Junkyard Samba

Junkyard samba is Brazilian-style samba drumming played on recycled objects instead of traditional drums. Buckets, bins, pans, bottles and tubes stand in for the big bass drums, snares and bells of a samba band. The group plays different rhythms that fit together, following a leader's signals, to build one bouncy, happy carnival groove.

Samba is a style of music and dance from Brazil, with deep Afro-Brazilian roots. It's the heartbeat of carnival in Rio de Janeiro, where huge samba schools parade through the streets with dancers, costumes and drummers. The drumming section of a samba band is called the bateria, and it's famous for its energy and its tight, rolling beat. You can hear why people can't help dancing to it.

The surdo is the big bass drum that keeps the steady pulse. The caixa is a snare drum that plays a busy, driving pattern over the top. The repinique is a high, sharp drum that the leader often uses to call the band in. The tamborim is a small hand-held drum played with a stick, and the agogô is a set of bells that ring out a tune-like rhythm.

In junkyard samba, a deep bin or barrel can play the surdo part, a bucket or tin can takes the caixa and bottles or pan lids can ring out like bells. It's a lovely way to see how everyday things can be reused.

Your Activity Leader starts with a warm-up of clapping and simple call and response, where everyone copies a rhythm straight back. Then each group learns its own part on its junk instrument. Samba bands follow a leader, who uses hand signals and a whistle to start, stop and change the rhythm. You'll practise breaks too, which are short patterns everyone plays together before the groove kicks back in. Finally, all the parts come together, and you can perform as a band if you'd like to.

Yes, and it's brilliant for mixed ages. Every part is taught by copying, so there's no music to read. Younger children can keep the big, steady beat while older ones and grown-ups try the trickier patterns. It's a real team effort, as each part only makes sense when it's played with the others, and the feeling when the whole band clicks into place is something special.

You might also like Junkyard Percussion, STOMP Body Percussion and Afrobeats Dance.

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