Bongó — a graded beginner curriculum

A technique-graded course for the bongó — the pair of small Afro-Cuban hand drums (the smaller macho and larger hembra) held between the knees. Public-domain bongó methods are scarce (most Latin-percussion methods are still in copyright), so this curriculum is grounded mainly in established Afro-Cuban hand-drum technique, with the one public-domain rhythm primer cited where it applies. Levels are graded skills, not pieces.

The five levels

• Level 1 · The drums & basic strokes — posture, the two drums, open tone and finger strokes
• Level 2 · The martillo — the heel–tip motion and the basic bongó pattern
• Level 3 · Tone colours & accents — open / muffled / slap tones, accenting, simple fills
• Level 4 · Clave & ensemble feel — playing in clave, syncopation, the role in the group
• Level 5 · Soloing & styles — improvised solos, advanced strokes, repertoire of styles

Sources

• Latin-American Rhythms (Music Minus One, PD scan) (archive.org) — basic Latin rhythm patterns and feel
• established Afro-Cuban bongó technique — the strokes, the martillo, and ensemble role (most modern bongó methods remain in copyright)