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Regular Groups Ethos

Let's get on the same page

‘Olá Samba’ is the name of my business, which includes my regular groups as well as all the other work I do under that banner.

The goal of the regular groups

To provide a fun drumming class where members meet new people, learn a new skill and have opportunities to perform.

The whole point of what we do together, when you boil it down, is positivity. There's often too much negativity around us and not enough positivity. Our group is one way to remedy that. It's a positive place for us to come every week to meet each other, to feel energised, to challenge ourselves and to prepare to share that joy with others in performances. Everything I do relating to the group is for the strength and happiness of the group as a whole. I'm very proud of both groups and everything we stand for. I see my regular groups almost like children to nurture and mature over decades into a loving family.

The regular groups

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I run two regular groups under the Olá Samba banner - the Olá Samba Bateria and the Silver Sambistas. They have far more in common than not.

Both groups:

are based in Cheltenham.

have a waiting list.

have been running for over 12 years.

are fun, friendly, welcoming social groups.

are taught by me on the same equipment and play similar material.

rehearse nearly every week.

have dedicated online resources.

have socials.

perform.

Some differences between the two:

The OS Bateria is for all ages, held on Wednesdays 1915-2115 (term-time). The Silver Sambistas is for over-50s, held on Mondays 1030-1230.

There is a faster pace of learning in the Wednesday group and a higher standard expected for more higher-pressure performances. We value pushing ourselves musically so we can put on incredible performances, but are a fun, friendly, welcoming group.

There is more energetic choreography in the Wednesday group.

The Wednesday group sometimes perform in parades, Mondays only perform static.

Unlike the OS Bateria, it’s not necessary to complete the Beginners’ Course to get a place in the Silver Sambistas, but there will be some places on offer at the end of the course.

Cornerstones

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We are welcoming to all

Yes, all.

Most people have never played music like this before, and some have not played any music before. That’s fine. Olá Samba does what it says on the tin - it’s a way to introduce people to this new world of music, joy and happiness.

One of the most important things to the group’s health is to make sure that new members feel welcomed by the whole group.

Good vibes only

The group is a sanctuary of positivity away from our outside lives and the outside world.

The only people who aren’t welcome are those who spread negativity, bullies, or those who don’t make an effort.

There is no ‘core band’, no ‘them and us’, no ‘clique’

Of course, there are those with more experience, those who know each other better as friends, and those who choose to take on more responsibility within the group, but we are all equal members.

The only ‘core’ of the band, in this sense, is me.

I do offer opportunities to take on more responsibility to help share the workload or help out the group as and when this is appropriate.

We strive to be better

Just because we are open to all doesn’t mean we play basic or dumbed-down material; what we play is the real deal. We want members to be proud and to be able to show off our playing to other ritmistas.

Both groups have progressed massively since their first sessions, meaning there’s a very substantial learning curve for new members to climb. But if you like it enough and persevere you’ll learn a whole new skill and feel a sense of achievement.

The material we play covers a very broad range of styles, more so than many similar groups around the world.

We enjoy it!

Just because we push ourselves doesn’t mean we take ourselves too seriously. This is a tricky balance, but we are not a professional show band where each member is auditioned and expected to be note-perfect all the time. We expect each other simply to commit to learning and to improve over time.

The energy, confidence and smiles of any live band performance (especially a street band like us) normally have far more impact than accuracy.

A good way to sum this up is “we want to get it right without worrying about getting it wrong.”

We should only sign up to a gig that we want to do. No one is obliged to sign up to anything.

Transparent, open, honest

I always try to be as open and honest as possible about my decisions.

The final say is ultimately down to me, but I will always seek (where possible, and in however small or big a way) the opinions of the band before making a decision.

Feedback

Feedback is very important and always welcome. It can be either directly to me or through the

feedback form⁠

where you can comment anonymously if you wish. Tell me what you think is or isn’t working so I can make changes where possible. This has had a massive influence on the way I run the band so far.

Every decision/change I make is for the good of the band, the bestest for the mostest. It’s never to make a quick buck or to deliberately appease some people over others.

“We want to get it right without worrying about getting it wrong.”

More details

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Progression

One of the most difficult things to manage in any group like this is to keep both new and old members happy - to challenge and progress existing members but without intimidating new members.

Regularly learning new performance material and replacing older material.

Opportunities to learn new instruments or progress technique on existing instruments (e.g. ‘Bateria Booster’ sessions).

Section Director roles for experienced members.

Regular opportunities for better understanding and appreciating the music we play. A great place to start this journey is the

Olá Samba Blog⁠

For the very confident there may even be the opportunity to lead the whole bateria.

And, in the Olá Samba Bateria only:

Copacabana/Ipanema sub-group progression. Split-rehearsal time to push everyone as well as possible.

Miniband performance opportunities for experienced members.

Digging deeper... the Olá Samba Blog

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Loading www.olasamba.co.uk⁠

Home practice

You will progress more quickly and find everything easier if you put in even just a little bit of time between rehearsals!

Use the resources to guide you. Focus either on technique or one bit of material at a time until you’ve cracked it!

Resources

The OS Resources Doc is THE place to get to grips with our material.

You are more than welcome to record your own and share them within the band (upload to YouTube as ‘unlisted’ so they can’t be found by searching). Even better, share the link with me and I’ll add to the Resources.

You will progress more quickly and find everything easier if you put in even just a little bit of time between rehearsals!

It’s my job

I am a full-time self-employed music teacher so personally take on all costs and risks associated with the band.

Call me a benevolent dictator, CEO, director... All decisions come down to me. That said, I am always keen for members to take ownership and responsibility of various parts of running the band.

Cost

I think it's important that community groups like this are open to anyone who would benefit from them. I want to avoid as much as possible anyone being put off by cost. If you would like to be involved but would find the cost hard to manage, don't hesitate to be in touch and we'll see if we can offer you a concessionary rate. Equally, if you're already a member but are going through a difficult change in circumstances, don't be shy to ask for a concessionary rate.

I provide T-shirts and hoodies at cost price

I do not make a profit selling these to members.

Let me know if you need one so I’m aware before the next bulk order.

Use your own equipment or mine

It’s entirely up to you whether you choose to buy your own instrument. Having your own will allow you to practise at home, decorate it and be comfortable with it. Feel free to ask me for advice when ordering/tuning/servicing.

It’s sometimes helpful for people to bring their own to performances and there’s a space to indicate this.

David x

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