Pandeiro beginners course (2 sessions)

The course is designed as a 2-week journey to allow for personal progress, individual feedback, and plenty of ideas and techniques to release everyone back into the Pandeiro-playing wild! To get the benefit of the short course, it is beneficial to attend both session dates.

What to Expect:

– Technique pointers – individual feedback on your playing to help cement good habits and make your playing feel great.

– Stamina building – exercises, warm ups, and games to build stamina whilst playing fun grooves together. Expect an eclectic playlist!

– Background context and rhythms – introduction to some of the popular rhythms found in Afro-Brazilian music, including (but not limited to) Samba, Maracatu, and Côco, alongside Western ideas adapted to this diverse instrument.

– Small ensemble playing – a chance each week to play other small accompanying percussion instruments to experience playing pandeiro as part of a band or jam situation.

– Co-ordination – practical exercises to improve and promote co-ordination and independence, including movement and song.

– Improvisation – enjoy and master improvisation phrases that are characteristic of each style.

– Portuguese vocabulary – a few bonus essentials to help you find your way when you take your Pandeiro to Brazil for a jam!

Instrumentation: all instruments are provided, please bring along your beloved Pandeiro if you have one.

Time:

7pm-9pm (arrive 6:45pm if possible)

Venue:

The Vale (theatre space), Unit 2 Vale Mill, Micklehurst Road, Mossley, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL5 9JL

About the tutor:

Holly Prest is the Artistic Director and a founding lead artist of Global Grooves. Following more than 25 years of participation in and strategic development of Carnival arts, she has helped nurture and maintain lesser-known global music and dance traditions in a UK context. Her passion for sharing authentic Carnival-based grooves with enthusiastic emerging artists led to the development of the flagship youth arts leadership programme ‘Future Leaders’ which receives national acclaim. Holly has supported the development of many community bands around the UK. Holly co-teaches the Global Grooves weekly Bloco featuring percussionists, melody players, and dancers.

Holly is an experienced performer. In 2024 she became a drummer and percussionist with Mr. Wilson’s Second Liners, and as percussionist with trio Skutch Manos she performed around the UK sharing her energetic and unique style of multi-percussion playing during the band’s time together (expect a 2024 reunion!). Holly is also a guest percussionist with the Girls That Mix collective.

As a band leader, her performance group Juba do Leão offers one of the UK’s most unique fusion representations of Afro-Brazilian music from the Pernambuco region of Brazil, with a young collective of 8-18 year old musicians and dancers carving their own path alongside in the Jubacana project.

Access:

If you have any access requirements to be able to attend, please complete the form at the base of this page, or let us know via email or phone ([email protected] / 01618706895).