Sun. 8/23, 11 am–1 pm
| Age | Adult |
| Event Type | Workshop |
| Department | Brazilian |
| Day | Sun |
| Instructor | Ami Molinelli, Roberta Valente, Alexandre Ribeiro |
| Status | inperson event |
This workshop explores approaches to interpreting, developing, and creating Brazilian popular music styles including choro, maxixe, samba, and baião, using the rhythmic structure of choro as a foundation. Participants will examine the roots of the music, approaches to theme and variation in improvisation, and stylistic elements that distinguish different Brazilian genres.
The workshop is open to professional musicians, music students, music appreciators, and Brazilian music enthusiasts on any instrument. Extra percussion instruments will be provided as needed.
About the Instructors
Ami Molinelli is a percussionist and educator specializing in Brazilian, Latin, and American percussion. She co-leads the Brazilian Jazz Collective and Grupo Falso Baiano and performs with Duo Violão Plus One and other projects.
Ami earned her MFA from the California Institute of the Arts. Her performance and recording credits include work with Billy Hart, Nilson Matta, Jovino Santos Neto, Marco de Carvalho, George Duke, and John Heard, as well as theater and television. She is endorsed by Latin Percussion (LP) and Rhythm Tech.
Her book, Pandeiro Basics, is published by Mel Bay. She has presented clinics and workshops through organizations including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, SFJAZZ, and the Los Angeles Music Center, and has taught at California Brazil Camp, Jazz Camp West, and Cazadero Performing Arts Family Camp.
She is also co-founder and Executive Director of Music Is First!, which brings music programming to early education classrooms.
Roberta Valente is a Brazilian tambourine player, producer, teacher, and researcher with 35 years of experience and is one of the leading figures in contemporary choro music. She has toured throughout Brazil and internationally, including Australia, India, New Zealand, the United States, Europe, and Latin America, and has extensive experience in radio, television, and publishing projects. She teaches at the Choro School of São Paulo.
Alexandre Ribeiro is a composer and clarinetist and one of the leading Brazilian instrumentalists of his generation, known for his technique and interpretation. He has performed and taught at major festivals in Brazil and internationally, including in the United States, Macedonia, India, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, Colombia, Russia, Spain, Denmark, and Kosovo. He teaches at the Choro School of São Paulo and EMESP (Music School of São Paulo).