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Your Questions
Q:
Why did you place
your photograph on your drum? How did you do it?
A:
After having my
drums stolen, I decided that having my photo placed on the conga would
help deter a future thief. As a result, the picture was taken by German
manufacturer Marco Demuth. This is the first time, worldwide, for a
musician to have his/her image placed on a custom drum. It is an actual
photo placed on the drums, not painted.
Q:
How did you learn to play?
A:
I spent time with some of the the masters: Mongo Santamaria, Olatunji,
Chief Bae and Papa Laje, and listened to greats like Chano Pozo, Ray
Barretto, Candido and Max Roach. It was important to learn their
concepts, and use that knowledge to create my own unique sound. Often
times, I found myself listening to other conga players and drummers when
we had sessions in the park.
Q:
How do you achieve different sounds?
A:
Everyone’s physical make up is different, including the force you strike
the drums with. Each individual’s technique helps create a distinctive
sound. My bag of tricks includes a variety of unique percussive
instruments that I make. Some of my favorites are teabag shakers, ball
bearings in a gourd and popcorn in a gourd.
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Submit your
question! |
|
Just write to
questions@normanhedman.com. Norman will make every
effort to answer them in a future edition of "Reflections in the
Groove." |
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