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Bongo Drumming Lessons in the United States

The United States is home to some of the best percussionists in the industry from Christian Vander to Travis Barker and even John Bonham. But you may be wondering, why are many percussion instruments are such popular instruments. Well, they play such a huge role within a band as they provide the melody, dynamics, and rhythm. Nowadays a Bongo drummer not only needs to know how to keep time, but they also have to be aware of other important elements when playing.

Understanding melody is what allows you to interact with your fellow band members, and most times percussionists are considered the band leader.  Most importantly it’s the beat of the Bongo drums that makes people want to dance and move! It’s what turns a good performance into a great performance, so next time you go to a concert make sure to pay attention to the percussion and their role during a show. 

Skills That Make A Good Bongo Drummer

The greatest bongo drummers and percussionists of all time didn’t become the best simply based on talent but rather through hard work and tireless practice. So here are a few things that can help you become a great drummer yourself whether it’s to be in a band or simply for your own enjoyment. The first thing you’ll need is persistence, especially if you want to make it to a more professional level. You need to have the drive to work hard, push yourself, practice, and jump at any opportunity that is presented to you.

Timekeeping is also a great skill to have because if the timing is off you need to speak up. This is why active listening is another skill to have for a bongo drummer as they need to understand a song as a whole in order to play effective transitions in a live show. All of these skills are things you can most certainly improve as you continue to learn to play the drums, so don’t feel discouraged to get started.

Qualities Every Bongo Drummer Needs

Something every successful bongo drummer needs is patience and passion. Your drumming skills are not going to just appear out of thin air, so you need to make sure you make time to practice every single day if you can. Sometimes you’ll find yourself playing the same song over and over until you master it, so you can’t just grow frustrated and quit. There is something you can always learn by going back to the songs you already know and polishing them along the way.

And since you’ll be putting a lot of time into learning this new instrument you will also need passion to keep the fire going. But it’s also the passion for bongo drumming that will drive you to keep practicing and take risks by joining a band or simply playing in front of a live audience. Lastly, you need to learn how to take constructive criticism, and know how to make the most of it. So put aside your defensiveness and recognize the well-intended advice coming from an instructor or band member.

The Benefits of Bongo Drumming Lessons

Playing the bongo drums is a lot of fun and also a great way to relieve frustration and stress even if it’s just for a few minutes. In fact, it’s proven to boost people’s moods since one's brain releases feel-good endorphins while playing similar to a “runner’s high.” This type of brain activity can improve your IQ and also boost academic performance, especially in mathematics, and well bongo drummers always have to count. You’ll also notice an increase in your confidence level since you must learn to play loud and soft, which takes guts and self-belief.

Some percussionists can even develop a growth mindset since they must trust in themselves that they can tackle and master a challenging part of a song. And believing you can take on anything is crucial to overcoming obstacles in both music and in everyday life. Lastly, you’ll learn to be in the present moment and enjoy playing the drums and creating music.