mastering salsa/mambo timing - interactive CD and eBook
Your essential guide to understanding salsa rhythms and how it relates to your dance.
We don't just count over the music. We teach you what the 3 Core Principles are and why they're necessary for mastering your timing! Train your ear to "hear" where the beats are in the music with our innovative exercises.
Test your progress with practice dance tracks featuring fade-in, fade-out counts, unique "basic step guide" and "on 2 guide".
Designed for ALL salseros, club or ballroom style, 'on1' or 'on 2'.
CD Highlights:
-Tempo Defined
-Learning How to Listen & Count
-Phrasing - The Real "Key"
-Rhythm Review: Conga & Tumbao, Clave, Cowbell, Piano, Bass & Cascara
-26 Instructional & Practice Tracks
-4 Bonus Dance Tracks with "On 2 Guide"
Note: the following excerpts have been modified from their original form.
Listen to an excerpt from Track 1 - a musical example of tempo:
Listen to an excerpt from the Piano Instruction Track:
Listen to an excerpt from the Rhythm Section Practice Track with Basic Step Guide:
Read an excerpt from the companion eBook:
What does it mean to master your timing?
On a basic level it means that you can keep time with the music – meaning – your basic steps are falling on the beats that they should. But, mastering your timing is much more than that. When you have truly mastered your timing, besides having impeccable timing and execution during your dance, there is a sense of freedom that allows greater expression, musicality, styling, improvisation and connection with your partner. This all comes about as a result of being in a relaxed and open state of being, where your entire being “knows” where you are in the music. Timing no longer confines you, but rather liberates you.
$19.95 + free standard shipping
(limited time only for domestic orders)
BONUS 35 page companion e-booklet and free email support with purchase.
Next Day Domestic and 2-3 Day International
(next-day domestic and 2-3 day international)
BONUS companion e-booklet and free email support with purchase.
mastering salsa timing workshop
Upcoming Dates:
Wednesday July 9, 2008 at Ifa Dancenter
7:00 - 8:30pm
with MichaShines
Do you need help with your salsa timing? Confused about how to dance “On 2”?
Can’t hear the "1" beat? The“2” beat? Or any beat?
Learn the most effective and efficient way to find the beat and stay with it!
Part 1 of the Timing Workshop introduces the 3 Core Principles of 4/4 timing, Tempo and Phrasing. We will be working with ear training exercises to properly establish tempo and find the 8 beat phrase through rhythmic pattern recognition. Students will also learn how the basic steps align to the 8 beat structure.
Part 2 is all about “Execution" – the 4th Core Principle. This is more of a “hands-on” dance workshop. We teach and drill execution tips for common places where people tend to lose their timing. Students should at least be familiar with the basic step, cross body lead, simple turns.
Taught by salsa experts, Raul and Michaella Avila. We bring you the most accurate, most effective information on salsa timing. The 3 Core Principles presented will dramatically improve your understanding of salsa rhythms and how it relates to your dance. We teach you what to listen for in the music to easily identify the musical count accurately so you will always be on time! Other topics discussed will include 'finding the 2 beat', knowing the difference between 'on 1 and on 2' dancing. Listening and Execution Exercises to help you apply what you've learned!
salsa/mambo timing faq's
What is 'timing'?
The term 'timing' refers to your ability as a dancer to connect your basic step and dance to the music.
Do I have 'bad timing'? I feel like I have no rhythm!
You need to work on your timing if you can't distinguish one beat from the next which makes your basic step erratic and uneven.
Your turns and turn patterns will either be rushed or too sluggish because of this. Sometimes, dance students say they have no rhythm,
when in reality, they just have not been taught simple musical concepts that will greatly help in their understanding of the music
and subsequently, the dance.
Why is it important to have good timing? Does anyone really care? I just want to enjoy the dance...
Yes, dancers do care about timing, especially dancers who've been taking classes and working hard to improve their dance!
With good timing, we achieve a greater connection to the music. Secondly, because much of salsa is danced in a partner position,
if both dancers have a good sense of timing, the partner connection will be greatly improved!
It's difficult to enjoy a dance if you're out of sync to the music and your partner.
What is this whole 'on 1' and 'on 2' thing?
'On 1' or 'on 2' simply refers to two different styles of salsa dancing with specific reference to which beat we take our 'breaking step'.
How do I find the '2 beat'?
The first thing the student needs to learn is how to listen to the music. We've developed a program that teaches you how to listen,
how to count the music correctly. Our program is based on understanding 3 Core Principles: 4/4 timing, tempo and phrasing.
How do I get 'good timing'?
First you need to learn the musical concepts, the 3 core principles. You also need to get more familiar with the various instruments in a salsa band.
Armed with that knowledge, you need to understand how these concepts apply to your dance. Execution is really the 4th core principle.
That takes lots of practice! Just like anything in life, you need to work hard and persist to get results.
Where can I learn about timing?
It's a bit of loaded question....of course we're going to tell you to take our Mastering Salsa/Mambo Timing Workshop and
buy our new, interactive Mastering Salsa/Mambo Timing CD! There are a few other products out there, all of which we've reviewed.
We guarantee that ours is the most informative, most effective product out there. Be careful of information out there on the web; many
dance instructors/enthusiasts with good intentions have added their 2 cents but we've found much of it to be misleading, confusing or downright WRONG!
