“Beyond The Secret Hand”

(Mas allá de la mano secreta)

An advanced book for the modern conguero.

Libro avanzado para el conguero moderno

By:

José Rosa
 Disclaimer

The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not
represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher.

“Beyond the Secret Hand”

All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2018 José Rosa
V.CDPS2018.001
Cover Image © 2016 Jose Rosa Percussion Studio
All Rights Reserved. Used With Permission.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
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All titles for upcoming books and sound recordings are trademarked and/or copyrighted by Jose
Rosa Percussion Studio

Printed in the United States of America

 Index/ Índice

About Author / Sobre los Autor …………………………. Pg. v

Introduction/ Introducción ……………………………….…. Pg. viii

Chapter 1/ Capitulo 1 .......................................................

Beyond “La Mano Secreta”

Después de “La Mano Secreta”..………………………… Pg. 2

Chapter 2/ Capitulo 2 ........................................................

Rudiments: Exercise to develop independence

Rudimentos: Ejercicios para desarrollar independencia. Pg. 14

Chapter 3/ Capitulo 3 ........................................................

Hand Drum Etudes with Clave

Estudios para “Hand Drum” con la clave…………….. Pg. 19

Chapter 4/ Capitulo 4 ........................................................

Afro-Caribbean Rhythms / Ritmos Afro-Caribeños… Pg. 23

Conclusion…………………………………………………… Pg. 31
 Preface
First and foremost, I would like to thank my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the

new life that he had given me in him. I want to thank my students and all of those who

inspire me daily to keep growing as an individual and as a teacher. To my friend

Giovanni Hidalgo, thank you for inspiring me to do this. Thanks to my dear friend

Professor Jose “Pepe” Torres for your guidance and counseling.

Primeramente, quiero agradecer a mi Señor y Salvador Jesucristo por haberme dado

una nueva vida en El. Quiero agradecer a todos mis estudiantes y a todos aquellos que

me inspiran diariamente a seguir creciendo como individuo y como educador. A mi

amigo Giovanni Hidalgo por inspirarme a hacer este proyecto. A quien considero

como mi Papa y quien me llevo debajo de sus alas durante el periodo mas difícil de mi

vida, me instruyo, me aconsejo y gracias a el soy quien soy, esa persona es el Profesor

José “Pepe” Torres.

Jose “Miguel” Rosa

 About the Author
Jose Rosa
Born and raised in Humacao, Puerto Rico, Jose has been performing on percussion instruments
since he was five years old. At age 11, he started formal music lessons with Professor Jose "Tito”
Rivera at the Escuela Libre De Música de Humacao. At 12 years of age, Jose started performing with
Humacao Symphonic Band under the direction of Professor German Peña Plaza. With the Humacao
Symphonic Band, Jose traveled to Venezuela, New York, Costa Rica, Virgin Islands and Dominican
Republic. At age 14, Jose received formal percussion lessons from Professor Jose "Pepe" Torres at the
Escuela Libre de Música de Caguas. Under Torres direction, Jose performed with the Puerto Rico
Symphony Orchestra, Puerto Rico State Band and also with a variety of local bands. By the age of 17,
Jose was accepted into the Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music where he studied percussion with
Professor Jose Alicea. Under Alicea's direction, Jose played for the America youth symphony
orchestra based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1994, Jose moved to Miami, where he attended the
University of Miami and Florida International University

Through the course of his life, Jose has had the opportunity to perform along renown artists such
as Arturo Sandoval, Tito Puente, Marcos Barrientos, Gerson Kelly, Martin Valverde, Danilo
Montero, Mike Orta, Bobby Cruz Jose "Papo" Rivera, “Steel Pan virtuoso” Liam Teague, and man
others... He had also performed at the Disney’s Animal Kingdom “Tarzan Rocks”, and “The Village
Beatniks” shows, at the Universal Studios Florida “The I Love Lucy tribute show!” and many others.
Jose currently resides in San Jose, Costa Rica where he performs, does recordings and also teaches
percussion on a regular basis on his new Drums and Percussion School: "Jose Rosa Performing Arts
Academy and its program: Contemporary Drums and Percussion Seminar", which is a Drummers
Collective Type school in Latin America. In as little as 2 years you can graduate with a certificate and
be ready to work in the business.

He also leads his own percussion group called “Insolencia Rumbera”, his latin jazz band "Jose Rosa
and Friends" his latest album “Live From the legendary Blue Wisp Jazz club". In addition, he can
also be heard and seen in many radio ads and TV programs like syndicated PBS program “Jazz Then
and Now” and also on the Travel channel in the program "The making of Disney's Animal Kingdom".

He has also co-written several instructional books some of the titles are: Award winning:
"Beyond The Secret Hand / Mas alla de la Mano Secreta", “The Contemporary Hand Drummer” and
“The Art of Latin Drumming” published and distributed by Hal Leonard Corporation, the latter
nominated for the 2013 Modern Drummer Readers Poll. His latest Instructional Videos: “The
Contemporary Hand Drummer” and coming soon "The Art of Latin Drumming".

Jose is an active member of the American Federation of Musicians (Local 389), Percussive Arts
Society, ASCAP, MENC, International Associations of Jazz Educators, International Association of
Music Educators, Christian Educators Association International.

Jose endorses Canopus Drums, Paiste Cymbals, Pro-Mark Drum Sticks and Mallets, Duallist Bass
Drum Pedals, Pintech Electronic Percussion, Lento Drum Gloves, Cymbag, Phat Foot accessories,
Cympad, Offworld Practice Pads and Remo Drum Heads.

Biografia en espanol

Nacido y criado en Humacao, Puerto Rico, José comenzó a tocar los instrumentos de percusión desde
la edad de cinco años. A la edad de 11 años, él comenzó lecciones de música formales con el profesor
José “Tito” Rivera en la Escuela Libre De Música de Humacao. A la edad de 12 años, José fue miembro
de la Banda Sinfónica de Humacao bajo dirección de profesor Germán Peña Plaza. Con la Banda
sinfónica de Humacao, José viajó a Venezuela, Nueva York, Costa Rica, Islas Vírgenes y a la República
Dominicana. A la edad 14 años, José recibió lecciones formales de percusión con el profesor José
“Pepe" Torres en la Escuela Libre de Música de Caguas. Bajo la dirección de Torres, José fue el
miembro de la Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico, la banda del estado de Puerto Rico y también de
una variedad de bandas locales. A la edad de 17 años, José fue aceptado en el Conservatorio de
Música de Puerto Rico, donde él estudió la percusión bajo la tutela del profesor José Alicea. Bajo la
dirección de Alicea, José fue miembro de la Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil de las Américas basada en
San Juan, Puerto Rico.

En 1994, José se traslada a la ciudad de Miami, Florida; donde atendió la universidad de Miami y la
Universidad Internacional de la Florida. En el transcurso de su carrera, José ha tenido la oportunidad
de trabajar con artistas de la talla de Arturo Sandoval, Tito Puente, Marcos Barrientos, Gerson Kelly,
Danilo Montero, Tito Puente junior., Mike Orta, Richie Ray & Bobby Cruz, Liam Teague, entre
otros. José también ha tenido la oportunidad de participar en Shows como “Tarzan Rocks” y “Los
Village Beatniks” ambos shows de la compañía Disney. En los “Estudios Universales de la Florida”,
José fue parte del elenco de la serie: “I Love Lucy Tribute”.

José actualmente reside en San Jose, Costa Rica donde él hace grabaciones, enseña percusión
regularmente en su escuela: "Jose Rosa Performing Arts Academy" y su programa "Contemporary
Drums and Percussion Seminar". José también dirige a sus propios grupos llamados: “Insolencia
Rumbera”, su Banda de Jazz Latino: “José Rosa y Friends" y también una Banda de jazz
latinoamericana llamada: "Tinya". Además, él puede también ser visto y escuchado en muchos
anuncios de radio y de TV; como el programa distribuido para el canal estadounidense “Public
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 Introduction
During my years of performing and educating, I have learned that the key to
developing good techniques on hand drums is to use practical strengthening exercises
coupled with lots of repetition to develop the speed, independence and control needed
to become a good Hand drummer. Therefore, our goal is to help you develop a good
sound by incorporating strengthening exercises coupled with various techniques to
develop your strength, speed, independence and control needed. This book was
written to provide quick and to the point lessons so that you can take it with you and
use it as a reference guide wherever you are. This book is designed for the hand
drummer that is eager to step to the next level in performance. I have included some
practical exercises for coordination and independence that will help you increase your
level of performance. Regardless of whether you are looking to develop more strength,
more speed or soloing, this book answers many questions you might have in regards
to advance techniques and independence.. I want to invite you also to check my
website: http://www.joserosa.net, for more information. It is my hope to pass on the
knowledge and experience I have gained over the years studying and playing
professionally in a way that can easily be understood to inspire the next generation of
conga players.

Jose Rosa
>)?/67!@A'!B'6/!C)%*)1'D!
 2

Beyond “La Mano Secreta”?

The following chapter will set the foundation for the rest of this book. Many of our students

after they had mastered some of the basic “Mano Secreta” exercises ask us: What’s Next? Our

answer is very simple: “We will continue working on practical exercises but this time

implementing exercises to develop coordination and independence”. For some people, this is

a very easy task but for most people it is a battle. That is the reason behind this chapter; we

want it to address this issue that for most people is a major challenge. Start practicing these

exercises very slowly and increase speed gradually.

Let’s start with the exercises:

El próximo capitulo va a crear el fundamento para el resto de el libro. Muchos de

nuestros estudiantes luego de haber dominado los ejercicios básicos de “La Mano Secreta” nos

preguntan: “Bueno y ahora que viene luego?” Nuestra respuesta es simple: “Vamos a continuar

trabajando en ejercicios prácticos, pero esta vez le vamos a añadir ejercicios para desarrolla coordinación

e independencia” Para muchas personas es una tarea fácil, pero para otros es un reto. Por esa

razón decidimos escribir este capitulo. Comienza estudiando estos ejercicios lentos e

incremente la velocidad de manera gradual. Comencemos con los ejercicios:

3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
 13

Keep practicing these exercises on a daily basis, even if you master them. It is always a
good idea to practice this on a solo situation, also you can mix and match different
exercises. Let’s move to our next chapter, “Rudiments: Exercises to develop
independence.”
 14

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 15

“Rudiments: Exercises to develop independence”

“Flam Paradiddle”
 16

“Flam Paradiddle Exercise-2”

 17

“Double Flam Paradiddle”

Remember to start working on these exercises slowly and increase speed gradually
Now, let’s work on some snare drum etudes adapted for the hand drums.
 18

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Etude I
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Etude II
 21

Etude III
 22

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