Excerpt from “Oye Tu Conga”

Here are a few measures of Oye Tu Conga, as performed by the UMass Drumline. It combines open rolls, flams, and syncopated rhythms.

Step 1: Basic Rhythm

First, start with just the rhythm. Remove all the accents and additional “stuff” and just learn the basic pattern.

Step 2: Add Accents

Add accents and remember to play accented notes at forte and unaccented notes at mezzo piano.

Step 3: Add Flams & Rolls

Once you’ve mastered the basic rhythm and the accent pattern, you can add in the “extra stuff” and put it all together.