The Brazilian Music Experience 2023

Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

MM
Morningside Music Tours
  • Email address verified
20 reviews
Aug 19 - 26, 2023
Group size: 10 - 30
The Brazilian Music Experience 2023
Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Morningside Music Tours
  • Email address verified
20 reviews

Aug 19 - 26, 2023
Group size: 10 - 30

About this trip

The music of Brazil is one of the most important expressions of Brazilian culture. Brazilian Rhythms like Samba and Bossa Nova were eternalized by international artists such as Frank Sinatra, Black Eyed Peas, Amy Winehouse, Stan Getz, Herbie Hancock among many others.


The Brazilian Music Experience is an opportunity to explore the City of Rio de Janeiro and to interactively learn authentic Brazilian music from some of Rio's top musicians. This will be an unforgettable, weeklong, cultural trip and learning tour with lessons, percussion classes, workshops, and night entertainment highlighting the best of Brazilian music. Included also is an educational city tour, visiting stunning attractions such as Corcovado, Sugar Loaf.


If you love Brazilian music and culture and are a music student, professional musician, or hobbyist, this trip is for you.  Non-musicians, spouses and friends are welcome to come along!


Our Brazilian partners are: percussionist Mila Schiavo, who manages the music school at Cidade das Artes and has toured the world performing with many acclaimed acts and Guilherme Gonçalves, Conservatory percussion professor and samba expert.


Come to Rio de Janeiro and have fun learning what makes Brazilian Music so enchanting!


Part of the money raised from this trip goes to a Non-Profit organization that helps children from Rio with free music lessons and art activities.

If you need further information please do not hesitate to ask.



The Windsor Excelsior hotel is a two-minute walk to Copacabana beach!


Ground Transportation will be in a van with air conditioning.


*Itineraries and arranged sightseeing are subject to change at any time due to unforeseen circumstances or circumstances beyond The Brazilian Music Experience / Morningside Music Tours control. Every effort will be made to operate tours as planned, but alterations may occur after the final itinerary has been issued.


- You need a valid passport to travel but Citizens of the United States do not require a visa to travel to Brazil for tourism or certain business-related activities


Your Hosts

Percussionist Mila Schiavo believes that when you love a music style you have to experience the culture where the rhythm came from. That’s why she developed “The Brazilian Music Experience”, so that people can learn and listen to the music where it started in Brazil. Mila manages "Musica para Crescer" (Music to Growth) a nonprofit music project that teaches kids and teenagers in Rio de Janeiro, and has toured the world performing with many acclaimed acts. She graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, and has a MBA from PUC - Rio de Janeiro. 


Percussionist Guilherme Gonçalves also studied at Berklee College of Music and upon returning to Brazil, performed with some of the top artists and taught at a number of different music schools including the Brazilian Popular Music Conservatory. He also has authored books on samba drumming.


Dan Fox, the owner of Morningside Tours, plays trombone, bass, and percussion and will be along on this fantastic trip to help coordinate and also continue to learn about the vast world of Brazilian music.

Entertainment Venues Included


Renascença Club - Very Traditional Roda de Samba in Rio - @renascencaclub 


Bar da Alcione (@bardaalcione) or Rio Scenarium (@rioscenarium) 


Casa do Choro @casadochoro


Visit a Samba School Rehearsal



Corcovado 

  • http://visit.rio/que_fazer/cristoredentor/

Pão de Açucar (Sugar Loaf)

  • https://www.bondinho.com.br

Classes and Lessons

Included for students + Companions:

- Accommodation: 4-star Windsor Excelsior Hotel on Copacabana Beach with breakfast included

- Transfers Airport/Hotel/Airport

- Five Transfers Hotel/Studio_Classes/Hotel

- Five Transfers Hotel/Show Venue/Hotel (8 pm/11 pm)

- One City Tour: Corcovado and Pão de Açúcar with lunch (drinks not included) 

- One Welcome Dinner (drinks not included) 

Classes - Included 

- 8 hours of group classes 

- 1 hour of a private class 

Evening Entertainment 

  • Tickets to four shows 

 Jam Session with fellow students and professional Brazilian Musicians



Not included 

  • Lunch (unless the ones on the description) 
  • Dinner ((unless the ones on description) 
  • Airline ticket 
  • Travel insurance
  • Instruments Accepted
    Voice,  Bass, Drums, Percussion, Keyboard/Piano, Guitar (electric and acoustic),  Sax (Alto, Tenor & Soprano), Trumpet, Trombone, and flute.
    if you don't see your instrument on this list but want to join, no problem! Just ask.

Class Themes

Monday: Theme Brazilin Music Introduction 

Morning: 11 am to 1 pm - Brazilian Percussion Workshop 

Afternoon: 2 pm to 4 pm Fundamental Concepts in Understanding the Brazilian Feel 

Night: Renascença Club - Very Traditional Roda de Samba in Rio - @renascencaclub 

Tuesday:  Roda de Samba 

Morning - 11 am to 1 pm - Brazilian Percussion Workshop 

Afternoon - 2 pm to 4 pm - Ensemble 

Night - Bar da Alcione (@bardaalcione) or Rio Scenarium (@rioscenarium) 

Wednesday: Choro

Morning - 11 am to 1 pm - Brazilian Percussion Workshop 

Afternoon - 2 pm to 4 pm - Ensemble 

Night: Casa do Choro @casadochoro

Thursday: Bossa Nova and Samba Jazz  

Morning - 11 am to 1 pm - Brazilian Percussion Workshop 

Afternoon - 2 pm to 4 pm - Ensemble 

Night: Jam Session 

Friday: Samba School  

Morning - 11 am to 1 pm - Brazilian Percussion Workshop 

Afternoon - 2 pm to 4 pm - Ensemble 

What’s included

  • 7 nights - 4 star Hotel
    Breakfast Included
  • Welcome Dinner
    first night at hotel
  • 5 Days Music Classes
    8 hours of class total
  • Night Entertainment
    4 nights
  • Lunch
    one day only (city tour)
  • Rio City Tour
    Corcovado, Sugar loaf, downtown Rio
  • Ground Transportation
    Including pickup from airport - 5 Transfers Hotel/Studio_Classes/Hotel - 5 Transfers Hotel/Show Venue/Hotel (8 pm/11 pm)
  • Jam Session
    with fellow students and pro musicians
  • One hour private lesson
    on instrument of your choice with the best Brazilian pro musicians

What’s not included

  • Airfare
  • Drinks / Beverages
  • Dinner
    Unless specified
  • Lunch
    Unless specified
  • travel insurance
  • International Health Ins

Available Packages

Student Single Occupancy

Classes + Hotel + Ground Transportation + City Tour + Evening Event Tickets

$3,245
Deposit:$1,298
Student Double Occupancy
$2,585
Deposit:$1,034
Non-musicians Single Occupancy

Hotel + Transfer + City Tour + Night Tickets 

$2,585
Deposit:$1,034
Non-Musicians Double Occupancy
$1,925
Deposit:$770


Itinerary

Saturday (August 19)
Get Settled
  • Arrive in Rio 
  • Hotel check-in - 2 PM
  • Welcome Dinner (drinks not included) 

Your Organizer


MM
Morningside Music Tours
20 reviews
Multi-instrumentalist Dan Fox started Morningside Music Studio in 2007 in Arlington, MA as a music school specializing in ensembles for adults. After bringing groups of students to summer workshops abroad in Genoa, Italy and Mallorca, Spain, it was clear that the combination of an immersive musical environment plus signature destinations made for a rich and fruitful creative experience! Morningside Music Tours provides the opportunity for musicians to learn new skills, perform in an exciting environment, and learn from the best.

Reviews

MC
Another great trip led by Dan and Mila! It was great to explore different styles of music other than samba that we dug into on the previous trip in Aug 23. The space for the workshops and ensembles was really nice and a big step up from the previous trip. It was nice to have mornings to relax bit and enjoy Rio. The daily group workshops were interesting and informative and the instructors were all great giving their personal perspectives and interpretations on the different styles of music. I think the workshops could have been just a little longer and links for reference tracks shared in advance. The ensembles were great. Tune selection was really good representing different styles. Every instructor was really great and helpful to me with suggestions on how to play the new styles I didn't have experience with. These sessions could have been 1/2 hour longer. The evening music was not quite as good as last August (which was amazing and also exhausting!). It's always good to see talented musicians perform but for this trip I would prefer to see them play Brazilian music, not American jazz as we got one evening. Even so I got to sit in with some really great players. The Maracatu class was totally fun and a great experience! It would have been good to have our performance nigh later in the week to allow for more practice time. All in all a great trip with many great instructors. I will plan to do it again! Thanks to Dan, Mila and everyone!
By Mike C for The Brazilian Music Experience 2024 on Aug 06, 2024
This was a truly memorable experience. It was beautifully organized, with lessons, private and in ensemble; workshops with stellar musicians; the opportunity to perform at a gig at a famous club in Rio; dinners; dancing; introduction and invitation to participate in an amazing percussion ensemble; a boat ride around Copacabana bay; a stay at a lovely hotel on Copacabana beach; ground transportation provided to all events; and the opportunity to study and play with a group of wonderful, dedicated musicians. Many thanks to our great tour organizers, Dan Fox and Mila Schiavo, and best wishes to all. Jill Borenstein
By Jill B for The Brazilian Music Experience 2024 on Jun 26, 2024
LB
A great trip - put together extremely well. The Brazilian Music Experience and Morningside Music Tours combined to create a fantastic musical and cultural experience !!
By Larry B for The Brazilian Music Experience 2024 on Jun 25, 2024
Thanks for joining the trip, Larry! It was a blast!
By Morningside Music Tours on Jun 25, 2024
MM
MC
Awesome authentic Brazilian music experience! Thanks to Dan, Mila and Guilherme for making it come together. Samba school, Roda de Samba, Choro - all amazing and great learning experiences. Great music at the Bottle Bar close to the hotel. If possible would be nice to know in advance who will be there and book the main area so everyone could have a great seat (or just get there earlier). For performance night, would be good to have a roof over the stage to avoid cancellation, although the venue was a beautiful comfortable place with good food and good acoustics! The hotel was perfect for what we were doing. The location was also perfect in my opinion. Perhaps some improvements could be made with daily sessions. Ensemble practices felt a bit rushed. I think a minimum of 2-1/2 hours would be good. Improvements could be made in the setup - sound system etc., possible a little larger space for the size group we had. Would be nice to get a little more one-one instruction on drums, at least 2 lessons would be good (but a lot to fit in). Lots of nit-picking above to help with future planning. Overall a really great trip and no complaints at all!!
By Mike C for The Brazilian Music Experience 2023 on Sep 22, 2023
This was a wonderful opportunity to immerse myself in Brazilian music, in the company of people who love it as much as I do. Everything was extremely well organised - transport, accommodation, meals and tuition. The music program was very valuable. The organisers were knowledgeable and caring, and were responsive to my particular needs.
By Shelley D for The Brazilian Music Experience 2023 on Sep 15, 2023
Thanks, Shelley! it was a pleasure to meet you and hear your great singing.
By Morningside Music Tours on Sep 15, 2023
MM
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