%0 PDF %T Samba at Somerville High: Integrating, Validating, and Negotiating Immigrant Identity. %A Usenza, Christiana. %8 2017-04-18 %R http://localhost/files/1j92gm16c %X Abstract: The Somerville High School's World Percussion Ensemble facilitates the integration of immigrant students into the American public school system. Serving predominantly Brazilian students, the class is based on traditional Bloco Afro-style samba music. Deriving from praxial and transcultural music education practices, the class is designed to foster: enjoyment, a sense of belonging and community, and pride in cultural identity. This thesis recognizes key components in this process of immigrant social integration. (1) Music helps immigrant students adjust and integrate into a new culture. (2) The structure of Bloco Afro samba music is based on a nature of inclusivity which encourages productive social action. It requires students to communicate, cooperate and empathize with each other despite their differences. (3) By blending rhythms from their countries of origin with a pop song of choice for their final composition, the students negotiate a hybrid identity and create their own interculture.; Thesis (M.A.)--Tufts University, 2012.; Submitted to the Dept. of Music.; Advisor: David Locke.; Committee: Richard Jankowsky, and Deborah Pacini-Hernandez.; Keywords: Music, Education, and Latin American studies. %[ 2022-10-13 %9 Text %~ Tufts Digital Library %W Institution