Special Topics
The teachers are offering 4 Special Topic classes this year during the 4 to 5:30 time slot Wednesday through Friday. Each day’s class will be different, so you can stick with one topic for all three days or take a different one each day if you wish.
Immediately below you’ll find a general description of the classes. Further down the page you can see what’s being offered in more detail on each day. If you’ve already seen the general descriptions you might want to jump to the daily offerings now.
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General Descriptions of the Special Topics
The Waltz in Choro (A Valsa): Varieties and Interpretation
Anat Cohen, Cesar Garabini and Vitor Gonçalves
Our Core Repertoire doesn’t include any waltzes this year, but they are very much a part of the choro tradition. The class will explore a different waltz every day — Valsinha (Chico Buarque & Vinicius de Moraes), Feia (Jacob do Bandolim) and Santa Morena. These tunes offer not only great additions to your repertoire, but excellent vehicles for exploring accompaniment and varieties of melodic interpretation within the choro tradition.
Roda de Samba
Fabio Oliveira, Iuri Bittar and Pedro Cantalice
Choro and samba are close cousins, forever in dialogue. In this class you’re invited to engage in that dialogue through a roda de samba on guitar, cavaquinho, percussion and/or vocals. To facilitate our being able to sing as well as play, Fabio has offered to lead a vocals class at 9 AM, Wednesday through Friday. From 4 to 5:30 on those days, we’ll spend the first part of class working on our respective instrumental parts, then put the pieces together under Fabio’s direction. We’ll cover two tunes a day.
Pandeiro: Intro to Pandeiro and Pandeiro Orchestra
Clarice Magalhães
Clarice is offering two different Special Topics classes. On Wednesday, she’ll offer an Intro to Pandeiro for players of other instruments. Then on Thursday and Friday she invites you to participate in her Orquestra de Pandeiros, a unique project she has long led in Rio de Janeiro: a pandeiro ensemble, with different parts for different players, including both novices and those with advanced skills.
Check out this video for just one recent example of Clarice’s Orquestra de Pandeiros Tum Tá Que Tá at work!
Jacob do Bandolim: History and Innovation
Daniela Spielmann and Almir Côrtes
A deep dive into the life and work of Jacob do Bandolim with two trusted guides. The material Daniela and Almir have prepared will provide the biographical and historical context for Jacob’s work and then you’ll explore — hands on — various technical aspects of that work through four of his best-known compositions: Vibrações, Receita de Samba, Doce de coco, and Diabinho maluco.
Please note: As Daniela’s participation in this workshop should make clear, it is NOT for bandolim players only.
Daily Offerings
Here’s where you can find more details on what each day’s Special Topic class will consist of, and where they will take place.
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WEDNESDAY
The Waltz in Choro (A Valsa): Varieties and Interpretation
Anat Cohen, Cesar Garabini and Vitor Gonçalves
Lawrence Living Room, Dining Room and Rm 101
Valsinha — Chico Buarque & Vinicius de Moraes
Anat’s notes: a slow song, with an easy melody and harmony, which leaves lots of room for melodic embellishments and expression.
CHARTS AVAILABLE HERE
Roda de Samba
Fabio Oliveira (percussion), Iuri Bittar (guitar), Pedro Cantalice (cavaquinho)
Mendenhall Studio 2
Voltei — Jair do Cavaquinho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgmt9tL71uk
Não sei dar adeus — Ataulfo Alves / Wilson Batista
https://open.spotify.com/track/7KG8khshpb3DBuhpjyJynW?si=ae48be04719b4163
Pandeiro: Intro to Pandeiro
Clarice Magalhães
Tyler Dining Room
Ever wanted an in-person intro to how to play pandeiro? Here’s your chance!
Jacob do Bandolim: History and Innovation
Daniela Spielmann and Almir Côrtes
Sage 15
In this workshop, every day’s presentation will cover different aspects and eras of Jacob’s life and work. There will also be at least one tune you discuss and play — today’s is Vibrações
GET CHARTS HERE
THURSDAY
The Waltz in Choro (A Valsa): Varieties and Interpretation
Anat Cohen, Cesar Garabini and Vitor Gonçalves
Lawrence Living Room, Dining Room and Rm 101
Feia — Jacob do Bandolim
Anat’s notes: a three part gorgeous choro with a fascinating melody and beautiful harmonic surprises. We will look at the different character of each section, including tempo changes, and explore melodic interpretation and accompaniment possibilities to fit the character of each.
CHARTS AVAILABLE HERE
Roda de Samba
Fabio Oliveira (percussion), Iuri Bittar (guitar), Pedro Cantalice (cavaquinho)
Mendenhall Studio 2
Eu não tenho onde morar — Dorival Caymmi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMZcpbY8IaM
Nasci pra sonhar e cantar — Dona Ivone Lara
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXHX0tQdnD8
Pandeiro: Pandeiro Orchestra
Clarice Magalhães
Tyler Dining Room
Clarice’s Orquestra de Pandeiros is a unique project she has long led in Rio de Janeiro: a pandeiro ensemble, with different parts for different players, including both novices and those with advanced skills. When’s the next time you’re going to have a chance to try that out, we ask?
Grooves for Pandeiro Orquestra
Jacob do Bandolim: History and Innovation
Daniela Spielmann and Almir Côrtes
Sage 15
In this workshop, every day’s presentation will cover different aspects and eras of Jacob’s life and work. There will also be at least one tune you discuss and play — today’s is Doce de Coco
GET CHARTS HERE
FRIDAY
The Waltz in Choro (A Valsa): Varieties and Interpretation
Anat Cohen, Cesar Garabini and Vitor Gonçalves
Lawrence Living Room, Dining Room and Rm 101
Santa Morena
Anat’s notes: a fast waltz inviting various rhythmic approach to the accompaniment and the interpretation of the melody.
CHARTS AVAILABLE HERE
Roda de Samba
Fabio Oliveira (percussion), Iuri Bittar (guitar), Pedro Cantalice (cavaquinho)
Mendenhall Studio 2
Minha Festa — Nelson Cavaquinho
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDNHE1Bx-HY
Pressentimento — Elton Medeiros
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aGiG2EUDBU
Pandeiro: Pandeiro Orchestra
Clarice Magalhães
Tyler Dining Room
Clarice’s Orquestra de Pandeiros is a unique project she has long led in Rio de Janeiro: a pandeiro ensemble, with different parts for different players, including both novices and those with advanced skills. Last chance!
Jacob do Bandolim: History and Innovation
Daniela Spielmann and Almir Côrtes
Sage 15
In this workshop, every day’s presentation will cover different aspects and eras of Jacob’s life and work. There will also be at least one tune you discuss and play. Today there are two — Receita de Samba and Diabinho Maluco
GET CHARTS HERE
