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Beginner Level

Over 95 videos and over 14 hours. Theory, practice, montunos, and repertoire with sheet music and backing tracks.

By Rafa Madagascar

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Beginner Level

R$985 ~~R$1,290~~

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+95 videos and +14 hours of class time
Theory, practice, montunos, and repertoire
PDF sheet music for each lesson
Backing tracks to play along with
The Complete "El Cantante" and "Periódico de Ayer"

Language: Spanish English subtitles
Level: initial
Lessons: 82
Video: 4:00 p.m.
Access: For life

Full Pass All the courses! Unlimited lifetime access to all Piano Salsa lessons and sheet music, including all future updates. No membership required. R$2,740 ~~R$6,845~~ See →

Who is it for?

It's designed for anyone with some piano experience who wants to explore the rhythms of Latin music. The Basic Level helps you solidify those initial, challenging foundations—ones that can't be mastered through self-study alone, but rather with the support of someone who's already been through the process.

About the Course

LIFETIME ACCESS – EVERYTHING FOREVER

✅ Lifetime access
✅ No memberships or recurring payments
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The course on BASIC LEVEL This is the first volume in the three-level trilogy of the PIANO SALSA method. This course is organized into four main content sections: THEORY, PRACTICE, MONTUNOS, and REPERTOIRE. In each section, you’ll find exclusive materials for learning and practicing. Almost all of the videos come with a downloadable PDF file containing sheet music or summaries of each lesson’s content.

Once you have purchased the course, you can log in to the website using your username and password.

Course Topics:

In the THEORY section, you'll find explanations covering a wide range of topics, from harmony and scales to technical techniques applied to salsa, forms and structures, analysis, and much more.
In the PRACTICE section, you can train your fingers with all kinds of exercises, “play-alongs,” rhythmic independence exercises, exercises for learning chords, harmonic progressions, and accompaniments, as well as practice with famous montunos that will help you develop fluency and speed.
In the MONTUNOS section, you’ll find instructional videos where you’ll learn how to play montunos and accompaniments, and you’ll also see examples featuring all kinds of rhythms, including “Son Tradicional,” “Son Montuno,” “Guajiras,” “Guarachas,” “Descargas,” “Pachangas,” “Timba,” and many more.
In the REPERTOIRE section, there is a wide variety of songs categorized by skill level. Each one comes with a comprehensive tutorial, as well as a note-for-note transcription of the sheet music.

Students can progress at their own pace; they can study freely or follow a recommended STUDY PLAN to learn in a structured and organized manner.

82 lessons. You get access to all the content; the video becomes available upon purchase, except for the free lessons.

THEORY16 lessons

BASIC ASPECTS4 lessons

Notes on the Keyboard on the Staff 5:25
The Keys – Explanation 15:16
What does it mean to play montunos in blocks and arpeggios? 15:39
Forms and Structure of a Salsa Song 19:40

BASIC CHORDS6 lessons

The Encrypted Ones 2:21
Introduction to Chords 8:46
Triad Chords: Major and Minor 14:09
Triad Chords: Augmented, Diminished, and Suspended 8:55
Triad Chords with Inversions 10:12
Diatonic Triad Chords in the Major Mode 11:25

BASIC SCALES3 lessons

Natural Major Scales: How Should They Be Studied? 23:51
Natural Minor Scales: How Should They Be Studied? 10:35
The Harmonic and Melodic Minor Scales 10:50

TONAL FUNCTIONS AND HARMONIC PROGRESSIONS3 lessons

Tonal Functions in the Major Mode 20:40
Tonal Functions in the Minor Mode 14:07
Introduction to Harmonic Progressions 16:31

PRACTICE33 lessons

LEARN TO PLAY IN KEY2 lessons

Learn to Play in Key 2-3 14:49
Learn to Play in Key 3-2 13:01

RHYTHMIC INDEPENDENCE EXERCISES7 lessons

Independence Exercises 1. The Keys 12:51
Independence Exercises 2: With the Bass Drum Roll 2:28
Independence Exercises 3: With the Shell 7:28
Independence Exercises 4: With the Counter-Bell 7:45
Montuno Exercise with Key 1 16:31
Montuno Exercise with Key 2 16:28
The Danzón Bass Line: 20 Independence Exercises 9:45

EXERCISES TO DEVELOP FLUENCY AND CONTROL9 lessons

Octave Exercise: To Strengthen and Master Octaves 21:01
The Tumbao del Bajo, Left-Hand Solo 4:12
Exercise with Four-Note Arpeggios in Two Voices 11:55
Exercises with Arpeggios and Chords in Block 1 20:16
Basic Training Exercises 1 8:13
Basic Training Exercises 2 4:04
Basic Training Exercises 3 3:20
Basic Training Exercises 4 4:50
Basic Training Exercises 5 2:57

PRACTICE WITH HARMONIC PROGRESSIONS10 Lessons

INTRODUCTION TO HARMONIC PROGRESSIONS 16:31
Harmonic Progressions (with 2 chords) 18:33
Harmonic Progressions 1. (With 3 chords) 5:19
Harmonic Progressions 2. (With 3 chords) 5:22
Harmonic Progressions 3. (With 3 chords) 5:21
Harmonic Progressions 4. (With 3 chords) 5:21
Harmonic Progressions 5. (With 3 chords) 5:20
Harmonic Progressions 6. (With 3 chords) 5:22
Harmonic Progressions 7. (With 3 chords) 5:20
Harmonic Progressions 8. (With 3 chords) 5:21

COMPLEMENTARY RHYTHMIC EXERCISES5 Lessons

RHYTHMIC EXERCISES WITH OCTAVES (explanation) 5:05
Rhythm Exercises with Octaves 1 (Key 3-2) 4:56
Rhythm Exercises with Octaves 2 (Clef 2-3) 4:15
Rhythm Exercises with Octaves 3 (Key 3-2) 7:28
Rhythm Exercises with Octaves 4 (Clef 2-3) 4:14

BASIC MONTUNOS33 lessons

LEARN HOW TO BUILD MONTUNOS FROM SCRATCH2 lessons

Building a Montuno from Scratch 1. Chord 2-3 15:36
Building a Montuno from Scratch 1. Key 3-2 11:28

BUILDING CHORDS WITH 2 STRINGS4 lessons

Montuno Construction: I V7 Major and Minor 6:58
Montuno Construction: I–IV Major and Minor 14:09
Montunos Construction: II V7 major 14:12
Montuno Construction: I bVII Major and Minor 6:44

EXAMPLES OF SON4 lessons

Examples of Traditional Son: 10 Montunos (Part 1) 12:58
Examples of Traditional Son: 10 Montunos (Part 2) 6:03
Examples of Traditional Son: 10 Montunos (Part 3) 6:02
12 Easy Examples with Son Montuno! 3:38

EXAMPLES WITH CHACHA1 lesson

Basic Cha-Cha-Cha with 10 Variations 22:43

EXAMPLES OF GUAJIRAS12 lessons

Guajira Example 1. Coffee 1:53
Example: Guajira 2. A Rarity in Guajira 1:34
Guajira Example 3: Sofrito 1:36
Guajira Example 4: El Ratón 1:42
Guajira Example 5: Sausage and Eggs 1:22
Example: Guajira 6. Guajira Dubois 1:31
Guajira Example 7. Kiss Me, Mama 1:45
Example: Guajira 8. I'm No Longer Sad 1:37
Guajira Example 9. Look at Me 2:08
Example: Guajira 10. I Can't Afford It 1:47
Guajira Example 11: Diablo 1:23
Example: Guajira 12. Lament of a Guajiro 1:30

PRACTICING WITH MONTUNOS – Beginner Level10 Lessons

Basic Practice 1. We're Dancing Salsa (2-3 Count) 2:30
Basic Practice 2. Let's Go to the Mountain (Key 2-3) 2:19
Basic Practice 3. Looking for Guava (key 3-2) 3:10
Basic Practice 4. At Six (Key 2-3) 2:00
Basic Practice 5. Rain and Snow (Key 2-3) 2:00
Basic Practice 6. Pachanga with Guaguancó (2-3 clave) 2:16
Basic Practice 7. Tihuanaco (key 2-3) 2:02
Basic Practice 8. Water About to Fall (key 2-3) 2:14
Basic Practice 9. What a World (Key 2-3) 2:07
Basic Practice 10. Achilipú (key 2-3) 2:10

BASIC REPERTOIRE21 lessons

CUCALA – Celia Cruz Tutorial 25:08
I'M NOT FOR YOU – Ismael Rivera Tutorial 18:31
YOUR FLOWERS AND YOUR SCARF – Ismael Rivera Tutorial 21:55
MELON RUMBON – Joey Pastrana Tutorial 21:02
LA PALOMILLA – Joe Cuba Sextet Tutorial 16:28
CHAN CHAN – Buena Vista Social Club Tutorial 4:12
RAIN AND SNOW – Mon Rivera Tutorial 17:00
CHINESE EYES – Gran Combo Tutorial 25:50
CAÑA BRAVA SEED: Sierra Maestra Tutorial 22:42
CACHONDEA – Cheo Feliciano Tutorial 14:59
LISTEN TO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU – Eddie Palmieri Tutorial (Part 1) 3:48
LISTEN TO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOU – Eddie Palmieri Tutorial (Part 2: Explanation) 22:13
TAKE OFF YOUR MASK – Ray Barretto Tutorial (Part 1) 4:46
TAKE OFF YOUR MASK – Ray Barretto Tutorial (Part 2: Explanation) 25:31
SEÑORA LEY – Classical Ensemble Tutorial (Part 1) 4:24
SEÑORA LEY – Classical Ensemble Tutorial (Part 2: Explanation) 17:29
MARGIE – Ray Barretto (Tutorial) 8:18
GUAJIRA FOR THE CHICKENS – Fania All Stars 12:41
I ALMOST ENVY YOU – Andy Montañez Tutorial 11:25
THE MOUSE – Cheo Feliciano Tutorial 8:13
WHEN WHEN – Jimmy Sabater, Piano 8:51

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Lifetime Access All courses + all future updates for life.

Take a look at it first There are complete lessons available for viewing, along with downloadable materials.

Beginner Level

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Who is it for?

About the Course

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