Brazilian Guitar Classes

Brazilian guitar studies combines the discipline of classical guitar technique with the freedom of jazz improvisation, in the sensuous melodies, exciting rhythms, and lush harmonies of the Brazilian repertoire.

The group dynamic offers possibilities of performance, support and sharing that are lacking in private lessons. Students focus on rhythms, accompaniment patterns, melodies, and improvisation, in a setting that challenges them to grow and provides the support to do so. Every semester ends with a group performance and reception open to the public. Classes will have a maximum of 10 students and will be divided into 3 basic levels:

Level 1: Beginning guitar

Students who have little or no experience playing the guitar are introduced to the basic chords, barre chords, Brazilian drumming patterns, classical guitar technique, reading notes, bossa nova accompaniment patterns and beginning songs such as Manhã de carnaval, Só danço samba, and music of the students' own choosing.

Level 2: Intermediate guitar

Students who have mastered the basic chords and are familiar with barre chords are introduced to primary jazz chords, along with samba, bossa, and marcha patterns. Scales and arpeggios for improvisation and reading notes are covered and practiced in the dynamic ways permitted by group classes, and students choose their own repertoire from the Brazilian songbook.

Level 3: Advanced Guitar

Students who have mastered the primary jazz chords learn more advanced chords, inversions and developing beginning choro bass lines. Accompaniment patterns for choro, baião, maxixe, tango brasileiro are learned and performed. Two octave jazz arpeggios for improvisation with a focus on right hand fingerstyle technique; melodic phrasing; advanced techniques.; choro and baião melodies.