We are based in Gosport and meet every Tuesday evening at Brune Park Academy (Drama Studio) at 7pm. Our session is led by our musical director or one of our music leaders and incorporates stick practice, learning clave (cla-vay) patterns with drumsticks only before going onto drums/shakers. There is time also to socialise and get to know everyone as the band is well known for being a close knit group and we have members of all ages from teens to 70's!

 

Joining the band does require some commitment in terms of practicing and learning to play the clave rhythms and drum patterns at home. We also need members to regularly attend Tuesday rehearsals. 

 

The band are fortunate to be in demand and we would love our players to attend as many gigs as they would like  throughout the season (when our music leaders and yourself feel ready) which in turn supports the sustainability of the band. Our busiest time seems to be from June to the end of September with a flurry at Christmas. Our band members pay a monthly subscription of £20 which contributes towards the cost of tuition fees, rehearsal space, drums and costume. New members receive a pair of drum sticks and basic ear protection in the first instance but are asked to provide their own equipment going forward (drumsticks, ear protection of your choice, knee pads if playing one of the larger drums). 

 

If this sounds good to you and are still interested in joining, we would love to meet you at a rehearsal! It would be great just for you to meet everyone in the first instance, enjoy some stick practice and just either listen or play shaker. If you are then bitten by the samba bug and want to join we will sign you up! (just a bit of form filling for you to complete and set up your subs)

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In your first 2–4 weeks (especially if you're new to drumming), you'll focus on learning stick technique, getting familiar with the music, and playing shaker. After that, you’ll rotate through different drums to determine which one suits you best within the band. You'll also get access to a brilliant online learning resource to help you practice at home. From time to time, we will also offer one-to-one or small group support during rehearsals.

 

If you're already an experienced player, please let us know!

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And if you’re planning to come along to a rehearsal, just give us a heads-up so we can arrange for a band member to buddy up with you when you arrive.

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To enquire about joining please click here or if you have any further questions, feel free to email bandcoordinator@bignoise-samba.com