Learn samba drumming with Wellington Batucada!

Once a year we run an 8-week block of beginners’ drumming classes. These are held on Sundays from 1pm to 3pm, before our regular band practice.

Our next Batucada beginners’ drumming course begins 10 June 2018.

Overview of the course

This is an opportunity learn the basic techniques and patterns on a number of instruments and cover the rhythms of Brazil including samba, samba reggae and merengue. You will be guided by our directors Darryn Sigley and Tim Cooke into the wonderful world of samba, and we aim to have at least one experienced Batucada member supervising each section so that whatever instrument you’re playing, there’s someone there to help you.

Batucada Taster Day – Sunday 27 May 2018

This year’s beginners’ course will begin with a special Batucada Taster Day on Sunday 27 May from 3pm to 4pm (and beyond). This session is free for anyone who’s thinking about doing this year’s course.

You will be watching the main band for the first hour of their normal 2-hour rehearsal, getting an idea of the different instruments, what they sound like and how they are played. We will have band members from each section available at 4pm to answer questions and show you the instruments up close.

Batucada beginners’ course – June-July 2018

The 2018 Batucada beginners’ drumming course will be held on Sundays from 1pm to 3pm at our new rehearsal space, the Lower Gym at Wellington High School, 251 Taranaki Street. The entrance to the gym is on Hill Lane, off Taranaki Street by the zebra crossing.

The course starts on Sunday June 10 and runs for 8 weeks, dates as follows:
Sunday 10, 17, 24 June and Sunday 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 July.

Wellington Batucada CubaDupa 2018 – main stage performance
Video footage by John Conly and Michael Sloley, compiled by Michael Sloley

Registering your interest in the course

Please register your interest by filling in the form on our Join us page. We will add you to our list of participants and email you with all the info.

Cost

The full 8-week course costs just $80, paid in advance.

If it’s too much of a hardship to pay the full $80 up front, please contact us to arrange weekly payments of $15 per session.

There’s also a special price of $20 for current Batucada members who either want to do the beginners’ course again as a revision exercise or for extra practice, or who want to try out a new instrument.

PLEASE NOTE that we are asking you to pay for at least the first session in advance in order to secure your place.

How to pay

Make a deposit into the Wellington Batucada bank account ($15 if paying for individual sessions, or $80 for the whole 8 week course).

Account no. 38-9012-0348830-00
Please put your name and “Beginner” in the payment detail fields

We are a community group that rely on the income from the beginners course, so you can cancel up until two weeks before the start. There will be no refunds after 27th May.

We are looking forward to sharing our music and rhythms with you. SEE YOU THERE!