Get Involved
Want to join in the fun? Whether you're interested in performing, or more of a behind-the-scenes person, we have many opportunities. See specific links and contact information below.
Drum • Dance • Vocalists • Volunteers • Costumes • Props • Fundraising • Photography
 Drummers
Interested in drumming with our percusssion ensemble (or bateria, as they say in Brazil)? You can start by visiting a rehearsal. If you're a beginner, you'll get an inside look at how we work and an idea of the commitment involved. As you progress, you'll be invited to join the group rehearsals and eventually to perform. If you're an experienced drummer, particularly with Brazilian percussion, you'll progress more quickly.
We are currently offering classes in Brazilian percussion for both beginning and intermediate/advanced drummers. Membership in VamoLá is not required for these offerings. Please note that although we current offer instruction, VamoLá is primarily a performance group. For more information, contact drum@vamola.org.
- Brazilian Percussion Class - Beginning to Intermediate
Introduction to Samba
Instructor: Vincent Gonzalez
Show/Hide Class Description
Sundays 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Spectrum Dance Theater
800 Lake Washington Blvd., Seattle
$12 each class
Learn to create authentic samba rhythms in this class, which is ideal for beginners and those who want to improve their technique and broaden their knowledge of Brazilian percussion. Starting with the core instruments of samba - the surdo and the caixa - you'll learn proper stick and mallet technique, basic rhythm patterns and variations, and also how to improvise. Simple, fun exercises will boost your dexterity and sharpen your technique, as well as improving your rhythmic independence and timekeeping. You'll emerge with a solid knowledge base - and great chops. Some instruments provided; see Brazilian Instruments List.
Surdo - Large, deep bass drum played with mallets
Caixa - Brazilian snare drum played with sticks
Repinique - Small, high-pitched drum played with sticks
Zabumba - Small, flat bass drum
Timbal - Conical drum like a lightweight djembe
Djembe - Can substitute for timbal
Cuica - Small friction drum with a characteristic animal-like or bird-like sound
Agogô - Double bell or cowbell
Tan-tans and rebolos - Hand-played bass drums
Ganza - Cylindrical-shaped shaker (metal canister or handwoven basket)
Shekere - Gourd shaker
Pandeiro - Brazilian tambourine
Tamborim - High-pitched small frame drum played with a stick
Reco-reco - Scraper
Triangle
Please contact drum@vamola.org to confirm current class times and location.
- Brazilian Percussion Class - Intermediate to Advanced
Instructor: Jeff Busch
Show/Hide Class Description
Sundays 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Spectrum Dance Theater
800 Lake Washington Blvd., Seattle
$15 each class
Taught by premier percussionist Jeff Busch, this challenging and fun class is geared to intermediate to advanced drummers and covers a variety of musical styles, including samba, baião, afoxé, cabula, frevo, maracatu, and samba reggae. The class is progressive, with each class building on the material learned in previous sessions. Through learning and rehearsing the songs learned in the classes, the musicians in the class will come away with material they will be able to perform as an ensemble. Some instruments provided; see Brazilian Instruments List.
Surdo - Large, deep bass drum played with mallets
Caixa - Brazilian snare drum played with sticks
Repinique - Small, high-pitched drum played with sticks
Zabumba - Small, flat bass drum
Timbal - Conical drum like a lightweight djembe
Djembe - Can substitute for timbal
Cuica - Small friction drum with a characteristic animal-like or bird-like sound
Agogô - Double bell or cowbell
Tan-tans and rebolos - Hand-played bass drums
Ganza - Cylindrical-shaped shaker (metal canister or handwoven basket)
Shekere - Gourd shaker
Pandeiro - Brazilian tambourine
Tamborim - High-pitched small frame drum played with a stick
Reco-reco - Scraper
Triangle
Contact drum@vamola.org to confirm current class times and locations.
 Dancers
Dancers meet once a week to rehearse the group repertoire, with additional
rehearsals as needed. To dance with VamoLá, it's best to have some background in dance (especially Brazilian, Latin, and/or African) and be committed to learning samba and other Brazilian forms. Please note that the dancers' rehearsals focus on the VamoLá repertoire, rather than teaching Brazilian dance. Click here for information on
local classes in Brazilian dance. For more information, contact dance@vamola.org.
 Vocalists
VamoLá occasionally seeks vocalists for performances. If you're a singer with a
flair for Brazilian or Latin music, contact us at info@vamola.org.
 Volunteers
For summer parades and other events, we look for
volunteers who'd enjoy parading with the VamoLa sign, helping as water carriers (a fun and vital job), waving streamers, and other tasks. Instant celebrity! Contact volunteer@vamola.org.
 Costumes
If you have a flair for design and/or experience in
creating costumes, we'd love to hear from you! Contact us at
info@vamola.org.
 Floats, Props, Design
If you are interested in creating floats or props, or have a creative mind for
design, contact info@vamola.org.
 Fundraising, Promotion and Publicity
If you have interest or experience in fundraising, promotion,
publicity, and/or marketing, contact
info@vamola.org.
 Photography, Videography, Recording, and other Media
If you're a whiz with a camera (video, digital, or otherwise),
and/or with editing, contact info@vamola.org.
Photos on header of page by Will Austin.
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