Songo | Cuban Drumming with Claus Hessler | Exclusive Course
5 Lessons | +1 Hours of Videos | 30 Exercises | +300 Audio Tracks | 23 PDF Pages
Songo appears to be one of the first Cuban styles of music in which the drumset became a vital part of the groove. Learn authentic Songo patterns, and step into the world of Latin Music on the drums!
Course Content
Course Sample
The style of Songo, mostly created by Blas Egues, José Luis Quintana (aka “Changuito”) and Juan Formell during their work with “Los Van Van” is one of the most important musical landmarks in the genre of Latin Music for us drumset players. Often reduced to just a very limited number of grooves, there’s much more to be discovered about this vibrant and influential style of Afro-Cuban music. Learn more about the details and background of this game changing style of Afro-Cuban music in the course at OMD!
Entry level: Intermediate
5 Lessons
+1 hour of videos
30 exercises
+300 audio tracks
Try this course for free with these lessons:
This unit presents an early, basic Songo pattern in 2-3 clave while providing room for small variations on the toms at the end of the second measure. The groove does not present any major coordination challenges, but is still very authentic. A good introduction to the world of Songo rhythms!
Course booklet to each lesson
In addition to all the video materials, exercises and support you’ll get a downloadable, printable booklets to each lesson with exercises so you can study wherever you want, even if you don’t have your phone or internet connection.
Meet your instructor!
Claus Hessler
Master of Moeller Technique
Virtuosic improviser with masterful coordination
Successor to Jim Chapin
Innovator in the “open-handed” style of drumming
Testimonials
What our students say
“The Open Minded Drumming website has been one of the most comfortable sites I have ever used. It is simple to reach all the courses. The nicest thing is to be able to access zoom meeting content on the website whenever we want after those meetings. Training and the courses on the site definitely affect my work in a positive manner. A site like this works great and it’s great that you did it. I’m looking forward to good ideas that may come up in the future. Thank you!.”
Seren DurkanDrummer and drum teacher from Turkey 
“I am loving Open Minded Drumming! The courses are full of knowledge, excellent production and amazing didactic. I am also digging into the Online Meetings, which have a lot of good exercises. I sure recommend it for any level of drumming”
Nina ParáDrummer and drum teacher from Brazil 
“The next best thing to having 1:1 lessons with Claus is to be part of Open Minded Drumming. The great thing about this drumming school is that in addition to courses which you can work through in your own time, you’ll have the opportunity to learn in live sessions (“Practice with..”) directly from Claus or Anika. OMD is well organised, offers valuable content & gives you direct learning opportunities - what more would you neeed? I can highly recommend.”
Benno SchlachterDrummer and drum teacher from Germany 
“Open Minded Drumming is very cool and informative format. The different topics are very well explained and you can even practice along Claus or Anika! The online meetings are a place where you can watch the masters in real time and ask them questions. Well done!”
Thomas FroschauerMusician and drum teacher from Austria 
“Starting with the Swiss rudimental drumming which I found fascinating using a lot of quintuplets to the New Orleans Second Line, Brushes course, and Songo course and then the regular play along sessions with Claus there is endless material here for any student of drumming to learn new ideas and grow their knowledge. The approach on everything I have seen is friendly and encouraging. The material supplied is seemingly endless and forever useful.
Highly recommend.
Thanks a lot to the OMD team.”
Chris JoyceFormer drummer of Simply Red and drum teacher from United Kingdom 
“I became a member of the Open Minded Drumming platform in September 2021, the material is excellent, the content is easy to understand and the videos are superb… There is a wonderful network of people who know their way around the drums and answer any questions you may have… nothing seems too much trouble, very friendly, helpful people/team.”
Barry TrickettDrummer from United Kingdom 
“It’s been a year since I signed up and I can recommend it to every drummer.”
Christoph MartinMusician, Composer, Producer & Piano teacher from Germany 
“I have used other on line platforms and they do not have the same insight and detail for learning. Open Minded Drumming has multiple practice exercises with video for each technique being utilized and adapted in addition to live classes that you can take and participate in.”
Mark MagnarellaDrummer from North Carolina, United States 
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Get All Access to this course and more:
+105 comprehensive lessons based on consistent, legitimate and usable information
+21 hours of high quality video content with all the explanations and exercises with sheet music on the screen
+430 exercises with practice pointers, explanations, audio tracks, and many functionalities to help you organise your daily routines
+3250 audio tracks to each exercise that you can easily loop and play in different tempos
249 pages of booklets with exercises that you can download and print to study wherever you want
Online live meetings every month! Ask your questions and meet other Open Minded Drummers.
Access to all the previous online meetings and practice sessions +54h
"Become the best drummer you can possibly be.”
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