Interview with Alex Shaw

Alex Shaw is a musician, composer, and arts educator specializing in Brazilian music traditions.  Growing up in a family of chamber musicians, he began his studies in orchestral percussion and then focused on Latin and Brazilian percussion. Upon graduating from Swarthmore College, he joined Philadelphia's award-winning Spoken Hand Percussion Orchestra, and later became the Artistic Director for Alô Brasil, a renowned 14-piece Brazilian ensemble. As a freelance arts educator, Alex regularly teaches and facilitates residencies and workshops in numerous universities, schools, and organizations throughout the tri-state region. 

When asked what had been the most rewarding experience/event he had ever taken part in, Alex Shaw replied that it was bridge sessions, which is way to explore different themes and how they connect.  It is a collaboration/community-based program.  Examples of the different themes explored during bridge sessions include world of percussion, language of rhythm, rhythm in body, movement and rhythm, and inter-genre collaboration.  The bridge sessions can also be adapted for companies; Bridge for Business.

After noting that Alex is constantly working and interacting with groups of people, the BSA students asked him what skills has he gained from this—what this had taught him.  In his response, Alex explained that he had to change the way he communicated for children (5-6 yrs).  He also had to learn classroom management, time management, how to turn his own process into a creative experience, and collaboration.  Teaching also requires a lot of "thinking on your feet" since circumstances can unexpectedly change.  Child, as well as adult, psychology also plays an important role in the experience. 

In discussing Alex’s research and studies in Brazil, the BSA students asked how Brazilian culture is different from the American culture.  Alex noted that not everyone that lives in Brazil is Brazilian. There are many different races, so you can't really tell who is Brazilian and who is not. As for music in Brazil, people act more as a family, whereas in America there are so many different genres and styles. There are many genres in Brazil, but there is also the traditional style America does not have that everybody can enjoy. People in Brazil can all listen to the same music and not have to worry about others complaining that they don't like it.

Asked if there were a lot of business owners who are entrepreneurs or are there mainly large businesses in Brazil, Alex explained that there are more entrepreneurs than there are large businesses. “I think because Brazil is so diverse that people do their own things. Plus, there is not that much money. I have a friend that owns her own business and makes Brazilian bikinis. We are known for the bikinis because they are very small. The fashion there is different as well. Brazilian women that come America have a hard time finding jeans because they have a different shape than the average American woman.”

The BSA students asked Alex how he discovered Live Connections and how he started working with them?  His response: “Just through word of mouth and networking. That is how you make it as an entrepreneur. Also, I never know where I am going to end up or what state I’ll be doing from week to week.”