Petra Kleinecke

German-Brazilian percussionist, music therapist and educator whose handpan practice blends improvisation, rhythm, melody and inclusive ensemble learning.

Petra Kleinecke is a German-Brazilian musician, percussionist, music educator and music therapist with more than two decades of teaching experience. Born in Brazil and raised in Germany, she developed through samba, percussion, classical and jazz contexts before making the handpan a central part of her work from 2017 onward. Her solo project HandpanDance and the album Ondas combine flowing melody with a strong rhythmic foundation, while her workshops and ensemble formats emphasise improvisation, body awareness and collective music-making. She works with beginners as well as experienced musicians, using structured exercises without losing the intuitive character of the instrument. Her profile connects performance, pedagogy and therapeutic sensitivity, with a warm, grounded style that can move from quiet reflection to dance-oriented groove.