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This page last updated:
Monday, February 12, 2007
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How to do... percussion
Duncan tries the congas with drummer Carlos Parlato. (7DL0122050) Picture: David Lowndes
Duncan Hall bangs out some rhythms with professional drummer Carlos Parlato.
MY cousin Alex is a drummer, and it is pretty obvious when you see him sitting down.
The first thing he will do is tap a rhythm out on anything close to him, whether it is a dinner mat, a table top or his knees, like he has a never-ending rhythm going on in his head.
Sadly, when I sat down at his drums a few years ago I didn’t discover some innate Keith Moon vibe within me – in fact, it sounded more like when Keith had enjoyed a few over the odds and was about to set his drums alight.
Professional drummer Carlos Parlato has never had that problem, though. His rhythmic skills have seen him perform with some of the biggest names in South America, as well as international stars such as Shakira and Ricky Martin, and British legends Jools Holland and Courtney Pine during his time as a session musician.
Now he gives one-on-one drumming and percussion lessons from Unit Five, at the New England Complex, in York Road, Peterborough.
He said: “I play from the heart, it is my expression and experience. I practise every day, and I listen to music and teach every day.”
At present, Carlos has between 35 and 45 students on his books, many of whom were recommended to him by the Live Music Shop round the corner in Lincoln Road, and he also plays percussion in Café Razz every weekend.
He has also played with local bands such as Kissmet and the Chris Watson Band – learning the English words “one, two, three, four” especially for the performance.
He said: “Music is the international language for religion, peace and love. One moment you can be not very happy, you listen to music and it puts balance in your life. Music is as important to me as drinking water or breathing.
“I can play rock drums, and funk – as a session musician you have to play different styles and different rhythms.”
But could the man they call “El Tano” teach me how to hold a rhythm and get started on one of the most impressive looking drums in Carlos’s percussion collection – the congas.
The first thing Carlos did when starting to teach me how to play was put on some music – a funky track by KC and the Sunshine Band called (Shake Shake Shake) Shake Your Booty, which any regular at a ’70s night will know straight away.
I was told I needed to feel the music and get into the groove to really be able to play along and perform on the percussion.
Then we started hitting the drums in a slow rhythm. The congas are the tall drums, generally put together in a pair to create a thumping rhythm familiar to any lover of Latin or salsa music.
I was simply instructed to hit one drum after the other in an easy one-two rhythm in time with the music.
It was not too difficult at all – I was quite enjoying dancing along to the music and following the simple rhythm. The phrase “what is all the fuss about . . .” started to waft through my head.
Then Carlos changed the rhythm around – telling me to hit the right drum three times and the left drum once, while still keeping in time.
Fine I thought. Dead easy.
And then it all fell apart as my sense of rhythm and co-ordination simply fell away, and I realised I was tapping out the wrong rhythm on the wrong sets of drums, and just could not change it around, no matter how hard I tried.
Next time I practise, I think I had better invest in some stickers to mark my left and right hands.
After seeing Carlos performing a little on the full drum kit and the congas, I realised I still had a long way to go – and certainly had a lot more practise ahead of me.
But with Carlos able to offer studio facilities as well as a room to practise and learn in, if I kept going I could eventually begin to imitate some of the great rock drummers across the world – it just depends whether or not there would be room on the drum riser for the zimmer frame for the time it would take to get to his level.
Why do it ...
Every band needs a rhythm powering them along – and although it is rare for drummers and percussionists to get noticed as much as singers and guitarists, it is still an essential part of any band.
What you need...
Carlos has a wide selection of drums and percussion available to learn on, and the contacts at Live Music to help anyone serious about carrying on an interest in percussion get the kit they need. Be warned that percussion instruments can be expensive!
What it costs...
Lesson prices depend on how many you want to do, and the sort of level you want to take it to. Contact Carlos for more details.
Where to go...
Carlos’s studio is at Unit Five, in the New England Complex, York Road, Peterborough.
More info...
Contact Carlos on 01733 564226 or 07956 050237, or e-mail anodrums@yahoo.com.ar.
Details correct at 09/02/07