NGO Favela Brass offers music classes to more than 250 children and young people in Rio de Janeiro communities
British professional trumpeter Tom Ashe conceived the project in 2014 with the help of volunteers, local residents and the sale of curry in his own home.
Tom Ashe, the creator of Favela Brass, arrived in Brazil in 2008 and over the course of several years noticed a social problem. Children from poorer families, especially those living in Rio’s favelas, did not have the opportunity to learn wind instruments due to a lack of access and the price of the musical instruments. It was then that, in 2014, he decided to move to Pereira da Silva, in Rio de Janeiro, and began teaching children and young people from the community in his own home.
The story
The group started with just 4 children, having classes three times a week. Two years later, in 2016, they already had more than 30 students. During this journey, Tom joined master percussionist Mangueirinha São Vicente, from the Vila Isabel samba school, American trumpeter Joe Epstein and many other Brazilian and foreign volunteer teachers.
To support the project, Tom Ashe produced and sold Indian food from his home once a week. He also received a donation of instruments from fellow countrymen and English musicians to leverage his dream of being able to introduce wind music teaching in the Rio de Janeiro communities.
Tom Ashe says that “the support and help were essential for music education to reach more people”. The number of volunteers was not enough to meet the expected number of students, but with the help they received, they were able to hire teachers and buy the necessary instruments. They have also reached several public schools. “Some of our students have already become teachers, and others learned how to read only after learning music. It is very beautiful to see this transformation happen”, says Ashe.
Today, the project survives and grows with the help of volunteer work, assistance from the Rouanet Law support, online donations, sponsorship, and other fundraising activities. Favela Brass serves around 220 students between 8 and 18 years old in 6 public schools, through a pilot project authorized by the Municipal Secretary of Education of Rio de Janeiro. And another 40 students living in the communities of Pereira da Silva, Fogueteiro, Fallet and Morro dos Prazeres in his own residence.
During classes, students learn to read sheet music and play wind and percussion instruments with a repertoire typical of fanfares and street blocks – from sambas to carioca funk. In addition to traditional Brazilian music, Favela Brass children are regularly exposed to jazz and improvised music, particularly the second-rate style played by brass bands in New Orleans.
Favela Brass holds workshops in the Pereira da Silva community, in Laranjeiras and at Aterro do Flamengo, and makes public presentations with students throughout the year. The band is made up of 10 musicians who perform in the community itself and also as guests in some bars in Rio, public spaces and Jazz festivals.
Gratitude
Marcos Henrique, a former student and now professor of the project, says that his greatest desire “is to do more presentations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and who knows even abroad”. Another student on the project, Maria Rita, remembers that they have several versions of famous Brazilian songs. “We’ve already shared some videos on our social network and they’ve even replied and replicated the video, and we’ve also received visits from several local and international artists. It is very rewarding to be recognized for our work and effort. We hope that more renowned artists see us and who knows, maybe even invite us to open a show, and that more spaces open up for us to do what we love most, play”, says Maria Rita.
Performances
The Favela Brass group performs every second Friday of each month for free at the Bar e Lanchonete Galinhão da Mata, located at Rua Almirante Alexandrino, 2023 – Santa Teresa (next to the Favelinha Inn). To close the carnival week, the group will carry out a parade starting at 3:00 pm on Ash Wednesday in the Pereira da Silva community – RJ, where all members of Favela Brass will be dressed in character.
The group will perform again at the Bourbon Jazz Festival 2023, in Paraty, which takes place between April 14th and 16th. All information about concerts, classes, and performances can be found on the Favela Brass Instagram page.
The project needs all possible support. To make donations or become a project volunteer, contact us through the links below:
About Favela Brass
Project created to promote cultural inclusion and social transformation through a free music education program. Aimed at children and adolescents living in poor communities and public schools in Rio de Janeiro, with access to learning
