What we’re about
Hello! We are THABO - the Thornton Heath Afrobeat Orchestra, welcome to our meetup page!
We are a Community Learning Orchestra giving musicians of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to share a supportive learning environment to learn, play and write Music from the African Diaspora - Afrobeat, Blues, Jazz, Reggae, Samba and more! For more information on the project and links to our socials, please visit www.THABO.uk.
Our Weekly workshop and jam session at the Great North Wood is an open learning session. What we work on is up to you! Whether you are interested in learning to skank in Roots Reggae on the guitar, blow bebop lines on your Horn, run chord changes, talk theory, read and write music, Sing an Amajor9 arpeggio, you will be supported to harness your creativity and flow using the learning principles embedded in Ed's Music is Easy Method.
Who Will I Be Hanging With?
THABO was conceived and is led by Edward Cubitt, a South London Jazz Musician, Multi-Instrumentalist, Educator and Author of Music is Easy Method - www.youtube.com/@music_is_easy. Ed has been thinking deeply on the nature of Flow for nearly a decade, and through his research and practice has learned to play all the instruments (as a side note, this also led to Ed becoming one with the Dao - feel free to ask about it).
Co-Leading the project is Guitarist, Producer, Multi-Instrumentalist, Techno Enthusiast, Educator and Montesorri Practitioner Mark Stitson. A highly skilled and versatile guitarist, Mark combines techniques and approaches from Contemporary and Classical Guitar. From Samba grooving to multi-voice Afro-funk fingerstyle to chord-melody jazz, Mark's dazzling skill on the guitar provides the harmonic foundation of the THABO Rhythm Section.
Working closely with Mark and Leading the Groove is Edgar Deu, our resident Brazilian-in-Spirit, Edgar changed his life during Covid, giving up the world of Bio-Chemistry to go to Brazil to learn Samba on the Streets in Rio. With years in Blocos under his belt (and in his fingers) Edgar is back in London, blessing us with Groove and oozing Rio vibes. Edgar works with Samba Groups from Rio to London, and co-leads London Samba-Reggae-Funk-Hip-Hop group Pengenista Drummers -- www.pengenistadrummers.org.
Leading the Voices is Award-winning Video Game Music Composer and Multi-Instrumentalist Raoul Neumann. Growing up in Thornton Heath, Raoul has been singing from the age of 7 and works with top London vocal groups including London Contemporary Voices and Libera, having composed original Choral works and arrangements. Find out more at www.raoulneumann.com
Music is Easy Method
Music is Easy is a revolutionary approach to Western Music Learning informed by recent discoveries in the field of cognitive neuroscience and Flow State. The 4 games in Book 1 - Foundation - provide an easy and fun way to develop an intuitive understanding of the foundations of Western Music - notes and the Major Scale, melodies, rhythms, and use of the voice.
Music is Easy allows learners harnesses the intuitive power of written music notation to explore, experiment and analyse harmony and rhythm, but without any barriers of Music Theory, abstract symbols, and words in Italian.
We particular encourage Attendees to bring their own original music and compositions to share with the group, and we look forward to many happy hours of jamming and arranging your music with music professionals highly experienced across Contemporary Genres.
We love all good music, so we will also be regularly exploring music other than that of the African Diaspora, particularly Irish Folk, Klezmer and Carnatic Music. Everybody is welcome, and we hope you are excited to share your musical heritage and learn about others!
Price
Sessions are £10 / head if you pay in person on the day, or £20 / month for unlimited access to our weekly sessions via our Patreon page at www.Patreon.com/THABOrchestra.
A concessionary fee of £10 / month for unlimited access is available to those experiencing financial difficulties. No evidence required, no questions asked.
We hope and trust that those who can spare the extra £10 / month will sign up for the full rate, as 100% of revenue will go towards sustaining the Orchestra in the long term and continuing our Community Learning Initiatvies.
