On Playing The Bongos Poem by Vince Rogers

Whenever I hold the double bongos,

I can’t resist playing

I love to hear that sound

I can’t wait to get started,

sometimes I must be told to stop

It’s such a beautiful instrument,

round and firm with its beautiful skin stretched ever so tightly

My hand vigorously strikes one side repeatedly,

until its time to strike the other

Sometimes I am inspired to improvise and play both sides at one time

It’s more about the technique than the actual melody

Remember the drummer’s main duty is to keep the beat

The drummer’s inspiration must always be the rhythm

To keep the drum in good working order,

it is best not to bang it too hard

It is suggested that you oil the drum well to improve its condition

Even a fine well made tight drum can only take so much banging

There’s an art to beating the drums well

You must strike the skin firmly but not too hard

On occasion your accompanist may request you beat the drum harder

Such a request is rare,

so when offered the chance you must oblige

Like all fine instruments, good drums are all delicate and each quite different

The smaller brown ones can produce an excellent honey sweet tone

Their smooth shiny skin is a pleasure for the eyes and a treat for the ears

Personally, I prefer the larger deep dark tight firm round ones for their earthy tone

They inspire a primal emotion in me that reminds me of real African Drums

If you select one of a lighter hue, you may need to oil it well so as not to bruise the skin

The light ones come in many sizes like the others,

but may require a higher level of maintenance

Playing the drums is a special talent and requires the right amount of skill and restraint

Not everyone will be pleased with the results or able to appreciate your talent

Learning to play can be a noisy and painful undertaking,

so it is suggested that you request permission before starting.

If you learn your craft and do the job well though,

a good time will be had by all

and you will be rewarded with tears of joy