Choro Workshop - learn to play traditional Brazilian music

This workshop is to help those who want to improve their Choro skills and understanding of the techniques involved. Our aim is to attract everyone who wants to learn to play Choro, those who simply love or are curious about this Brazilian music genre, from the beginner to the professional musician.

Our intention is to bring the best Choro players in Europe and Brazil to participate in our workshops.

This session will be led by Choro Moco. Independently Deni, Diego, Lucas, Matheus and Wesley are accomplished musicians, and have played with some of the greats of the Brazilian music scene, including Cristovao Bastos, Ze Barbeiro and Altamiro Carrilho. The friends decided to bring together their considerable talents to pursue their love of choro, forming ‘Choro Moco’ in 2008.


Workshop content:

Duration of each session: 50 Minutes

How to enrol: See below the sessions you like best and drop us an email to [email protected] and we will send all the details required to be enrolled.

Pandeiro session:

A 100% practical session aimed at improving technique and learning some of the most common variations used in Choro. We will analyse different patterns and rhythms based on two or three scores. It is not necessary to know how to read music to participate in this session (although this may help you to understand faster).

Mandolin session:

In this session you will learn the use of Mandolin in Choro, the use of ornaments, chords and interpretation. You will also learn a better way to memorise a score. You will learn how to use the tremolo in Choro and exercises to make your left hand stronger. Knowledge of how to read music is not necessary for this session, although for those who can not read music it is expected they know the scores by heart to be able to participate in this specific session.

Cavaquinho session:

You will learn how to recognise different rhythms in Choro music, and also learn two or three different patterns (‘levadas’). Although this is a very practical workshop, you will learn a bit of harmony based on the scores used at the workshop.

6 and 7 Strings Guitar session:

You will learn how to synchronise the bass lines and chord progressions, and get to know a few of the most common ‘baixarias’ (bass lines) used in Choro. The student must have a good understanding of his instrument and know how to build chords at least in the first position of the guitar.

Clarinete / Flute or any Brass instrument:

You will learn and develop interpretation and improvisation, plus the principle of counter points in choro. The student must have a good understanding of the instrument.


Timetable:

10 am: Mandolin / Cavaquinho

11 am: Pandeiro

12 noon: 6 & 7 Strings Guitar

1 pm: Clarinete Flauta

3pm: RODA DE CHORO