Drumming for Wellbeing.
Samba for the soul.
Who we are & what we do
Samba4Fun is a London-based music group run by experienced musican and facilitator Stephen Henfrey. With particpatory workshops open to all ages, we offer the opportunity to explore the enriching rhythms of Salvador, Bahia and Brazilian drumming in the company of friends you just haven’t met yet! Join us at Forest Gate Learning Zone or you can hire us to run a workshop with the people you work with.
Why we do what we do
We are passionate about the transformative potential of playing the drums. The crucial element is the focus on fun, self-expression, support, and connection. Drumming is accessible in that the drum is a user-friendly instrument that everyone can play. Drumming therefore offers immediate results and, as such, is inclusive creating a common ground for all, facilitating self-expression and communication across ages, cultures, abilities and needs.
Forward Ever Backwards Never The More The Merrier
The science behind the music
Health benefits include stress relief and exercise. “Music making offers extensive exercise for brain cells and their synapses (connections). It would be difficult to find another activity that engages so many of the brain’s systems.”(Weinberger, N., 1998). Playing a musical instrument, including the drums, shows health benefits and signs of improvements for people with stress, depression, cancer, alzheimer’s disease, parkinson’s disease and chronic pain.
Join Us On Saturdays!
Based at Forest Gate Learning Zone, our Saturday sessions are a great way to discover just how fun it can be playing Samba. Workshops operate on a drop-in basis. We have a core of 12-15 people and numbers for our weekly workshops range from 10 minimum to upwards of 25 people. Most attendees are adults, the majority of whom are female; we have some children and young people who attend regularly; collectively we are ethnically and culturally diverse, some of us identify as being neurodiverse and some of us identify as LGBTQIA. We also all recognise and acknowledge the concept and impact of intersectionality within our group.
Hire us!
As experienced facilitators we are excited to offer you the opportunity to experience Samba music in your school, community group or workplace. This could be as a one-off workshop or a programme of project-focussed work tailored to the needs of the people you work with.
Participants will:
- Learn the principles of various samba-based rhythms
- Learn how to play music as a collective
- Gain an understanding of how each instrument in the drum orchestra relates to the rest
- Explore how they relate to one another within this musical paradigm and, by extension, their everyday lives
Get In Touch
Whether you have questions about our Saturday sessions, or you’re looking to partner with us or hire us to run a workshop in your community space. Please get in touch below or via: [email protected]
Forest Gate Learning Zone, 1 Woodford Road E7 0DH
What our regulars say:
Charity Commission No. 1209350
NCVO Member No. 33429