Samba school Papagaio offers weekly samba percussion classes for beginners and for more advanced players. Everyone has it in them, the rhythm just needs an outlet, so why not try samba?

Bateria is the heart of the samba school. Without it, there would not be music, dancing or carnival!

Bateria Papagaio is looking for new players to join our samba percussion group. No previous experience is required, we will teach you all you need to know. Anyone can play, and we even have a group for younger players. You are welcome to join us anytime but the best time join up is at the beginning of the Autumn season. Our teaching language in all dance and percussion classes is Finnish but it is possible to ask questions in English.

Our bateria Papagaio performs in events year round. The culmination of the samba year is Helsinki Samba Carnaval – playing with a large group of ritmistas* in front of tens of thousands of people is an unsurpassable experience!

*)Ritmista = samba percussionist in Brazilian portuguese

Bateria classes for Beginners

Mondays 6.15-7.30 pm

Learn all the basics of samba percussion and Brazilian music  in our weekly beginner’s classes. A bateria comprises of a variety of percussion and melodic instruments that together create the essence of carnival samba. Anyone can play samba and there’s an instrument for everyone.

We welcome everyone  – samba belongs to all! No prior experience is required and we provide the instruments, just have fun and enjoy yourself. More experienced samba percussionists also attend the classes, both to learn more and to help beginners.

Bateria classes for Advanced

Mondays 7.45-9.15 pm
Mestre de Bateria: Markus ”Maracujá” Jaatinen

Moving from beginner’s classes to the advanced classes is possible as soon as Mestre de Bateria encourages it. At this point a “ritmista” would’ve found their instrument and can already follow the high tempo of the show bateria. New and current performance material such as samba-enredos (carnival samba arrangement), demanding rhythm patterns and other rhythms such as samba-funk are learned and rehearsed in the advanced classes. Joining the main performance line-up (gig bateria) is another step: the mestre selects players based on skill and rehearsal commitment.

Bateria Papagaio’s style follows that of one of the oldest samba schools in Rio de Janeiro, Estação Primeira de Mangueira, but we also study material from other samba schools.

And of course we learn our own songs we compose each year for the Helsinki Samba Carnaval. Bateria’s Spring season is dedicated to preparing for the carnival: learning the song, parading, playing in sectionals and in a very high tempo. The only way to get to parade and perform is through the advanced bateria classes. 

Instrument Sections

Fridays
17:30–18:25 “Kitchen” (large and mid-size drums)
19:35–20:30 Front Row (smaller percussion instruments at the front of the bateria)

Section rehearsals are open to all players attending Monday classes – your seasonal fee covers up to two rehearsals per week! To improve on your instrument, it’s important to practice more than once a week. In early autumn, we focus in detail on basic playing techniques; later in the season we work on other patterns as needed.

Samba School Class
Fridays 18:30–19:30 (between the two section sessions)

On Fridays we play and dance together! Every other week a dance teacher leads the session, and on alternate weeks the dance floor is open for Papagaio members to practise freely to live bateria music. In the taught sessions we might focus on specific bateria instruments, breaks, or other parts of batucada.

Papagaio Bateria Mirim

Mondays 5.00-6.00 pm

Papagaio Bateria Mirim is Bateria Papagaio’s junior group for 10- to 18-year-olds. The group plays Brazilian rhythms, sama and samba-reggae with traditional samba drums. Rehearsals are on Mondays, new players are welcome, no previous experience needed. For enquiries contact mirim (at) papagaio.fi. For registrations: please fill-in this form.

Pagode

Sundays 5.00-8.00 pm

Pagode, samba de mesa, partido alto, samba de raiz… the relaxed style of samba beloved by sambistas goes by many names. The percussion instruments in pagode are lighter than in carnival samba, and melody instruments and vocals play a particularly important role. Enquiries about the group, contact: kari (at) papagaio.fi.

Banda Reggae Papagaio

Mestre de Bateria: Kari “Careca” Winqvist

Banda Reggae Papagaio is a Papagaio ensemble dedicated to samba-reggae and other authentic Afro-Brazilian music. More information can be found on the BRP’s own pages. The band is currently on hiatus and not holding rehearsals. Inquiries: kari (at) papagaio.fi.