Bateria 101

Instructor, Philip Galinsky, Ph.D.
Director, Samba New York!

Tuesdays, 7/2, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, 7/30, 8/6

7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

The Collective
541 Sixth Avenue
between 14th & 15th Streets
3rd Floor, Studio A (check in at 4th Floor Reception before class)
New York, NY 10011

Fee: $105 (cash only) for all 6 classes
No individual classes

After 19 years teaching Brazilian percussion to people of diverse backgrounds, Director Philip Galinsky, Ph.D. has come to some conclusions about how students best learn samba music. One such conclusion is that if you didn’t grow up in the environment of Rio’s samba schools (or another similar samba school tradition), you need both immersion in the musical culture and a clear and explicit theory about how the music is structured.

Why a theory, you may ask? Aren’t samba players supposed to feel the rhythm? Yes, but as a newcomer to the music, if you just learn by feel, there will likely be huge gaps in your understanding. It’s the same reason why it’s important to learn grammatical rules in a foreign language if you want to speak it correctly.

Samba is often taught in the US not so differently than it’s taught in Brazil: the learn-by-imitating approach (the oral tradition). Of course, this is an essential process. However, an outsider can learn much more quickly and effectively if a useful theoretical framework is added to the immersion process. Combine a solid theoretical approach with practical experience, and you have the most appropriate tools for learning a new language or musical idiom.

Samba New York! is thrilled to introduce Bateria 101 as a direct response to this need for a simple, easy-to-understand approach to mastering the basics of the samba school drum section. Indeed, this course explores what we consider to be the essential building blocks of the Rio samba-enredo (theme samba) drumming style, while preparing the student for entry into the Samba New York! Bateria.

The course will cover such topics as:

• The rhythmic structure of samba
• How to achieve the samba “swing”
• Basic techniques and patterns on the various instruments of the Bateria
• The samba-enredo song form
• Standard hand signals
• The Samba New York! Bateria style
• 1 or more breaks
• 1 or more typical Bateria arrangements

The course is ideal for beginners, though it is open to percussionists of all levels.

To register for the course, send us an email and include your full name, telephone number, and any experience with samba percussion. All instruments are provided. Please bring a pair of drum sticks and ear plugs. Students who successfully complete this course are encouraged to try out for the Samba New York! Bateria, which rehearses on Mondays.

Payment for all 6 classes ($105) is due in full, in cash only, on July 2. Please check in at The Collective reception desk on the 4th Floor before each class. The room may change on certain dates. A substitute may fill in for the regularly scheduled instructor as needed. All payments are nonrefundable. No credits will be granted for missed classes.

We look forward to seeing you in Bateria 101!

Bateria Rehearsal

Instructor, Philip Galinsky, Ph.D.
Director, Samba New York!

Mondays, July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Mondays, August 5, 12, 19

8:00 PM – 10:00 PM

The Collective
541 Sixth Avenue
between 14th & 15th Streets
3rd Floor, Studio A (check in at 4th Floor Reception before each class)
New York, NY 10011

Fee: $140 (cash only) for all 8 classes
$20 (cash only) per individual class (drop-ins)

This course is the formal rehearsal for the Samba New York! Bateria, an all-percussion ensemble that has two distinct layers. At the core of the Bateria is the Show Group, a professional troupe that performs at numerous public and private events throughout the New York City area and beyond. This professional core expands to include a second layer of advanced students (known simply as “Bateria members”) for some of our bigger performances such as the NYC Dance Parade in May and the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade on October 31.

Show Group members begin rehearsing at 7:00 PM, Bateria members join in at 8:00 PM, and the entire Bateria rehearses together until 10:00 PM. Bateria members who are particularly dedicated and who have achieved an appropriate skill level may be eligible to join the Show Group and are encouraged to discuss this possibility with the Director.

Participation in the course and in the Bateria is at the discretion of the Director. All participants who register for the entire course are expected to attend at least 6 of the 8 classes and to provide a minimum of 24 hours notice by telephone (917-684-9447) for any class they may have to miss.

To register for the course, send us an email and include your full name, telephone number, and any experience with samba percussion. All participants are requested to bring a pair of drum sticks, ear plugs, and their own Bateria instrument if they have one. Some instruments are available to borrow.

Payment for all 8 classes ($140) is due in full, in cash only, on July 1. Please check in at The Collective reception desk on the 4th Floor before each class. The room may change on certain dates. A substitute may fill in for the regularly scheduled instructor as needed. All payments are nonrefundable. No credits will be granted for missed classes.

We look forward to having you join our Bateria!

Master Class with Mestre Aílton Nunes

Sunday, April 14

3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

The Collective
541 Sixth Avenue
between 14th & 15th Streets
3rd Floor, Studio A (check in at 4th Floor Reception)
New York, NY 10011

Fee (cash only):
$40 if paid in advance
$50 at the workshop (space permitting)

Samba New York! is honored to be able to offer the NYC samba community this exclusive master class with Mestre Aílton, one of the foremost bateria (drum section) directors in the world. This is a rare opportunity to study with one of the elite musicians in the Rio Carnaval, a top-level percussionist who directs the Bateria of the world-famous Mangueira Samba School.

The content of the workshop will be at the discretion of Mestre Aílton. It will likely cover the Mangueira style and possibly one other bateria style from Rio. The class is intended for advanced samba players, though intermediate students who are able to keep up with the material are also welcome. All participants are expected to bring their own instruments and accessories (sticks, straps, mallets, etc.). Some surdos are available on a first-come-first-served basis.

Since space in the workshop is limited and we expect it to fill up very quickly, we encourage you to register immediately by sending an email to Info@SambaNewYork.com with your full name, contact phone number, instrument, and level of experience.

To complete your reservation, advanced payments must be submitted in person to Philip Galinsky (cash only) at Drummers Collective during our Monday Bateria Rehearsal or Tuesday Bateria 101 classes. Please send an email to Info@SambaNewYork.com at least 24 hours in advance before heading out to make your payment. All payments are nonrefundable. No credits will be granted if you miss the workshop.

Samba New York! wishes to thank Dana Monteiro and the Frederick Douglass Academy High School for co-sponsoring Mestre Aílton’s visit to New York; Jacaré of the Austin Samba School for organizing his workshop tour in the US; the California Brazil Camp for acquiring his visa; and Contemporânea for sponsoring his trip from Brazil.

As far as we know, this master class represents the first time that a mestre de bateria from one of Rio’s samba schools will be teaching in New York. We look forward to having you be a part of this historical moment—a landmark opportunity to expand the collective knowledge of the NYC samba scene!

Special Thanks:

Samba New York! is a leading organization in NYC dedicated to Brazilian samba culture, offering shows, drumming classes, and guided music trips to Brazil. The Estado de São Paulo, one of Brazil’s most prominent newspapers, recently praised Samba New York! as “the most famous and active ‘school of samba’ in New York City.”

Inspired by the famous escola de samba parade associations of Rio de Janeiro, Samba New York’s professional Show Group brings the exhilaration and rich traditions of Brazilian Carnaval to events of all kinds, public and private. The group has been featured on Brazil’s most widely viewed nightly news program (TV Globo’s O Jornal Nacional) as well as on the Dr. Oz Show (Fox) and CBS Early Show in the US.

Samba New York’s performance credits comprise some of the New York area’s most prestigious venues, including the Best Buy Theater in Times Square (opening for the famous Brazilian band, Skank), Joe’s Pub, Brooklyn Museum, and Sounds of Brazil. The group has become a mainstay at the famous Greenwich Village Halloween Parade (serving as the head band twice), while also helping to make the success of such local events as “Samba with the Sea Lions” at Brooklyn’s Prospect Park Zoo and the popular Fire On the Water Brazilian boat cruise along the Hudson River.

Samba New York’s clients include Kraft Foods, Pepsi Co., Starbucks, Bloomberg, Carnegie Hall, Macy’s, NIKE, and the State Secretaries of Tourism of Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, and Amazonas States in Brazil, among many others.

Our percussion courses taught by Samba New York’s founder and Director, Philip Galinsky, Ph.D., provide exceptional training in the art of Rio de Janeiro style samba drumming. These classes are the means by which students of all levels can join our community of samba enthusiasts and eventually perform with our Bateria (Drum Section).

But Samba New York! doesn’t stop there! We also offer a cultural immersion trip to Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval, guided by Philip Galinsky, who has 20 years of experience as an ethnomusicologist and percussionist in Brazil.

Philip Galinsky is a percussionist and ethnomusicologist specializing in Brazilian music. He founded Samba New York! in 2003 and is the group’s Director and principal percussionist.

Conducting music research in Brazil since 1993, he has published widely in the field of ethnomusicology, including pioneering work on the pagode samba and mangue beat movements. He holds a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University, where his doctoral dissertation, Maracatu Atômico, was selected for publication in Routledge’s Outstanding Dissertations series. He has taught ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University, UC Davis, and Hampshire College, also founding and directing samba ensembles at each of these schools.

As a percussionist, he has studied with such Brazilian master drummers as Jorge Alabê, Jonas de Oliveira (Mestre Jonas), Odilon Costa (Mestre Odilon), Aílton Nunes (Mestre Aílton), Miguel do Repinique, Wagner Bezerra (Boca Rum), Maninho Costa, Dudu Fuentes, and Jorge Martins da Silva, among others.

He has performed in the Rio Carnaval since 1999 with some of the world’s most renowned samba schools, including Mocidade, Salgueiro, and Imperatriz — a rare honor for a non-Brazilian. Since 2010, he has been a member of the Bateria of the Acadêmicos do Cubango Samba School in Rio, led by Mestre Jonas.

Dr. Galinsky has been lauded as one of the foremost educators of Brazilian percussion in the United States. Since 1994, he has taught hundreds of samba students, including the leaders of such groups as Phillybloco, Bloco Maximo, Harlem Samba, Mais Um, and Batala NYC. Since 2003, he has emerged as a leading samba teacher in NYC, conducting regular courses for students of all levels through Samba New York!

From 2008-2013, he led a cutting-edge program in Brazilian percussion for 4th and 5th graders at Manhattan’s PS 234, teaching over a dozen different music styles. From 2009-2012, he was on the faculty of the California Brazil Camp in Cazadero, California.

In addition, he has given workshops or held residencies at such institutions as NYU, City University of New York Graduate Center, Stony Brook University, Drummers Collective, Frederick Douglass Academy, the University of Southern Maine, and the University of Michigan, among many others.

A leading authority in the US on Brazilian music, he is available as an educator and specialist in Brazilian percussion for workshops, lecture-demonstrations, private instruction, and performances.

Philip Galinsky is honored to be endorsed by Latin Percussion.

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Vocal Cuíca: Philip of Samba New York! & Aílton of Mangueira

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Samba New York! – Bateria 101

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Samba New York! – Bateria 102

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Samba New York! Presents “RIO: Samba City”

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Samba New York! on the Dr. Oz Show

Samba New York! Live at the Prospect Park Zoo

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Samba New York! Live at the Nokia Theater

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Samba New York! on the CBS Early Show

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The Samba Dance

Bahia Groove

Bateria No Caminho

Vem Dançar

Bateria Show

Our professional Show Group comprises an exceptional roster of samba drummers and dancers; singers; guitarists; players of the cavaquinho, the characteristic small Brazilian guitar; acrobatic performers of capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art-dance; horn players; and whatever other type of performer may be required.

The heart of Samba New York’s Show Group is its Bateria Muita Energia! (High Energy Drum Section). Distinct from other organizations that hire their drummers on an event-by-event basis, Samba New York! trains its players as a unit in weekly rehearsals, giving the group its signature sound and consistency.

Our head dancer is Danielle Lima, who grew up in Rio’s samba world performing with the famous Beija-Flor Samba School. Her diverse experience and singular choreographic talent offer our team of handpicked dancers an original style that unites traditional samba steps and costumes from Rio with the classy sophistication of NYC.

Tying it all together is the artistic vision of Director, Philip Galinsky, whose unyielding commitment to quality and professionalism has made Samba New York! the “most famous and active ‘school of samba’ in New York City”!

Please contact us to discuss performance options.

Samba New York! has emerged as NYC’s premier training ground for samba percussionists. Our organization has graduated numerous players who have gone on to shake up the local Brazilian music scene, including the leaders of such groups as Frederick Douglass Academy’s Harlem Samba, Mais Um, and Batala NYC.

Dr. Galinsky is personally responsible for training all the percussionists in Samba New York! from beginner to professional levels. Our entry-level course, Bateria 101, offers a uniquely accessible method of mastering the basics of samba drumming in a fun, communal environment.

Qualified students move into our Bateria, an all-percussion ensemble that practices throughout the year in our Bateria Rehearsal course. The Bateria comprises both professional Show Group members, who perform at numerous public and private events, and Bateria members who participate in some of our bigger performances such as the NYC Dance Parade in May and the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade on October 31.

Dedicated students in Samba New York! have a unique opportunity to move from the beginner course to participation in the Bateria and graduate as a professional samba percussionist. Many of the current members of our Show Group are living proof!

NOTE: Samba New York! is not currently offering dance classes. We recommend the classes of Danielle Lima. Samba dancers of all levels are invited to participate with Samba New York! in the annual Greenwich Village Halloween Parade.

Please visit our Events page for a list of current courses. We also offer private lessons in samba percussion for those seeking quicker progress. To schedule a private lesson or to reserve Samba New York! for a lecture or workshop, please contact us.

SAMBA STUDY TRIP: RIO 2014

with Philip Galinsky, Ph.D.
Dates TBA

Samba New York’s Director, Philip Galinsky, Ph.D., leads a cultural immersion trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during Carnaval. The goal of the trip is to provide enthusiasts of Brazilian music and dance a unique opportunity to explore Rio’s rich samba culture first hand. The group visits several samba schools in rehearsal, has a workshop with a master Brazilian percussionist, experiences a night of top-level Samba School Parades in the Sambadrome during Carnaval, and much more!

The trip is open to musicians and non-musicians alike. Samba New York! will do its best to open doors for experienced drummers who wish to play in samba school rehearsals or in blocos (street Carnaval groups). Prospective participants interested in this possibility are highly encouraged to attend Samba New York’s Bateria Rehearsal course and to take private lessons with Philip Galinsky prior to the trip.

For detailed information about our next Samba Study Trip, keep checking our Events page. Please contact us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you in Rio!