Erick Germano, yet another director from the Rocinha family, will teach our first online session looking at Timbal.

The timbal seems to be having somewhat of a resurgence amongst the schools in Rio in recent years. This session will see us work through the techniques and rhythms used at Rocinha, and the approach the school takes to the instrument.

Erick is from a family of rooted in samba traditions. His great grandmother was one of the founders of Acadêmicos da Rocinha Samba School, and since a young age he has lived in the samba world.

He started playing in Rocinha’s children’s bateria in ’98, aged 9. By age 14 he had joined the main bateria, making his first oficial parade with Rocinha the following year when given the opportunity by Mestre Pato Roco.

He started playing caixa, but surdo de terceira and timbal are the instruments of his heart. He has paraded with many schools over the years, including Salgueiro, Imperatriz Leopoldinense, Império da Tijuca, Porto da Pedra, but it was with Curicica that he first paraded playing timbal, at the request of Mestre Lolo (now of Imperatriz).

Erick became director of Rocinha under Mestre Maurão in 2011, and went with him to direct at both Cubango and Viradouro. He remains a director at Rocinha to this day and also plays as a ritmista with whichever schools invite him. 

This workshop will be aimed at an intermediate/advanced level. It will be expected that you are comfortable making the basic sounds on the drum, and are used to playing with your hands. Any doubts then check our FAQ.