Omar Puente Cuban Ensemble Masterclass Retreat

15th – 22nd July 2024

We are delighted to welcome the internationally renowned solo violinist, composer, and arranger Omar Puente to Finca Ara Oko. Omar is a world-class violinist and educator. Throughout his career, Omar has performed at many distinguished venues such as Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club and the Royal Albert Hall, supporting and sharing the stage with a whole host of other esteemed stars, including Tito Puente, John Williams, Nigel Kennedy, Courtney Pine and Wynton Marsalis.

His many accolades include winning Jazz Act Of The Year at the UK Latin Lukas Awards 2017, Award for Best Album and Best Jazz Soloist, top 10 placement for Songline Magazine’s Album of the Year and nomination in the jazz category in the 21st International CubaDisco Fair in 2017.

Omar, in collaboration with Latin percussionist David Pattman, is offering a week of ensemble workshops for percussion, bass, piano and horns. Students will work on a repertoire of Cuban popular music arranged by Omar himself.

We are offering only 10 places on this special retreat. To secure your place pay a non-refundable deposit of £150. Earlybird deadline 15th May. The final payment needs to be made by the 15^th of June 2024.

The retreat is aimed at experienced instrumentalists who are able to read music. If you’re not sure if you qualify for this retreat, please get in touch with us and outline your previous experience. We can let you know if we think it would be suitable.

What the retreat includes:

- 4 hours of tuition x 5 days plus practice time.
- 7 nights accommodation.
- 3 meals a day.
- Accommodation – shared, single rooms or glamping.
- Access to percussion instruments, piano and bass amp.
- An opportunity to perform on the last night at a local bar.
- The chance to stay in a beautiful farmhouse in the spectacular countryside away from the distractions of everyday life.

Not included:

For more information on the below points please visit our travel information page.

- Flights
- Airport transfers:
- Travel Insurance
- Extra nights accommodation
- Extra meals
- Alcohol

SINGLE ROOM: Earlybird £870 / Regular £910 – 1 available

SHARED ROOM: Earlybird £785 / Regular £825 – 3 available. Each room shares 2 – 3 people.

GLAMPING: Earlybird £655 / Regular £695 – 4 places available. Each tent shares 2 people.

How to book

Visit our website: Finca Ara Oko

Bombo Productions

4.7

Based on 21 reviews

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Federica Fusco

15:43 15 Dec 22

I have been attending many percussion courses with Bombo productions over the past few years. Yesterday, we completed the Batà Course. We learnt how to play multiple toques on different drums, learning rhythmic sequences, conversations and variations, hand techniques, developing coordination, autonomy and important patterns for future improvisation. We learn how the rhythms fit with the singing and the clave. All sessions are filmed and shared privately so that you can practice at home and be ready for the next class.Dave is an amazing teacher with huge passion, knowledge and patience. Vicky is a great musician, singer and a very inspiring thinker. They both make this learning experience special and I am so grateful for this.This course was also for me a chance to know more people who share a similar attitude towards art, music and life. I met very special people there.Vicky and Dave also organise music nights in London where anyone can play and apply what you have learnt in a wider context and with other amazing musicians!So it's clear that I highly recommend bombo production to all amateurs and professional musicians :D

Geoff Baker

21:23 18 Oct 22

Vicky and Dave are true experts in Cuban music, but their courses are accessible and everyone is made to feel welcome, whatever their background, so the group is very diverse. They are great teachers – highly knowledgeable and keen to make good music, yet always with a smile and a laugh. The music is gorgeous (they make their own arrangements, so you can only get it here!) and the atmospheric rehearsal space adds to the charm. Highly recommended!

Adam robinson

18:35 13 Oct 22

It's rare to find anyone as knowledgeable as Dave and Vicky. It's even more rare to find people who are as generous and welcoming. Anyone who has an interest in Afro Cuban music will be able get involved, learn and be pushed just enough - regardless of playing ability. I couldn't recommend their courses/workshops highly enough.

ohad lustigman

19:35 07 Aug 22

Highly recommended for anyone interested in Afro Cuban folkloric music, Bata or Salsa.Dave and Vicky have figured out the perfect formula to share their very deep knowledge in a really fun and relaxed but also intensive and challenging way.In both their online courses and face to face workshops, they are making sure to gently push you a bit further from where you are at -whether a total beginner or an advanced player.Only thing to be aware of is that this might be addictive.

Mariya

20:37 08 May 22

Over the past couple of years I have taken a number of courses with Bombo Productions and also attended their folkloric Afro-Cuban percussion retreat in Spain last year and I have to say that learning percussion with Vicky and Dave has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me. Dave and Vicky are wonderful teachers and people, who love sharing their knowledge and passion for music. I feel so much joy and gratitude after every class I take with them!Most recently, I attended the Level 2 in-person Salsa course offered by Dave. What I love about Dave’s salsa classes is that we get to learn a bit of each instrument in the percussion section. While I only have congas at home and the congas are (perhaps) the instrument I am most interested in, I always wanted to understand how the congas interact with the other percussion instruments. And I love it that I can now play a bit on the other instruments. And I absolutely love it that when I listen to salsa music, i can now distinctly hear the timbales, the bongos and the congas… it feels great. Thank you, Dave!The other thing I really enjoy about the salsa classes is that we don’t just learn patterns on the instruments, but we apply these to a specific song/arrangement prepared by Dave; as such we also learn to listen to (and play) the breaks, changes in clave, etc.I can’t speak highly enough of Dave and Vicky’s classes – whether these are salsa, batá, rumba or coro. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

simon todd

18:17 29 Apr 22

10/10 Salsa level 2 course!Seriously If you want to learn and understand Salsa music, arrangements, technique and the secrets of this Afro-Cuban music style, Dave Pattman is the man. Over the years I've done workshops with Dave and always been a great and rewarding experience.Very warm, friendly and energetic teacher, with extensive knowledge of this music.Can't recommend the course enough, Sometimes the courses run in a nice little studio in central Hackney or online over a 6 week period. New to online lessons it didn't take long to get into it, you get an upload of the lesson which is great, and the arrangement, with minus one options of instruments.Also Dave encourages you to send in videos of your playing with the tracks , so you really get a lot for your money.Prices are very reasonable for such high level tuition.This side of Havana Bombo productions is the place to go if you want to learn the real essence of Afro Cuban drumming, music and culture.

Dave Longman

10:59 29 Apr 22

I attended a level 2 salsa percussion course.The course content was perfect for me as I have covered the basics so many times. In these sessions, we used the patterns to build up 2 different salsa arrangements which was just what I needed - a real-life context in which to play the instruments. This was all supported with shared resources including minus-one tracks to play along at home.There were new patterns/techniques to learn for all the instruments - congas, bongo, timbales and guiroThe tutor had a wonderful, relaxed manner and was encouraging and supportive, while also finding ways to push our different ability levels.I would definitely attend another course sometime.

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