa music: clave, montuno and tumbao. After these are established, we will move on to detailing the “gear” system. Each of these “gears” will be explained piece by piece, and then added together to create a unified percussion section for all stages of the music. The final portion of the clinic will feature demonstrations of this system in various contexts.