Roots 2 Electronic - Play Brazilian Drums!

Students will learn to play a variety of Brazilian rhythms, and discover how these fit into contemporary music.  They will work with many types of percussion instruments.  The workshop focuses on group dynamics and creating arrangements of increasing complexity.  The teaching method is kinesthetic, hands-on and fun!  Students will take away a keener sense of rhythm, unique musical discovery, and a fantastic interactive group experience.  People of all levels and absolute beginnners welcome.

NEGO BETO is a true international artist. He was born in Bahia, northern Brazil, where he grew up surrounded by the vibrant Afro-Brazilian rhythms. Educated at the famed Villa-Lobos Music School in Rio de Janeiro, he played in the top samba schools and carnival groups before moving on to work with reggae, rock and Brazilian music bands. He was the only Brazilian musician to accompany reggae legends The Wailers as a bandmember on their first tour of Brazil in 1993. He produced Reggae MTV for Brazil's MTV network, and has featured in numerous television programmes and films. Beto has lived, traveled, played his music, and taught percussion in five continents. Here in New Zealand, his percussion workshops have been held at festivals, high schools and tertiary institutions all over the country. His current musical project is BrazilBeat Sound System, with recent recordings released locally on the "Kaiti Collective" cd, and in Brazil & Europe on the compilation "Bits Sessions" from Nikita Music. He co-writes "Brazil Beat" a bi-monthly magazine column about Brazilian music for The Beat Magazine (USA).