- Salsa CD recommendations
- HELP! - I can't hear the rhythm!
- Where to buy
- Salsa Music origins

Salsa CD Recommendations
Now here's a minefield...what is what? who is who? what's good and what's not - the list goes on!
The link below leads to a list of CD recommendations which we recommend you download and print.
Click here to download printable list of Albums/Artists (PDF)
Arm yourself with your printed list before you start browsing!
There are a few ways. Firstly on line at www.amazon.com or at www.descarga.com

You can also try itunes which has a remarkably decent collection. You can make up your own CD by buying individual songs and you can listen to part of the song to see if it suits you.

Alternatively, if you prefer to buy locally, our favourite local salsa music store in Music Front. You can even order on the phone. They will charge your credit card over the phone and simply mail the order out to you once it's in. Their details are below. Happy listening!!

MusicFront Sydney
Shop 46, Level 4, Ashfield Mall
Liverpool Rd, Ashfield NSW 2131 Australia
PH. 02 9799 7795
FAX 02 9799 1710
www.musicfront.com.au

HELP! I can't hear the Rhythm!
The good news is you are without a doubt, NOT alone in this dilemma. We have found it particularly common amongst people whose native culture does not include an inherant element of dance & musical expression, which is very commonplace in countries like Australia. In particular it is quite common amongst men, simply because again dance and music has not played much of a part in their upbringing. Usually girls are sent to dance classes and music lessons and the boys are encouraged in sport - So it is really only a product of environment, but KNOW that this does NOT have to remain that way.

We have several methods of introducing you to Salsa music, some of which you will be aware of and others are built into the classes. The key is however repetition and practice. The more you hear it, the more familiar you become and before you know it, you can't work out why you found it so hard in the first place!

Here are some notes to help you understand in the most basic terms how the music is costructed and how it relates to the basic salsa step. Salsa music for dancers

Salsa Music Origins

Salsa refers to a style of MUSIC and DANCE which was born in the Spanish speaking Caribbean and South America, combining African and Spanish influences from their history of slavery and European settlers. It has now developed all over the world, into numerous variations, that although different, have the same unmistakable sound and feel (sabor) easily recognizable as Salsa.

Salsa means ‘sauce’ in Spanish, but in the early 1970s the term was applied to a new type of music being made by Latin musicians living in New York City. They’d cooked up their own new fusion, largely inspired by Cuban & Puerto Rican big band music of the 1940s and 50s. The resulting sound soon became the most popular thing for DJs right across Latin America and served to effectively market the music genre amongst the masses. Thirty years on, the salsa craze is now a global phenomenon.

Salsa music, like Salsa dance, is still developing and probably will always continue to do so, as long as there new musicians and dancers entering the genre, with influences from a multitude of cultures and other genre of music & dance.
Because of this changing nature, for the novice it can be quite difficult to define, and yet it is immediately recognizable once you are familiar enough with the sounds.

The music was born of a combination of Cuban and Latin American rhythms, with African roots, developed by musicians over the years, who’ve added elements of Jazz and modern music of their time.
The term ‘Salsa’ was coined as a means to market this wonderful rhythmic and melodic sensation. Salsa Music is the obsessive, driving force which moves Salsa dancers to create and express the way they do. It’s addictive!

Downloadable info on instruments used in Salsa music