Samba Nova is a community band, based in the Brazilian batucada tradition.
The principles of the band are to:
- have fun in making music
- welcome newcomers of all backgrounds and musical abilities
- have straightforward and transparent methods of operation
- commit to regular attendance and preparation for performances
- take individual initiative in a context of group consultation and decision-making
- be non-sectarian and apolitical
- demonstrate respect for each other
- contribute to paying and non-paying community events.
The structure of the organization:
- The owner of the band is the membership of the Samba Nova Musical Group Society. Members of the Society are members of the band, but the band is larger than just these members. We sincerely consider all who play with us, in practice and performance to be “part of the band”. Therefore, the number of people in the band can vary widely.
- Musical leadership is provided from within the band and by collaborating with other musicians. The band may have one or more musical leaders at any one time.
- The band is a collective of willing hands, pitching in from time to time and in a variety of ways.
- The board of directors is a five-person, hands-on management team elected by the members of the Society to do the business of the Society and of the band.
Annual General Meeting minutes:
- Samba Nova AGM Minutes for 2011 operating year
- Samba Nova AGM Minutes for 2012 operating year
- Samba Nova AGM Minutes for 2013 operating year
- Samba Nova AGM Minutes for 2014 operating year
- Samba Nova AGM Minutes for 2015 operating year
- Samba Nova AGM Minutes for 2016 operating year
- Samba Nova AGM Minutes for 2017 operating year
- Samba Nova AGM Minutes for 2018 operating year
Playing in the band:
- Regular band practice is advertised and open to the community.
- A practice fee of $10 or Pay What You Can is collected on the honour system. If the fee keeps a member or potential member from participating, the board may set a lower fee for that person.
- Players are encouraged to become comfortable with playing various instruments. Movement within the band is encouraged.
- New players may join the band in public performance when invited by a musical leader. Musical leaders will decide the level of knowledge and skill required for any particular performance. We err on the side of inclusion.
- Children are welcome to participate in regular practice when parents supervise and take responsibility for all risks.
Membership and the roles of members:
- A player who has shown a commitment to practice will be invited to become a member of the Society (under review in 2025).
- Members who become inactive will be invited to return and may be struck from the list of registered members (under review in 2025).
- The roles of members are to:
- participate in business meetings to direct and support the board
- welcome and follow up with new players to bring them into the band
- contribute to performances, both musically and logistically.
Musical leadership and the roles of leaders:
- We encourage musical leadership from within the membership and will find ways to practice these skills.
- The board may purchase musical services from musicians who are not members of the Society but who are committed to the principles of the band.
- Musical leaders select, develop and maintain the band’s musical repertoire.
- They provide basic instruction and encourage the players’ musical skills.
- Musical leaders are invited to offer independent advice to the board about instruments and performance logistics.
- When the band has a performance, the musical leader of that performance is in charge of all aspects of the band while at the venue.
General Responsibilities of the Board
The board is responsible for the management of the Society and of the band.
Band management includes:
- securing musical leadership and practice space
- purchasing and maintaining instruments
- storing and transporting instruments
- seeking opportunities and deciding on the band’s availability to perform
- providing timely information to players about performances
- working out the details of practices and performances
- facilitating decisions on performance attire and decorations
- recording the repertoire for future use by the band
- recruiting and retaining players
- branding and bringing a public profile to the band
- seeking advice and assistance and volunteers from the band in fulfilling these responsibilities.
Management of the Society includes:
- applying the by-laws and guidelines
- meeting regularly and reporting regularly to the members about the Society’s assets, major board decisions and initiatives. We suggest three times a year, following the board meetings required by the by-laws.
- setting an annual budget to ensure that expenditures for musical services, instruments, venues and other needs are properly supported
- appointing a chair, secretary, and treasurer, if the members have not appointed these officers
- creating and appointing other positions within the board (eg. vice-chair) and among the members (eg. transport captain) on an as-needed basis
Roles of the Officers
- The by-laws describe the responsibilities of the Society’s officers. These responsibilities suggest that the officers play three general but important roles:
- The general role of the chair is to set the agenda. This is more than the agenda for a meeting. It includes the agenda for the band – it’s priorities and achievable plans in the coming months.
- The general role of the secretary is to be the hub of all communications.
- The secretary ensures that people have the info they need and that our methods of consultation are effective. The secretary listens.
- The general role of the treasurer is to control – to be the watchdog of our assets. The treasurer asks questions and gets good answers on behalf of all of the members.