Each month, we take a closer look at one of the teachers involved in our Teacher Integration Project.

This month’s teacher in focus is Thiago Carbonari.

Read on to learn more about Thiago and his teaching practice in Brazil…and if you’d like to be considered for the teacher of the month spotlight – please click here to complete our application form!

Where are you located, and where do you teach?

I’m located in Brazil, in a city called Ribeirao Preto in Sao Paulo state.

 

How many students do you teach, and what is their range of ability levels?

I have been teaching for 40 students, in most cases children, ranging from beginner to intermediary.

Thiago Carbonari

What are your favorite teaching materials?

I use books, playalongs and DVDs. These materials are essential to my teaching, it helps a lot to gain time in explanations and show the world to all my students.

 

How are you incorporating new media (DVDs, Mp3s, Internet, etc) into your teaching?

I use all new media in my laptop, YouTube is great to show many drummers. I use DVDs to show exercises and drummers and Mp3s to use with the exercises and to improve their musicality.

Any funny anecdotes/stories from your teaching?

In my early days as a drum educator I tried to explain Moeller technique to a seven years old student. I explain the physics evolved in the process and I use a one hour class to explain all the nuts and bolts of the technique,
when I finished the class I realize that my student was looking at me without understand one word of what I explain. I felt like a fool and think, this kid wasn’t old enough to understand the physics behind the movements. I never use this kind of explanation with kids again.

Your general thoughts on drumming, teaching, music…

Drumming is my life. In the stage I can be truly me, I can show all my deep emotions and to study drums is awesome fun. Teach drums is my personal realization, give the opportunity to my students to feel what I feel in the
stage realizes me. Teach music is more that coordination exercises, is to make the student feel the music, see the music and be the music. My goal is to make my students express themselves through the music and make the crowd to feel what they feel. Based on their personalities I make the course with exercises and a lot of music.