Asalato percussion workshop with Mari Merenda (London - extra session)

ASALATO (CAS CAS SHAKER) PERCUSSION WORKSHOP WITH MARI MERENDA (BRAZIL)

EXTRA SESSION DUE TO HIGH DEMAND

For whom: Open to everyone, no previous experience needed (from 12 years old)

When: 17.10.2026 - 6pm to 8pm

Where: Latin American House - 10 Kingsgate Place London, NW6 4TA

Duration: 2 hours

Do I need to have the instrument? No. Asalatos will be provided for the workshop.

Workshop session: Up to 20 people

Join our beginner-friendly workshop suitable for all ages and backgrounds to explore asalato, a percussion and rhythm instrument.

What is asalato?

The asalato (also widely known as cas cas shaker, kashaka, aslatua, or patica) is a traditional West African percussion and rhythm instrument. It consists of two small hollowed gourds or wooden/plastic balls filled with small seeds, beans, or beads, connected by a string.

By shaking, swinging, and striking the balls against each other, players create complex, rhythmic polyrhythms. It’s compact enough to take anywhere, and the rhythmic shaking is often used to relieve stress and enter a meditative “flow state”.

Practical Content

Instrument Adaptation: Initial string adjustments for the student’s hand, posture instructions, and exercises to stimulate body awareness.

Introduction to basic movements (may vary depending on the level of difficulty or ease of the group): Shaker, Clicks, ternary and binary flip-flops, plus exercises that develop hand autonomy.

Musicality: Group exercises to expand listening and musical expression. Development of rhythmic patterns and arrangement construction.

Final demonstrations and Q&A session.

Mari is also in London performing a headline show at The Jago (A concert curated by Jazz Cafe) on the 18th of October; and she will be in Brighton playing at A L P H A B E T on the 14th of October.

Tickets and more info for the LONDON show here

Tickets and more info for the BRIGHTON show here

About Mari Merenda

Mari Merenda is a Brazilian singer, songwriter, musical producer, multi-instrumentalist, and music teacher. She started her musical journey when she was only 4 years old, studying piano, guitar and singing. She graduated in music songwriting in São Paulo.

Her videos playing asalato turned her into a worldwide reference on the instrument, a teacher and a pioneer.

She also developed her own musical notation system for the instrument with symbols called ‘Método das Esferas’ (Sphere Method).

Her first album ‘Crônica’ (2022) was self-produced and recorded in her room. In her new EP ‘Reverbero’ (2025), Mari went viral with an original song called ‘Bote no Lugar’.

The project had the songs ‘Reverbero’ and ‘Fúria’ produced by a team of Latin Grammy winners: Felipe Vassão, mixed by João Milliet and mastered by Felipe Tichauer.

Last year, in her second Eurotour, she performed in Portugal, Spain and France, and opened for Gilsons in Berlin, Germany.

Listen to Mari Merenda on Spotify

Watch Mari Merenda videos on Instagram

Questions? Email us at elemosmartin@yoyoma.uk