COURSES
FREE PANDEIRO COURSE
WHAT DOES THE COURSE INCLUDE?
These 7 sessions focus on posture, technique, rhythms, and enjoyment! For even the most experienced percussionist, these videos present the chance to go back to basics and tweak things. The 3 rhythms featured allow practice of all techniques shared. Each video suggests moments to pause and continue working on certain exercises. The sessions will help you pick up this wonderful instrument for the very first time, and in your own time progress to playing grooves and jamming with other people.
HOW WILL IT WORK?
One video will be uploaded every morning for 7 days to allow you to practice at the best time of day for you. It would be ideal to put aside 10-20 minutes per day to practice each technique before moving on to the next video. If you miss a day, simply start from the next video (no one is checking!). If you can’t set this time aside this week, feel free to wait until all videos are uploaded and make use of them then. I liked the idea that lots of pandeiro enthusiasts would log in during the same week as a bit of a community thing, so I opted to release the videos in this way.
WHAT IF I HAVEN’T GOT A PANDEIRO OR TAMBOURINE?
Until you get an instrument, try using a large book, a plate (be careful!), or something else of a similar size and shape. Maybe this course will inspire you to buy a new musical toy! Feel free to enjoy the videos during the release week anyway and save them for another time if you wish.
EXTRAS
On the last day (Sun 9th May) Holly is also hosting an optional pandeiro drop-in on Zoom from 5pm-6pm. This is an informal chat and chance to ask questions about any of the techniques or rhythms featured in the week of videos, and meet other people who’ve been doing the classes during the week! To get the Zoom link for Sunday, email holly@hollyprest.com letting us know you’ll be doing the classes and that you want to join us. Please put ‘PANDEIRO ZOOM LINK’ in the subject.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Please do post some little recordings through the week and tag me/follow my Instagram or subscribe to my new YouTube channel; I’d love to see how you are getting on!
SO THESE CLASSES ARE ALL FREE?
Yep. These have been created as a gift to you from one musician to another (you’re welcome, you deserve a treat).
If these lessons have been helpful to you and you are able to/would like to make a donation, you are welcome to here:
AFTER THE COURSE, ARE MORE LESSONS AVAILABLE?
Let’s see how everyone gets on with the lessons and take it from there. I do offer one-to-one/small group lessons online, but the goal is to get back to face-to-face sessions, partly for the vibe and partly for the quality of experience for the learner.
THE COURSE
In this video: – Meet the pandeiro, the national instrument of Brazil. – Why playing this instrument is brilliant! – How the 7 day course will work and what the video lessons will include. – How to get involved if you don’t have a pandeiro yet!
In this video: – where the pandeiro is most commonly found – different types of pandeiros and what they are made of – tips for tuning a pandeiro – holding the instrument with a relaxed posture – both arms being a team! – warming up by starting to ‘tip’ the drum – styles we’ll cover during the week ahead
In this video: – accidentally choosing a Star Wars tee for the May 4th video – result! – recap of the previous video lesson – bass tone (with the thumb) – slap (with the top part of the hand) – introducing tipping the drum – making adjustments to find quality in your sound – starting to make up your own rhythms using these two sounds
In this video: – recap of the previous video lesson – Partido Alto rhythm – reference to the Tamborim and Agogo (bells) – different feelings on samba rhythms on and off the beat – beginners version of Partido Alto with a lead in phrase – counting into Partido Alto with no lead in phrase – a hint at a more advanced version with additional variations (in video 4!) – making notes about your own practice and adjustments
In this video: – recap of the previous video lesson – tipping the pandeiro and why it’s a great technique – how the hands can work better together – heel and finger touches and practice phrases – exploring making sounds on both sides of the hand – incorporating a variation to the Partido Alto rhythm – using different types of pandeiros in different playing settings.
In this video: – recap of the previous video lesson – music from Pernambuco state in Brazil – rhythm study: Côco (one common way of playing) – how this sounds of different types of pandeiros – recapping the tipping technique – swing feel, references to samba – clapping, singing, and other accompanying instruments – starting and stopping phrase (adding touches)
*This video is a little more advanced than the previous ones so be sure to master the techniques in the previous videos first*
HEADPHONES RECOMMENDED – for bass sounds technique lesson.
In this video: – recap of the previous video lesson – how to make any sound with different parts of the hands – making a tone with the fingers (not always the thumb)
Teacher shout outs: Marcos Suzano Sérgio Krakowski
Mixcloud playlists you might enjoy: https://www.mixcloud.com/JubadoLeao
*This video is a little more advanced than the previous ones so be sure to master the techniques in the previous videos first*
HEADPHONES RECOMMENDED
In this video: – recap of the previous video lesson – rhythm study – samba groove – hearing the samba bateria within the pandeiro groove – using finger tones instead of double thumb tones – using the fingers on the back to mute or open the skin – blending Partido Alto groove with this new Samba groove – combining all the techniques from the previous lessons