Since September 2009, drummers have been meeting at Encontro De Bateras at Hangar 110 in Sao Paolo, Brazil. All kinds of different drummers with different training unite to celebrate their craft. Every meeting also features a different Brazilian drum hero as well in which they give a workshop after the session. Sergio Groove accompanies the drummers on bass and Dney Bittencourt on guitar.
All levels are invited to come, from the famous to the hobbyist, of any age and any genre. Sadly, there are fewer women in attendance than men, with the exception of regulars Fernanda Terra, Mônica Pedrosa, Taci Guimarães and Mariana Martins. Hence, Terra’s inspiration for the following interview with these ladies.
-Text by Fernanda Terra
Taci Guimarães
24-years-old
FT: How long have you been playing?
MKP: Ten years
FT: What were your major influences?
TG: I listen to everything between rock, jazz, soul, funk fusion, brazilian music, etc. I love music and in my cd collection you´ll hear from underground to classical and experimental music.
FT: Do you play in any band?
TG: Free Soul (Trio instrumental Fusion, A.L.i. (mpb soul), F&P (Rock).
FT: Why did you start playing drums?
TG: I always liked music and I have a drummer uncle who I used to visit every weekend. I fell in love with the drums and started playing. My parents always supported me and helped me a lot in the beginning, that was a bit hard, like studying, buying equipment, playing in bands, etc…
FT: What do you think about the drummers meetings?
TG: In one word, it’s sensational, a very good idea and a place where we can get together, make contacts, get known by other people related to the music world, know other musical genres, drumming styles and drummers. I think that musicians are a not-united class, it’s hard to find people who we have some identity with and the meeting came right on hand to solve it. Besides playing drums as much as you want, you get in contact with other drummers and also have the opportunity to watch some very good drumm playing at the end’s workshow.
FT: Have you ever encountered any prejudice from being a female drummer?
TG: Directly never, thank God, but surely there’s prejudice and people saying bad things. I’ve heard some stuff like “you play better than many men around”, people trying to underestimate you, but I don’t care, I make my music, I have my ideas and whoever enjoys it can come together!!!
Monica Kanasiro Pedrosa
26-years-old/Administrator and coordinator at BEG music school
FT: How long have you been playing?
MKP: Two years
FT: What were your major influences?
MKP: The Brazilian drummers Las Casas, Dino Verdade, Caffé, Amilcar Christofaro, Fernanda Terra, Vera Figueiredo…
FT: Do you play in any band?
MKP:No, I don’t.
FT: Why did you start drumming?
MKP: I always enjoyed music very much, and so I studied guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboard and then, when I started playing drums I didn’t want to know about anything else but playing drums.
FT: What do you think about the drummers meetings?
MKP: I love it, I’ve been there one year ago and never missed any since that. It’s a great place to know other drummers, talk, learn and make good contacts!
FT: Have you ever encountered any prejudice from being a female drummer?
MKP: No, and when I say that I’m a drummer it usually opens some doors to me. Once a teacher at CEM didn’t want me on his line and I had to stand up and tell him that I’m a drummer-girl, and he really didn’t like my attitude.
Mariana Martins Barbosa
17-years-old/student
FT: How long have you been playing?
MMB: I used to play just for fun, without any technique or knowledge, so, officially I’ve been playing for two months.
FT: What were your major influences?
MMB: Dream Theater, Within Temptation, Nightwish, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Angra, Avenged Sevenfold, Led Zeppelin… I don’t know much about Brazilian drummers, I’m knowing their work better now, recently I watched a workshow by Eloy Casagrande that impressed me very much and I like Aquiles Priester, Mike Portnoy, Ricardo Confessori, Stephen van Haestregt and Neil Peart a lot.
FT: Do you play in any band?
MMB: No.
FT: Why did you start playing drums?
MMB: I have loved music since I was born, in my home everybody is moved by music and I learned to play acoustic guitar with my brother. I decided to play drums when I was younger because I saw it as a challenge and felt it was fascinating. I even bought a mini-drum set but as I didn’t have any classes at that time I didn’t take it further, so I sold it and stood away from drums for many years untill one day I decided I really wanted to learn how to play it. I was afraid of having no coordination enough to do that, but as I love challenges and think that drums are a beautiful instrument, I decided to start taking drum classes at BEG school, where I am now.
FT: What do you think about the drummers meetings?
I’ve been there only once and I loved it, the energy is great, I’ve been there with Monica, and everybody was great, the “Bateras 100% Brasil” is great!
FT: Have you ever encountered any prejudice from being a female drummer?
No.