We often find that, because pupils engage so strongly with our workshops, teachers are keen to apply Samba to their teaching of History, Geography and Citizenship:

History: The development of Samba in Brazil is a wonderful illustration of a country that has been invaded, enslaved but also enriched by other nations. It has played host to the occupying Portuguese, who brought western military drums like the snare, and to the imported slave-trade from Africa, whose miriad percussion instruments had a huge influence on Brazil's culture. In the last century, Brazilian culture began to influence the rest of the world, having a huge effect on Jazz and then later on music across the world as Samba schools sprung up in just about every country you could name. Yet the look and sound of Samba is every bit as much a sociological effect of its country's history and you'll find plenty of examples of how occupation, slavery, poverty and wealth affect people's conduct, modify their traditions and influence how they relate to each other.

Geography: The fifth largest country in the world (only a shade smaller than the USA), Brazil is by far the largest and most populous country in South America. Both its size and its history mean that it is a country of great variation in terms of terrain, climate and of industial complexion. Brazil is a great basis for many elements of the Curriculum for Geography; especially in terms of the environment, so markedly represented by the plight of its rainforests.

Citizenship: Playing music as part of group is one of the most emphatic ways to illustrate citizenship. Participants actually feel the effect of their cooperation with others, what its like to rely on people and to be relied upon. They notice immediately the effects of listening to authority and to each other and everyone hears what happens if they don't. Samba requires no previous musical knowledge and no significant physical strength, which means that everyone taking part is totally equal. Being bigger, louder or faster than everyone else is a disadvantage! In addition, pupils come away from our workshops with an experience of, and respect for, different cultures.