MAMBO: for beginners Lesson# 1 drum set

Since many young jazz drummers have not listened to much Afro-Cuban music, I prefer teaching them the MAMBO with Kick drums on down beats.I am teaching this beat from the Point of View that no Conga player will be accompanying the drummer. The cross stick & tom tom will attempt to replicate the basic conga Tumbao pattern. I teach the students by using 4 measures in the Time Signature of 2/4. I use Rock Beats & Rudiments to describe the Bell pattern. A. I have them play a Show 2 beat. (Quarters on Ride, Kick on 1, snare- cross stick on 2) B. I have them play a 'Surf Beat" (8th notes on bell of Ride, Kick on 1, high tom on 2&) C.I have them play a kick drum on 1 then have them play paradiddle {RLRR} starting on the & of 1. This sticking will wrap all the way around to beat 1 of letter "E". I eventually add a kick drum on the last right of the paradiddle which is beat 1 of measure "E") E. Bell of Ride & high tom play 2&. I allow the students to think of it as… "PUNK/ SURF/Foot- Paradiddle/Tom Tom. Punk represent the 2 beat, Surf= the 8th note beat…etc etc. It makes it more of a game instead of a complex Ride pattern. I am aware that there should be 1 more Ride over the cross stick of the paradiddle. Once they can play this entire pattern, I add the Bell Ride back in as well as a few bass drum variations. I'll post the progress in a few weeks. PS I'm not too worried about the high hat. Quarter Notes are good but 2 & 4. is also very good for future jazz drummers who will eventually play transitional jazz tunes like GREEN DOLPHIN STREET.