The Olá Samba Bateria
Brazilian Carnival Percussion Group
Weekly classes. Explosive performances
Professional founder-director. Since 2012
Authentic
We push ourselves musically under the expert direction of full-time music tutor and founder of Olá Samba, David Walter BSc (Hons) MMus.
Our material covers a wide range of authentic Brazilian styles, plus original arrangments.
Alongside rehearsing the set, we work on technique, we learn about the context and significance of the rhythms we play, and we develop general musicality.
Positive
We leave our outside lives and negativity at the door. We arrive with a smile and leave with a wider one.
We put our energy into creating something positive together. That means working up a sweat with energetic choreography, stepping to the beat and sharing the energy of the drums.
Social
And aside from the music, we catch up with good friends and make new ones! You’ll often find us having a quick sociable drink after rehearsal, or at dedicated socials.
We hand-pick the best performances for the band to give us exciting things to look forward to together.
Join us!
How to get involved
For most of us…
The Olá Samba Beginners’ Course
This is the best possible start to your drumming journey with us. We run the course about once per year, teaching the foundations and background to what we do in the band. Find out more.
Or, for experienced musicians…Can I jump in?
If you have considerable musical experience, in this style or otherwise, you might want to jump straight in. The learning curve is steep, but sometimes it’s the best way… If you think this might be you, get in touch!
Details & FAQ
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We rehearse nearly every Wednesday, roughly in line with school terms, at 7.15-9.15pm in Prestbury, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
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We don’t want money to be a barrier to anyone. So we keep our fees low. Choose either monthly rate £18 or pay on-the-door £8/class. And if this is unaffordable to you at any time, we can arrange a concessionary rate.
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No. Most of our members had never played this sort of music before they started, some had never played anything! See “How do I get involved”
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There are two main ways into the band:
For most people, it’s best to put yourself on the list to hear about the next Beginners’ Course. We run these about once per year and they are a perfect grounding in this style of music. We’ll also let you know about other one-off sessions you might be interested in.
For those with considerable musical experience (in this or other styles) you might prefer to jump straight in with rehearsals. If in doubt, get in touch!
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We think we have something to offer pretty much everyone. But it’s definitely for you if many of the following sound like you:
would like to learn a new skill
would like to learn about another culture
like to push yourself
love music
want something active/energising and social in your week and your calendar
Stay in the loop
Be the first to know about upcoming courses, workshops and performances with the Olá Samba Newsletter.