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The Complete Pandeiro Guide - Part 1

The Complete Pandeiro Guide Part 1

Course Overview

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In these tutorials, you will learn everything about the pandeiro and its rhythms from scratch on. Starting with general and useful information about the instrument, you will continue learning how to produce all basic and advanced sounds with the right technique. Many exercises with on-screen notation will help you to get the best out of your pandeiro. All notations can be downloaded separately in PDF format. The following chapters focus on traditional Brazilian rhythms played on the instrument: Samba, Choro, Maxixe, Polka, Partido Alto, Samba de Roda, Forró, Baião, Xaxado, Xote, Arrasta Pé, Ciranda, Marcha, Frevo and Coco. You will also hear about the history of the rhythms, how to practice the right swing, how to play together with other percussion- or string instruments and how to variate on the rhythms. You will learn different playing styles and techniques of the masters in Brazil, such as Jorginho do Pandeiro, Marcos Suzano, Mamão and others. Play-Along tracks help you strengthen and deepen your groove. 14 sections with in total 73 chapters will guide you through the world of Brazilian rhythms and its most important instrument: the pandeiro! Material for a (life-) long time!

Then this course is perfect for you!

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course Curriculum

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By the end of this course, you will have a better understanding of harmony, rhythm and melody. You will be able to easily come up with catchy handpan tunes and improvisations.

1,2,3. Introduction, Playing Position

Music Scores Part 1
1. Introduction
2. Which Pandeiro to choose? The HP Pandeiro
3. Holding the instrument

4. The Basic Sounds and Techniques

4.1 The Jingle Sound a) Basic Movement b) Accents in 3
4.2 The Open Stroke a) played by the thumb b) played by the finger tips c) shifting
4.3 The Slap a) with the fingers (upper part) b) with the palm (lower part)
4.4 The Soft Slap a) played with the thumb b) played with the finger tips
4.5 The Muffled Sound (played by thumb or finger tips)
4.6 Exercise including all 5 sounds

5. Samba

5.1 Basic Samba
5.2 Illustration of the Samba Feel
5.3 Variations in Samba, 1-bar phrases
5.4 Samba Enredo, Sound Modulation Open Tone
5.5 The Clave
5.6 Variations in Samba, 2- and 4-bar phrases
5.7 The Flam (variation in fast Samba)
5.8 Variations in Samba, including Caixa accents
5.9 Variations in Samba, imitating the Rebolo / TanTan
5.10 Variations in Samba, Mocidade
5.11 Samba Funk
5.12 Playalong - Samba Enredo 112 bpm
5.13 Playalong - Samba Enredo 125 bpm

6. The Choro and its rhythms

6 Choro, Introduction
6.1 Basic Choro
6.2 Polka
6.3 Maxixe a) Basic Patterns b) Maxixe of Jorginho
6.4 Maxixe a) Tango Brasileiro b) more variations of Jorginho
6.5 Choro Sambado a) Tamborim Teleco Teco 2-3 b) Choro Sambado of Jorginho
6.6 a) Choro Samba b) Tamborim/Pandeiro Entradas 3-2 c) Tamborim Teleco Teco Improvisation in 3-2
6.7 Playalong - Choro
6.8 Playalong - Polka
6.9 Playalong - Tango Brasileiro
6.10 Playalong - Samba in 3-2
6.11 Playalong - Samba de Raiz (for Tamborim, Pandeiro de Nylon,...)
6.12 Playalong - Maxixe
6.13 Playalong - Choro Sambado

7. The Partido Alto

7 Partido Alto Introduction
7.1 Basic Partido Alto 1
7.2 a) Pandeiro de Nylon b) Basic Samba on a Pandeiro de Nylon
7.3 Movement in 3
7.4 Involving the Surdo Pattern
7.5 a) Variation 1 in Partido Alto b) Variation 1 with Clave
7.6 Variation 2 in Partido Alto
7.7 a) Basic Partido Alto 2 b) Variation in Partido Alto 2
7.8 Combining the two Basic Partido Alto Patterns
7.9 Improvising on Partido Alto

8. Samba De Roda

8 Samba de Roda
8.1 Samba de Roda & Clapping
8.2 Playalong - Samba de Roda

9. The Forró and its rhythms

9 The Forró Tradition
9.1 a) Baião Basic Pattern b) with Bacalhau c) Bacalhau on Platinelas d) Baião inverted e) Dry Pattern f) Variations
9.2 The Forró a) Basic Pattern b) Bacalhau c) Variations d) Inverted Pattern
9.3 a) Xaxado Basic Pattern b) Xaxado, adding the Bacalhau
9.4 a) Xote Basic Pattern b) Xote, adding the Bacalhau c) The Shuffle Feel d) Variations in Xote
9.5 a) Arrasta PĆ© Basic Pattern b) Arrasta PĆ©, adding the Bacalhau c) Variation by Leo Rodrigues d) Variation by Marcos Suzano
9.6 The Pandeiro de Nylon in Forró a) Baião b) Forró c) Xaxado d) Forró Sambado

10, 11, 12. Coco, Samba de Latada and Ciranda

10 Coco
10.1 Coco Basic Patterns
10.2 Coco Variations
10.3 Coco by Ivison Santos
10.4 Samba de Coco (RaĆ­zes de Arcoverde)
11 Samba de Latada (by Ivison Santos)
12.1 Ciranda
12.2 a) The Press Stroke Roll b) Ciranda with Press Stroke

13, 14. Marcha and Frevo

13.1 Marcha/Marchinha Basic Pattern
13.2 Marcha Variations
13.3 Playalong - Marcha
14.1 Frevo, First Basic Movement
14.2 a) Groups of three, alternating movement b) Frevo by Marcos Suzano
14.3 traditional Frevo by Mamão
14.4 Frevo by Jorginho
14.5 Frevo-Marcha

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3.Ā Learning Path One Self-contained course, good for focused study. Improve from level to level and explore across instruments, rhythms, techniques, and musical styles.
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1. Benefit goes here As a learner, you will be guided from zero to hero step by step
2. Benefit goes here Our courses feature on-screen notations and come with notation booklets
3. Benefit goes here Connect with David and fellow students in our community
4. Benefit goes here Our teachers guide you on a wide variety of instruments: Cajon, Frame Drums, Darbuka, Tonbak, Congas, Djembe, Pandeiro, Udu and more
5. Benefit goes here Our teachers guide you on a wide variety of instruments: Cajon, Frame Drums, Darbuka, Tonbak, Congas, Djembe, Pandeiro, Udu and more
6. Benefit goes here Our teachers have spent decades studying traditional percussion styles and teaching students worldwide—on stage, in classrooms, and online.
1. Benefit goes here As a learner, you will be guided from zero to hero step by step
2. Benefit goes here Our courses feature on-screen notations and come with notation booklets
3. Benefit goes here Connect with David and fellow students in our community
4. Benefit goes here Our teachers guide you on a wide variety of instruments: Cajon, Frame Drums, Darbuka, Tonbak, Congas, Djembe, Pandeiro, Udu and more
5. Benefit goes here Our teachers guide you on a wide variety of instruments: Cajon, Frame Drums, Darbuka, Tonbak, Congas, Djembe, Pandeiro, Udu and more
6. Benefit goes here Our teachers have spent decades studying traditional percussion styles and teaching students worldwide—on stage, in classrooms, and online.

Your Instructor

David Kuckhermann is a Grammy-nominated percussionist, educator, and founder of World Percussion Academy and Handpan Dojo.

For over 30 years, he has taught students around the world through live workshops, masterclasses, and online courses, helping countless students build a deeper connection with rhythm and percussion.

His musical journey includes studies with renowned teachers such as Glen Velez, Behnam Samani, Ramesh Shotham, and Ustad Fayaz Khan, as well as international performances with artists including Dead Can Dance, Lisa Gerrard, Omar Faruk Tekbilek, Pera Ensemble, and Voix de Bulgares.

In his teaching, David combines deep knowledge of many percussion traditions with clear, structured methods and his own creative concepts — making world percussion accessible for beginners and advanced players alike.

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