Madison’s Original Brazilian Percussion Group

Classes & Workshops

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The Handphibians offer small group introduction to Brazilian percussion classes a few times per year. The class cycle is usually 8-12 weeks long with one class per week.

This class schedule is open to people of all levels of percussion experience.

Upcoming Shows

The Sessions 2025 at Garver Feed Mill

June 22, 2025 at Garver Feed Mill

  • Fête de Marquette 2025

    July 11, 2025 at McPike Park

  • AtwoodFest Convergence 2025

    July 26, 2025 at Atwood Neighborhood

  • Madison Children’s Museum with Ótimo Dance

    August 1, 2025 at Madison Children's Museum

  • Monroe Concerts on the Square 2025

    August 16, 2025 at Historic Courthouse Square

  • Memorial Union Terrace 2025

    August 23, 2025 at UW Memorial Union Terrace

  • Community Events Calendar

    Are you hosting or performing in an upcoming show near Madison? Tell us about it to potentially reach a wider and Brazilian music adjacent audience.


    Who are The Handphibians?

    The Handphibians are a group of percussionists from the Madison, Wisconsin area who study and perform various styles of Brazilian music.


    The Founding Story

    In the summer of 1997, Madisonian and Handphibians’ founder, Robert Schoville, took a trip with a few friends to Brazil.

    After traveling the country for about a month, taking classes and acquiring instruments, Schoville invited UW-Madison music students and community members to join him in playing what he learned during his travels.

    For over ten years, Schoville hosted educational drumming sessions with these students and locals, teaching them the instruments and specific rhythms and parts associated with the various regional traditions.

    The Handphibians emerged from this process and the Madison Escola de Samba, or Samba School, was born.

    Madison Carnaval

    Beginning in 1999, Handphibians have hosted an annual music and dance party named Madison Carnaval. The Handphibians perform in collaboration with and alongside a mix of about a dozen local music and dance groups.

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