General Info
Music is part of the Brazilian soul! What could make for a more perfect setting in which to while away the hours spending time developing your love & understanding of music? In Brazil rhythm flows through each and every conversation, ebbing its way down into the way the people walk, and in the way they live their lives day-by-day. Music in Brazil is everywhere – it can be found in a complex rhythmic pattern beaten out by an old man with his fingers on a cafe table, or, rolling down in the thundering beat of samba echoing from the hills around Rio in the months leading up to Carnival.
In Rio, you can learn from a master of music who has featured in a film which was shown at Cannes Film Festival 2008.
n Brazil you choose: Music is a very personal and very individual love. No two people will share entirely the same taste – and certainly musicians are no different. Abilities, experience, tastes, preferences range immensely.
This is why you choose! Whether you want to be thrown in at the deep end and be immersed in your passion or, you would rather simply devote a proportion of your time to your music during the weeks leaving time to also explore other interests. It’s entirely up to you – we will work as closely to your preferences as we can to ensure you get the absolute most from your time studying music with us in Brazil.
Because Music is such an individual passion most music placements are arranged specifically for the individual. We work with a number of teachers, and can arrange music lessons in many things - from Brazilian percussion to the jazz trumpet. Simply let us know your choice of instrument/s, musical preferences / tastes / styles, ability level and experience, and of course the experience that you’re looking for and we’ll do the rest!
Example Project: Brazilian Percussion with Jahir Soares in Rio de Janeiro
"Jahir is one of the most amazing drummers I have ever had the privilege to see play. He absolutely blew me away - the volunteers are so lucky to have the opportunity to work with him" - Elizabeth, Brazil Project Co-Ordinator
Jahir is an old friend of Travellers Rio as he manages one of the favela social projects that we have been working with for many years. He is a fantastic musician and teacher, and can play a number of instruments. He is also an experienced teacher, so he was an ideal candidate to teach our volunteers the music of Brazil!
Jahir starred in a feature film in 2007, 'Som E O Resto, O' (The sound and the rest) about music in Rio de Janeiro (trailer on the right) which was shown at Cannes Film Festival and made him quite a celebrity! If you choose this project, you will take 6 hours of lessons per week (three lessons of 2 hours each). Two of these lessons will be taught at your hostel (the hostel has a performance area and is well known for hosting bands), and the other will be taught at a professional music studio. This way, you’ll get the chance to see music in Rio from two different angles, and also of course playing with Jahir’s band!
Course Location: Your music placement is based in the cultural melting pot Rio de Janeiro.
MUSIC IN BRAZIL!
Music is part of the Brazilian soul, and rhythm is in the way people speak, in the way they walk, and in the way they play soccer. In Rio de Janeiro, after the national team has won an important soccer game, fireworks explode in the sky and samba detonates in the streets.
On sidewalks and in city squares, the celebration begins. Impromptu percussion sections appear, made up of all types of Brazilians, rich and poor, black and brown and white. As participants pick up instruments - a drum, a scraper, a shaker - an intricate, ebullient samba batucada (percussion jam) builds. Each amateur music-maker kicks in an interlocking rhythmic part to create a groove that would be the envy of most professional bands in other parts of the world. The singing and dancing inevitably go on for hours.
Over the course of the last five centuries, Portuguese, African, and - to a lesser extent - Amerindian rhythms, dances, and harmonies have been mixing together, altering old styles and creating new forms of music.
MOST BRAZILIAN MUSIC SHARES THREE OUTSTANDING QUALITIES:
It has an intense lyricism tied to its Portuguese heritage that often makes for beautiful, highly expressive melodies, enhanced by the fact that Portuguese is one of the most musical tongues on the earth and no small gift to the ballad singer. Second, a high level of poetry is present in the lyrics of much Brazilian popular music. And last, vibrant Afro-Brazilian rhythms energize most Brazilian songs, from samba to baião. By joining us on this placement, you can be a part of it with this truly magical way of living through music!
WHAT TO DO NEXT:
Talk to us - We're there to help you. Call +44 (0) 1903502
Most of our team are ex Travellers volunteers and are ideally qualified to offer advice and guidance because they know what you're looking for. They'll help you find your perfect project - and then make it all happen!
If you’d like more information about this or any of our projects, please email or call us!
If you’d like to apply for this project, please go to our website and complete the application form. As soon as we receive it, we’ll liaise with you and then start making your travel adventure happen.
It’s as easy as that.
