Let the challenge begin!

No one ever said teaching kids would be easy.  It’s fun and at the end of each rehearsal we are blown away. That’s not to say that we don’t get challenged.  The kids challenge us often, but every so often they thrown down a challenge of their own.  This past Wednesday for example, we were rehearsing outside.  The older kids were learning a new version of Samba Reggae while the younger kids were learning a new dance.  During rehearsal time the older kids started to whine and complain. They weren’t listening and just kept going on and on. Finally, the dance director said “While you guys were busy complaining the dancers learned entire new dance and went over it several times”  Of course that started a match! The older kids didn’t think the dancers would be able to learn what they were playing.  Of course that just set up the challenge.  The challenge was that the younger kids would learn whatever was taught and would be excited and pick up quick, while the drummers learned the dance. You can just imagine how excited the dancers were to get to drum! They jumped right in. Strapped on their Surdos (some were almost as big as the kid =) ) and were ready to play. While the drummers decided to go play on the playground… So after several minutes, the dancers where playing the rhythm! It was so great! They listened paid attention and learned! This did not sit well with the drummers. It wasn’t the same rhythm they played so in their eyes it didn’t count. What they weren’t seeing was that it’s so much fun and things get done better if they would just pay attention in the first place and just stop complaining! Needless to say that after that the drummers wanted to show off and ended up playing the correct rhythm with almost perfection!! It was awesome and it sounded great! 

If you want to hear the rhythm they learned and that caused all this you can check it out on our facebook page cubclubsamba

Practice, Practice, Practice!

After 3 days of rehearsals these kids never disappoint. They just amaze us each time. Just when we start to think "will they get it?" They take that thought and flush down the toilet! These kids are truly talented! After today's rehearsal I was so overjoyed! Actually yesterday's rehearsal was pretty amazing! The dancers rehearsed two songs they already knew and learned a new one! These kindergarten through 2nd grade students picked up the steps, practiced on their own and just got it! They had every step down! My heart was full of happiness afterwards! it was exhausted too =)

There is something to be said about drumming! The humming in your ears, the vibrations through your body AMAZING!! The drummers learned a new break and new rhythm and THEY GOT IT!!!! Just the when way you feel not only when you're playing the music but when you're dancing it, AHHH just makes you want to invite every single person you come across to listen!

With all that being said we invite everyone in the community to come and share the excitement and joy that these kids bring us! You really don't want to miss it!!!

Join us at Cyclovia Tucson Sunday March 27th! @ 11:30 am at Mission View Elementary School!

Show TIme

We are entering a time where we will be performing A LOT!! Never in a million years would we have thought that our Samba group would get invited to perform at events throughout the community.  When this group was started, it was mostly to share our love of music with kids, to share the happiness it brings and how it speaks to our inner being.  As directors we have several discussions about what is best for the group. Some of these have included the performances. Others might see and feel that we are pushing the kids, but we strongly believe that our kids have a voice.  That at any point any if the kids say we have too many performances or its too much we will listen.  This however doesn’t seem to be a problem.  Anytime we have asked the group if they would want to perform at a certain event we get an automatic YES! 

Performing in the community is not us trying to “show off”. It is us spreading the magic of music. Yes that might sound silly, but music truly is magic. It lets you express your true feelings; it heals, encourages and provides a positive outlet.

Our group has begun rehearsals to learn even more songs, rhythms, breaks and dance moves.  Every time we add a new element we think “Are they really going to get this? Maybe its to advanced? “Only to be blown away time and time again by how fast they pick things up. It is that hunger and drive that makes it even that more special. 

We are truly blessed to be given such amazing opportunities to share all this and more with our community. We invite you all to come out and support our group.  

Earth Day Celebration: April 30^th @ Tucson’s Children Museum performing at 11:30am

Community Jam : April 26^th @ Columbus Library (corner of 22^nd & Columbus) 4:00-5:30pm

There are two performances still being worked out so check back for those dates and times!

Ago...Ame....

Students often model the behaviors they see. How do we expect students to follow the basic rules when we as adults often times fail to do so ourselves? It's for this reason that we as the adults are going to practice what we preach. Part of the lessons taught through Samba and the most important is respect. To respect those around us and to show respect to our elders, leaders, co workers, and partners. If we as the adults cannot do that how could we expect our students to do the same? We feel very strongly that as role models we need to set positive examples for our students. When we started teaching Samba Reggae to the kids, we started by teaching them a call and repeat Ago…Ame.. This is a way of getting their attention and them showing us they are ready. It is a way of showing respect to their teacher, instructor and leader. Some of our students have also had the opportunity to practice the call and repeat. When they are given the floor to show others something or need to speak.

We also want to show our students how important it is to respect music from different cultures. That just because it does not sound like the music they are used to, it does not mean it is bad music. Having respect for different music is a big piece we’d like to teach our students. To learn how to appreciate music of all types, whether it be Samba, Samba Reggae, or Justin Bieber. Music is made to be respected no matter what part of the world it comes from.

This week we started our Samba lessons. You might think, “Isn’t that what you’ve been doing the whole time?” We started the students off with Samba Reggae. Samba is a little more advanced. We are 100% confident that our students will pick this new music up. That they will enjoy it and grow to love it, It's exciting to see them grow and see how much they love it. The best part of the day is getting the hand full of kids who come and ask “Are we doing Samba today?” “Please can we do Samba?” This is music to our ears!