Rehearsal workshops

Sambanistas regular percussion workshop/rehearsal is held at City Farm East Perth every Saturday 2:30 - 4:30 pm and Tuesday evenings 7:00 - 9:00 pm. However it pays to check our 'Coming up' page as we occasionally have a gig somewhere else on a Saturday. First timers are welcome at any of these sessions - all instruments provided

Sambanistas percussion workshops are designed for anyone who can walk and count to two at the same time. Actually the only requirement is to enjoy yourself!

Sambanistas regular rehearsals at City Farm are organised to simultaneously integrate beginners and keep the regular members challenged.

No previous musical experience is necessary. Workshops are aimed at age 11 and up though some kids as young as seven have enjoyed the experience. All children under 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times. If you would like to come and join us please read our 'Protocols' page.

If you enjoy the workshops you will almost certainly enjoy the thrill of performing with us - even if you have never performed before. We have the strength in numbers and you can hide behind a costume and mask if it still seems too much to handle the first time.

Sometimes a single workshop is enough to prepare you to join in at a basic level, though normally it takes a few rehearsals to familiarise yourself with our repertoire.

"Which instrument should I play?" - One of the range of shakers (ganza, rocar, xequere) is usually the best place to start - not necessarily the easiest instrument to play first off but definitely one of the lightest and it gives you a good grounding in the pulse and swing of each rhythm. After that gravitate to the one that appeals most. Sambanistas has a wide range of instruments that we import directly from Brazil and our Musical Director will happily advise you if you want to purchase your own.

"I've got no sense of rhythm" - don't worry - nobody has a sense of rhythm. And everybody has a sense of rhythm. Just relax and enjoy yourself.