The American Presence Post in Belo Horizonte programmed the ‘Jazz & Democracy’ workshop for the first time in Brazil in three Minas Gerais cities: Juiz de Fora, Betim and Belo Horizonte. The innovative music-integrated curriculum created by Dr. Wesley Watkins teaches students about democratic values using jazz basics as a metaphor. Students learned about civic values and jazz musicianship, and learned how to perform a song using colorful improvised musical instruments named boomwhackers. At the Legislative Assembly School in Belo Horizonte, Dr. Watkins held a workshop for Youth Parliament students, with the help of experienced local jazz musician Toninho Horta.
