Workshop Content

We Conduct Workshops All Over The World

Samba New York! can bring the same knowledge and experience that we use to train our own musicians and dancers to your organization! Known as “Dr. Samba” for his rare combination of practical and academic expertise in Brazilian music, Philip Galinsky, Ph.D. — Director of Samba New York! and a leading specialist in Brazilian music in the field of ethnomusicology — is one of the most respected and influential educators of samba drumming in the US. Over the last two decades, he has developed a unique teaching method that has enabled countless students of all musical backgrounds to understand samba analytically and to play it at a high level with the proper Brazilian feel.

Having successfully tested this methodology in Samba New York! and by conducting workshops at numerous institutions since 1994, Dr. Samba has just the right set of skills to take your group, whether composed of complete beginners or professionals, to the next level of proficiency in samba music performance.

Bateria Basics: Basic techniques and patterns on each instrument of the Bateria (samba drum section); the rhythmic structure of samba; how to achieve the samba “swing”; standard hand signals and conventions of the typical samba-enredo song form

Get Your Groove On: Concentrated work on technique, timing, swing, and synchronization in service of achieving an optional groove in your Bateria

Sectionals: An in-depth exploration of one or more instruments in the Bateria (covers both techniques and rehearsing for optimal blend)

Bateria Leadership: Methodologies for effective directing, including formation of the Bateria, tuning, conducting techniques, organizational strategies, and people management skills

Bateria Styles: A survey of some of the most distinctive samba school styles from Rio and/or other Brazilian rhythms adapted to the Bateria

Original Sound: Create your very own Bateria style and arrangements

Rootsy Rhythms: Learn to play basic patterns and variations on pagode (small-group samba) percussion instruments and to sing selected samba repertory

Sample Videos