Known as “Dr. Samba” for his rare combination of academic and practical expertise in Brazilian music, Philip Galinsky, Ph.D. is a leading performer and educator of Samba percussion in the U.S. and one of the country’s foremost ethnomusicologists specializing in Brazilian music.
Having immersed himself in Samba music and culture at its source in Brazil for over 30 years, he has studied with numerous renowned master Samba percussionists from Brazil, paraded in Rio Carnaval in the drum sections of some of the world’s most famous Samba Schools, and performed with such Samba artists as the iconic Neguinho da Beija-Flor and Almirzinho (son of legendary sambista, Almir Guinéto). Under the guidance of Gage Averill, Philip earned a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology, specializing in Brazilian music, from Wesleyan University and has been at the forefront of Samba music education in the U.S. for over three decades. A go-to expert in Samba drumming for learners worldwide, he has trained an estimated 2,000-4,000 people of diverse ages and backgrounds in this rich percussive art form.
Winner of the 2024 Artistic Entrepreneur of the Year Award, given by the New York Small Business Development Center, Philip has also won three grants from the New York State Council on the Arts and is an endorser of Contemporânea, the largest percussion manufacturer in Latin American and one of Brazil’s premier brands of Samba percussion instruments.
Kleber KomkA
Philip Galinsky is a kind of ambassador of Samba culture in the United States. A great professional, with musical training and a specialization in Brazilian music, he is a researcher and master in Samba.
Magali Medeiros
Philip is a spectacular percussionist and professor. He plays Brazilian percussion like a native. I’m grateful for the partnership with a professional like Dr. Samba . . . and very moved by the love and respect he has for the Samba and its roots.
Stacy Kovacs
Throughout my time with Philip, I gained the skills and knowledge to even start my own group! Philip is a pillar in both the Brazilian music and greater NYC music communities. Without him, the Brazilian music scene may not be where it is right now. He is an inspiration to me, and I know many others have flourished under his guidance and teachings.
Jonathan Scott Casper
Philip can explain subtleties to the student in plain language and guide you on your own path on your chosen instrument at your own pace. You will be able to join any bateria and have fun after the first few classes, but if you are willing to practice what he teaches, you will be rewarded with a well-rounded knowledge of both the music and of your instrument.
Mike Stevens
Phil was my first samba teacher, and I credit him for igniting a passion in me that has lasted throughout my life. Phil combines a passion for teaching/ performing samba with a deep understanding of the culture and the rhythms. I am grateful for him and the work he has done to spread the joy and excitement of this beautiful art form.
Joseph Gramley
I am especially drawn to the successful ways in which Philip combines a true sense of joy for samba and the bateria with strong research into the tradition and art form. He expertly teaches all of the pertinent techniques in a way that can reach any type or level of student. He has amazing performance experience on all of the instruments and transmits his experience in a way that draws the student in I have the utmost respect for his teaching, research and performance and am incredibly grateful for his mentorship.
Dane Richeson
I always found his work to be well researched, extremely organized, and professionally delivered in a manner that engaged all students. He was generous in giving his time and sharing his knowledge and love of Brazilian music.
Shane Jones, D.M.A.
Philip Galinsky has been an unmatched resource for me and my students regarding all things samba related for the past 6 years. His experience and knowledge of intimate historical facts and current cultural trends combined with his academic and teaching background make him a very rare and valuable resource for percussionists, sambistas, and musicians interested in the music of Brazil. In addition, I have personally found Philip to be extraordinarily generous with his time. He is an excellent performer, a passionate and patient teacher, and an all-around great person to work with.
Pablo R. de Oliveira
I have witnessed Philip’s Brazilian percussion instruction first-hand and attest to his competency and in playing, directing, and leading a group towards a common creative goal. I was impressed with his ability to instruct and direct non-professional musicians. Further, Philip is an important figure in contributing to samba music and culture in the US.
Machah Colbert
Dr. Philip Galinsky is a phenomenal teacher, communicator and facilitator. It was an amazing experience to have Philip teach us. He mapped out a course plan that not only covered all of the instruments in samba but also the styles as well. He worked with every student to ensure all were able to grasp the concepts of the lesson. He patiently listened to our questions and provided not only an answer but also a roadmap for continuing development on our own.
Reed Flygt
I have had the distinct pleasure of knowing Dr. Philip Galinsky and his samba instruction for over 10 years. As a professional educator myself, I admire Philip’s approach and his expertise in this specific content area. He is patient and extremely clear…. Philip is such a valuable resource in the US that not taking advantage of his services could be a mistake.
The Samba New York! Online Academy is founded on the principles of honoring and respecting the African roots of Samba and the people and communities who have contributed to its development and preservation in Brazil. However, we also believe that everyone, regardless of their background, can learn to play Samba proficiently and develop their own individual expression within this art form.
As one of the world’s leading Samba institutions outside Brazil, Samba New York! launched its Online Academy in 2023 to serve musicians around the globe who seek a trusted, high-quality resource for learning and mastering Samba percussion. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine advanced techniques, our mission is to provide the inspiration, instruction, feedback, and support you need to achieve your musical goals.
The Academy offers comprehensive training in both bateria and pagode/roda de Samba styles, allowing members to develop their skills at their own pace and according to their individual interests. Unless otherwise noted, enrollment in any course includes the opportunity to submit one video (up to five minutes) per enrolled course each month for personalized feedback from Philip Galinsky.
For members seeking more intensive, individualized instruction, Samba New York! also offers a private coaching program.
Our Academy is a constantly growing and evolving collection of courses exploring a variety of instruments and topics in Samba percussion. Each course features HD videos with clear, detailed musical demonstrations and explanations. Some courses also include a background essay and musical scores for selected lessons. We privilege the original method of learning Samba percussion in the oral tradition—by observing, listening, and copying—and provide scores selectively to support, rather than replace, this approach.
Within each course, lessons build on one another in a logical, cumulative progression. Members are encouraged to begin with the first lesson and work through the course sequentially.
Members may also submit one video of up to five minutes per month, per enrolled course, to Philip Galinsky for personalized feedback at no additional cost. This is one of the most valuable benefits of the Academy. To participate, email Info@SambaNewYork.com with your full name, WhatsApp phone number, and the name(s) of the course(s) in which you are enrolled.
New content is added periodically as Philip records additional courses and continues to deepen his knowledge and understanding of this music. This ongoing development makes the Academy a truly immersive and cutting-edge learning experience.
From the homepage, just click on the image of any course you would like to take. When you get to the course page, scroll down to the bottom, click on the “Enroll Now” button, and follow the directions. You can enroll in as many courses as you would like. Each course has its own separate subscription fee. You may also become a member of the Academy before enrolling in any courses by clicking on the “Sign Up” link at the top, right-hand corner of the homepage.
The Academy is designed for learners of all levels, offering courses that are appropriate for the complete beginner, seasoned Samba player, and learners in between. Check the description of each course for which levels that course is oriented towards.
The content featured in our Academy has been offered selectively by Philip as a valuable starting or continuing point for the ongoing study of Samba percussion. The perspectives, techniques, rhythms, and concepts shared here are obviously not the only possible ones in Samba. We encourage members to expose themselves to a variety of reliable teachers and approaches to Samba, both online and in-person, as they continue on their journey and develop their own path within the music. As such, we advise members to use the Academy as one trusted source of study among others. We also recommend members include active listening to Samba recordings and, if possible, exposure to and participation in the music played live as a part of their learning process.
Members may enroll in any courses they wish on an à la carte basis. All video lessons included in the courses to which you are subscribed may be viewed at any time. Copies of any scores and articles included in any courses you are subscribed to are yours to keep for your own personal study only (but not to copy, post, or share).
In addition, enrollment in any course includes the opportunity to submit one video (up to five minutes) per enrolled course each month for personalized feedback from Philip Galinsky. To take advantage of this opportunity send us an email to Info@SambaNewYork.com with your full name, WhatsApp phone number, and the name(s) of the course(s) you are enrolled in.
Students are eligible to send only one video for feedback per month per enrolled course. If you miss sending in a video in any given month for a course in which you are enrolled for any reason, no credit is granted, and you forfeit the opportunity to send in a video for that month. You will have to wait till the next month to send in the next video.
Yes. Members of our Academy may subscribe on a monthly or annual basis to any of our courses.
Unless otherwise indicated, each of our courses comes with a free 7-day trial. You may opt out before the trial period ends. If you do not opt out before the trial ends, your form of payment will automatically be charged according to the subscription you chose (monthly or yearly).
Subscriptions will renew automatically and your form of payment will be charged automatically at the beginning of the next billing cycle unless you cancel your subscription before the end of the current cycle (which will be either one month or one year, depending on your plan). If you cancel a subscription before the end of the current cycle, when that cycle ends you will no longer be enrolled in the course and your form of payment will not be charged.
Enrolled students are entitled to receive a full refund of any purchase they make only if they request such refund within 14 days after making the purchase. After the 14 day window has expired, students are not entitled to any refunds or credits. Students are not entitled to any refunds or credits for any other reason.
We at Samba New York! remain firmly committed to providing an extraordinary service to our Academy members. It is our hope that you find our content and community so inspiring and educational that you’ll want to stay for many years to come!
Yes. Just download Teachable’s app to access your course(s) on an iOS device. Otherwise, the Academy may be accessed on a Mac or PC.