Classes & Workshops
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
Sun Prairie Concerts in the Park – Family Night with The Handphibians
July 22, 2025 at Wetmore 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
Mount Horeb Wednesday Night Live – Handphibians + Grupo Balança
August 6, 2025 at
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.
