We do have a comprehensive members handbook which you’ll receive should you succeed in completing the new players course to a good standard and want to join the main band.

 

For now, we’ve provided below a high level overview of some of the key pieces of information to help you understand a bit more about what is expected of our new learners during the 8 week course and beyond this into membership.

 

Conduct

We’re all volunteers, with lots going in our lives and are here to play in the band together. Please treat others as you would expect to be treated - be nice/fair and courteous. If you do have time to volunteer to help the running of the band we would love to chat with you about what you might be able to get involved in if you join us longer term.

 

Costumes

Learners should wear comfortable old clothes, suitable for physical activity. Full members are required to purchase a new costume each year in support of the local community in Salvador  where our costumes are made. We also require members to buy a new t-shirt annually. Once you start gigging, you'll need these to perform.

 

Costs

Learner courses are pre paid, main band members have a membership fee of £25 a month and also pay a £50 deposit to loan the drum, they also pay for the costume and annual T shirt as a minimum. Learners are provided with kit for free during the course, but once a main band player, you'll need to buy your own basic kit (belt, shin pads, beaters/sticks etc). Except for caixa drums, we only use belts with a single hook. Total initial set up costs for full band membership in terms of kit etc equates to around £100.

 

Drums

Drums are brought to rehearsal each week on behalf of learners during the 8 week course. If you become a full member you will be assigned a drum on loan to take home. You will be  responsible for keeping and transporting the drum that you are assigned to rehearsals/gigs. Please think about how you will do this, taking into account the size of the drum and storage where you live. 

 

Rehearsal attendance

Beginners school runs between 6.30pm and 7.45pm. We will expect you to be kitted up and ready to play at 6.30 so please arrive no later than 6.15pm. Learners are encouraged to attend as many training sessions as possible to get up to main band level quickly. Full members usually rehearse every week on a Tuesday for 2.5 hours (6.45pm to 9.15pm), and once a month on a rotating Saturday (1.30pm to 5pm), their usual timings have been reduced to allow learners to train. Both learners and full members are expected to attend at least 50% of the rehearsals which we record on a weekly register.

 

Gig availability

Learners do not take part in public performances. If you join as a full member you are expected to be available for at least 50% of the gigs that we arrange - that’s not to say you’ll be chosen for all of them as we need to take into account each client's requirements, player capability and band balance, but we imagine those who complete beginners successfully will join the band in Early February and be mostly ‘gig ready’ by mid springtime 2026. 

 

Training

We have a number of resources that we try and make available to help people learn, acknowledging that everyone does so in a different way - they might be videos, music scores, written descriptions of music and dance moves, learners will be provided with a small selection of resources applicable to the material being taught. Main band get access to a comprehensive library of resources in various formats. Both learners and full members are expected to find their own way of learning and take time outside of rehearsals to revise the material and create their own resources to learn from. Batala music resources are not to be shared outside the group for copyright reasons.

 

Wellbeing

Drumming can be hard work! We might get blisters or occasional cuts and bruises - please bring plasters/bandages and make sure you stay hydrated. Your participation in sessions is at your own risk. If you have additional needs that require support during sessions please make your own arrangements for this and check practicalities first with a member of the management team. Please do not bring friends, family, pets or children to rehearsals, this will likely invalidate our insurance and they will be asked to leave.

 

Data Protection/Privacy

We use WhatsApp/Facebook and other 3rd party service providers to facilitate communications both within and outside the band. We will need to collect basic personal data (email/phone number) and social media profile from you in order to facilitate this. All members and learners are required to have a Facebook account (even if you use it for nothing else) because this is how our sister bands in Mundo, consisting of over 2000 members worldwide, communicate with us about their events and send invitations.

 

By attending the new players course/rehearsals you are acknowledging receipt and understanding of the above points relevant to further progress within the band.