CPD with Nik Alevroyiannis
On July 9th Newcastle-based professional percussionist Nik Alevroyiannis delivered a CPD master class in Brazilian samba drumming here at Jack Drum Arts.
Enough about the young people for the moment – grown-ups are talking. (They’ll be back soon, I promise)
On July 9th Newcastle-based professional percussionist Nik Alevroyiannis (of ‘DrumDin’ and ‘The Baghdaddies’ https://nikperc.wordpress.com/) delivered a CPD master class in Brazilian samba drumming here at Jack Drum Arts. Those in attendance included JDA Creative Apprentice Adam Heslington, Director Jack Burton, and Lead Music and Arts Worker Laura Emerson (me). Together we comprise the core face-to-face musical delivery team for the ‘Free Range, Home Grown’project. We’re like the Royal Family – we won’t fly together (but that’s just because Easy Jet asked us not to come back).
The workshop focused on a learning cascade – Nik has delivered a series of sessions for ‘Runaway Samba’ as a guest musician and we wanted to consolidate the learning so that the JDA team are able to continue and build on the wonderful work he has begun. We used a number of tools and techniques to capture the material including film, audio samples, written scores, Adam sitting in a corner, fingers in ears, beat-boxing the samba Magalenha surdo part softly to himself – you know, the usual.
We discussed particular samba rhythms in the context of their cultural significance to ensure authentic, informed, and quality mentorship. This went so far as explain left-handed ‘ghost notes’ in the Maracatu rhythm – originally played on large drums where the left stick had to be held at an angle, giving the rhythm its distinct flavour. We deconstructed the arrangements to find the driving ‘core’ of each rhythm, leading to a better understanding about how to simplify and complicate, and most importantly how to support improvisation in keeping with the aural aesthetic of each piece. We also shared methodologies and approaches to delivery, factoring in age and ability variants. And we had fun. The team develops, it grows, we move forward!