Just for Congas 2025

congas

Dates: 18th – 20th April 2025

Course type: Residential

Hours of study: 12

Tutor:
Ravin ‘Raz’ Jayasuriya



Workshop details
A weekend residential workshop for intermediate levels.

Designed to move your playing on to the next level, this a great chance for you to develop your technical and musical skills and increase your knowledge of Brazilian and Cuban rhythms.

This intensive workshop focusses entirely on congas. It is suitable for players with some experience.

Raz teaching congas


The aim of this workshop is to enrich your knowledge of conga drumming, become aware of the interplay between several congas & train physical stamina on the instruments.



The workshop will cover a broad range of topics from; warm up exercises and rudiments, exploring themes using voice substitution, developing co-ordination & independence, patterns for Cuban & Brazilian music in popular & modern styles, adapting Cuban & Brazilian folkloric rhythms for congas (including Bata rhythms) and tips for soloing…


VENUE
Our venue is an Activity Centre in Wymondley Woods and adjacent is a 20-acre conservation area with mature woods, stream, pond and grassland.

Venue address
Wymondley Wood Scout & Guide Centre, Wymondley Road, Willian, Letchworth, Hertfordshire SG6 2UB


Activity Centre
Indoor accommodation
The Centre has five dormitories, each sleeping 6-8 and furnished with bunk beds with storage facilities beneath. There are separate male & female showers/toilets.

On the Registration Form, if you tick ‘Other’ for gender please let us know if you are happy to stay in either an all male or an all female dorm. If there is an empty dorm we will allocate that to you. Please note there are no gender neutral bathrooms but there are private shower cubicles located within the male and female toilets.


Camp Iroko 2011
Camping
The Centre is situated within a 4-acre campsite. So there’s plenty of room for you to put up your tent or yurt. There are separate male & female showers/toilets for campers.


There is a campfire site and an arena space for games.


Food
Vegetarian food is provided for all meals during the weekend. If you have any special dietary requirements / allergies please let us know on the registration form.


Brazilian Percussion Weekender


Free time
During your free time you can go for a walk in the woods or enjoy some of the on site activities.



Your help during the weekend
To help keep things tidy and ensure this workshop runs smoothly, we kindly ask all participants to help with certain household duties.


Instruments
If you can, please bring a conga and a tumba. If you’d like to borrow instruments from OVM for the workshop please contact us to reserve them well in advance. Please bring ear-plugs.


Schedule
Arrive from 6 pm on Friday. The workshop ends after lunch on Sunday. Participants need to depart by 4 pm on Sunday. Full details will be sent on registration.


Costs & deadlines
Early Bird Rate – £195 (deadline is 21/3/25)
Standard Rate – £225 (final booking deadline is 11/4/25)

Costs are inclusive of accommodation, food, tuition, scores & administration.

Payment Options
To secure your place on the course, either make a payment now in full or pay a non-refundable deposit of £100 with the balance due by the final booking deadline date of 11th April.


Note
The costs above are for payments received by bank transfer. Card payments will incur an additional charge of 3.5%


Registration
Go to workshop registration page

Enquiries
Tel: 0843 289 9530
Mob: 07833 377 432
Email:courses@ovm.co.uk


Just for Congas

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Cancellations & Terms of Participation


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