The Samba New York! Online Academy

Why The Samba New York! Online Academy?

The Samba New York! Online Academy is founded on the principles of honoring and respecting the African roots of samba and the people and communities who have contributed to its development and preservation in Brazil. However, we also believe that everyone, regardless of their background, can learn to play samba proficiently and develop their own individual expression within this art form.

What Is the Samba New York! Online Academy?

As one of the most respected samba institutions outside Brazil, Samba New York! launched its Online Academy in 2023 to attend to the needs of learners of all levels worldwide who seek a trusted source to learn how to play samba percussion instruments. Our mission is to provide our members with the inspiration, tools, confidence, feedback, and support they need to achieve their goals.

Covering both bateria and pagode/roda de samba styles, the Academy allows members to expand their skills and knowledge at their own pace and according to their own individual interests. Included with their membership in any of our courses, for no additional charge, members are invited to join a private WhatsApp group in which they can ask questions, post videos, and interact directly with the Academy's primary Instructor, Philip Galinsky. Samba New York! also offers a separate private coaching program for members who seek more in-depth study.

How is the Academy Organized?

Our Academy is designed as a constantly growing and evolving nexus of courses exploring a variety of instruments and topics in samba percussion. Each course features HD videos that provide clear and detailed musical demonstrations and explanations. In addition, certain courses come with PDF worksheets of musical examples in European-based music notation and/or original articles that provide cultural and historical context on the given topic.

The Academy does not feature a curriculum that one must move through in a particular way. Although the lessons typically add information in a logical and cumulative fashion, members are invited to move freely through any of the courses in any way they wish — going through lessons in sequential order or jumping around as needed.

New content is added periodically as Philip records more courses and as he continues to expand his own knowledge and understanding of this music, making our Academy a truly cutting-edge immersive experience.

Dr. Samba

The Academy's creator and primary Instructor is Founder & Director of Samba New York!, Philip Galinsky, Ph.D. — one of the leading performers and educators of samba percussion in the US and one of the country's foremost samba scholars.

Known by his students as "Dr. Samba" for his rare combination of both street-level and academic expertise in this music, Philip holds a doctorate in ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University with a specialization in Brazilian music. He has been at the forefront of samba education in the US for over 25 years, having taught an estimated 2,000 - 4,000 people of all musical backgrounds to play samba.

With Philip as your guide, there's no more need to wade through countless hours of videos on YouTube to find just the right ones that will help you progress; and there's no need to understand Portuguese. Our Academy will translate some key elements of this amazing culture for you step-by-step in English. And it will share the foundational knowledge and expertise that Philip himself has acquired studying with numerous master percussionists, parading with samba schools in the Rio Carnaval, conducting research, and immersing himself at the music's source in Brazil over the last 30 years.

The Contemporânea Family

Philip Galinsky is a proud endorser of Contemporânea, respected worldwide as one of the top manufacturers of Brazilian percussion instruments in Brazil. Philip not only plays and recommends Contemporânea's outstanding products. He also resonates with the company's mission, which involves taking and promoting Brazilian culture and rhythms around the world. For more information, visit: http://contemporaneamusical.com.br/

Teacher Acknowledgements

Philip Galinsky wishes to express his heartfelt gratitude to all his amazing samba teachers and mentors. Among others, these include (in approximate chronological order): Gage Averill, Nei Lopes, Ubirany Félix do Nascimento, David Rumpler, Dennis Waring, Kristina Kanders, Ivo Araújo, Eddie Rosenthal, Justino Rogers, Jorge Alabê, Curtis Pierre, Miguel do Repinique, Mestre Jonas de Oliveira, Marcos Ferreira, Dionísio Santos, Boca Rum, Mestre Odilon Costa, Ken Campagna, Magali Medeiros, Anderson Bezerra, Danielle Lima, Maninho Costa, Aline Freitas, Dudu Fuentes, Memo Acevedo, César Vieira, Marklay Guerra, Leo Morel, Guilherme Gonçalves, Mestre Aílton Nunes, Gabriel Policarpo, Bernardo Aguiar, Mestre Guilherme Oliveira, Mestre Gustavo Oliveira, Vinícius Vidica, Everton Isidoro, Kleber Komká, Luan Barbosa Sabino, Jefferson Chiclete, Mestre Thiago Diogo, Waguinho do Repique, Serrinha Raiz, Thalita Santos, Marquinhos, Kleyton Macedo, Brian Soares de Miranda, and Júnior Teixeira.

In addition, Philip wishes to thank and acknowledge the countless YouTube creators and resources that have also provided him with knowledge, including the Aprendendo Percussão, Thalita Santos, Site Apoteose, Samba é Paixão, Batuque Digital, Ritmista, Carlos Café do Pandeiro, and Igor Assen Jr. channels, among many others.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Join?

From the homepage, just click on the image of any course you would like to take. When you get to the course page, scroll down to the bottom, click on the "Enroll Now" button, and follow the directions. You can enroll in as many courses as you would like. Each course has its own separate subscription fee. You may also become a member of the Academy before enrolling in any courses by clicking on the "Sign Up" link at the top, right-hand corner of the homepage.

What Levels is the Academy Geared Towards?

The Academy is designed for learners of all levels, offering courses that are appropriate for the complete beginner, seasoned samba player, and learners in between. Check the description of each course for which levels that course is oriented towards.

How Do You Suggest I Use the Academy?

The content featured in our Academy has been offered selectively by Philip as a valuable starting or continuing point for the ongoing study of samba percussion. The perspectives, techniques, rhythms, and concepts shared here are obviously not the only possible ones in samba. We encourage members to expose themselves to a variety of reliable teachers and approaches to samba, both online and in-person, as they continue on their journey and develop their own path within the music. As such, we advise members to use the Academy as one trusted source of study among others. We also recommend members include active listening to samba recordings and, if possible, exposure to and participation in the music played live as a part of their learning process.

What Do I Get As a Member?

Members may enroll in any courses they wish on an à la carte basis. All video lessons included in the courses to which you are subscribed may be viewed at any time. Copies of any scores and articles included in any courses you are subscribed to are yours to keep for your own personal study only (but not to copy, post, or share).

In addition, all members are invited to join a private WhatsApp group in which our community of learners may share ideas, questions, and videos with each other and interact directly with Philip himself. Philip will do his best to answer questions and submit feedback as his schedule permits. To join the optional WhatsApp group, send us an email to [email protected] with your full name, phone number on WhatsApp, and the name of the course(s) you are enrolled in.

Can I Post Videos and Request Feedback on the Private WhatsApp Group?

Yes! Philip will offer feedback to the extent he can and as his schedule permits. For more extensive feedback, Philip offers one-on-one and small group coaching programs. For more information about that, please email us at [email protected].

May I Share the PDFs with Others?

Copies of any PDFs that are included with courses you are enrolled in, such as scores and articles, are for your own personal study only, and we request that these not be copied, posted or shared with others.

Can I Subscribe Monthly?

Yes. Members of our Academy may subscribe on a monthly or annual basis to any of our courses.

How Can I Cancel a Subscription? Do You Offer Refunds or Credits?

Unless otherwise indicated, each of our courses comes with a free 7-day trial. You may opt out before the trial period ends. If you do not opt out before the trial ends, your form of payment will automatically be charged according to the subscription you chose (monthly or yearly).

Subscriptions will renew automatically and your form of payment will be charged automatically at the beginning of the next billing cycle unless you cancel your subscription before the end of the current cycle (which will be either one month or one year, depending on your plan). If you cancel a subscription before the end of the current cycle, when that cycle ends you will no longer be enrolled in the course and your form of payment will not be charged.

Enrolled students are entitled to receive a full refund of any purchase they make only if they request such refund within 14 days after making the purchase. After the 14 day window has expired, students are not entitled to any refunds or credits. Students are not entitled to any refunds or credits for any other reason.

We at Samba New York! remain firmly committed to providing an extraordinary service to our Academy members. It is our hope that you find our content and community so inspiring and educational that you'll want to stay for many years to come!

For information on requesting a refund, please visit:

Student Guide: Request a Refund.

For information on requesting a cancellation, please visit:

Student Guide: Manage Subscriptions.

Is the Academy Available on Portable Devices?

Yes. Just download Teachable's app to access your course(s) on an iOS device. Otherwise, the Academy may be accessed on a Mac or PC.