LAMA Drum Clinic: Aaron Spears

LAMA is very excited to welcome DW Drums, Zildjian Cymbals and Vic Firth artist Aaron Spears (Usher) for a drum clinic Sunday November 10th, from 4pm to 6pm. The Grammy nominee has an action packed two hour clinic planned for students and alumni in attendance; limited seating is available for the public (first come, first served). Check out this performance of Aaron at Modern Drummer Fest.

Interested in attending? Everyone must RSVP to be admitted. Email info@lama.edu and we will email you a confirmation shortly thereafter. We’ll see you Sunday!

-LAMA Staff

Swag Alert! Vic Firth Stick Bags for New LAMA Drum Students

Legendary drum stick manufacturer Vic Firth, always very supportive of music education, presented these wonderful gifts — brand new stick bags —  to the new drum students at LAMA. All the drummers were absolutely psyched to get this swag to help kick off their school year. Thanks again Vic Firth!

-LAMA Staff

LAMA’s Gary Ferguson Records w/ members of Pennywise & Suicidal Tendencies

One of our drum instructors Gary Ferguson is recording with Phenagen featuring members of Suicidal Tendencies and Pennywise. The video below was posted on YouTube and is a great video of the band in the studio w/producer Darian Rundall during a February 2012 Los Angeles session. For more info on Phenagen visit their official website here.

Video Quick Tip: Jazz Drumming – “Accenting Triplets”

LA Music Academy College of Music Jazz Drums Instructor Tony Inzalaco received a Bachelor’s degree (percussion) and a Master’s degree (music education) from the Manhattan School of Music in New York. He has performed in Carnegie Hall, The Guggenheim Music, The New York World’s Fair, the Apollo Theater and the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. While in New York, he played in all the major jazz clubs including the legendary club Birdland. He has traveled extensively, performing in major club venues and festivals in the U.S., Canada and throughout Europe.

He has played in person, on radio, on television or recordings with the following jazz masters: Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, Joe Henderson, Maynard Ferguson, Donald Byrd, Dizzy Gillespie, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Cleveland, Frank Rossolino, Oscar Peterson, Kenny Drew, Roland Hannah, Ron Carter, Slam Stewart, Niels H.O. Pedersen, Kenny Clarke, Anita O’Day, Carmen McRae, Irene Reid, Jimmy Rushing and Lionel Hampton. In addition, he has the unique distinction of being one of the very few drummers to have ever worked for Buddy Rich. He also spent one year as Bobby Darin’s personal drummer. He now plays in the L.A. area with a quintet that spotlights him not only as a jazz drummer but also as a jazz composer.

In this video, Tony discusses different ways to accent the triplet in jazz drumming:

-LAMA Staff

Video Quick Tip – #Drums: #Gospel Chops Variations

Gary Ferguson teaches funk drums at LA Music Academy College of Music. After his first recording at the age of 17 with Shirley Bassey, Gary Ferguson began touring in the mid-70’s with Etta James, Olivia Newton-John and Cher. Since then, he has also toured/recorded with Eddie Money, Ray Charles, Glenn Hughes, Jim Messina, Roberta Flack, Yoko Ono, David Benoit, Les Dudek, Michelle Phillips, Bette Midler, Susanna Hoffs, Charlie Sexton, Billy Preston, Melissa Manchester, John Hiatt, the New Radicals, Stevie Nicks, Lani Hall, Larry Carlton, Steve Lukather, Edgar Winter, James Ingram, Billy Bob Thornton, K.D. Lang, Pat Benatar, Ben Folds, and many more. In 2000, he performed on the Women Rock Lifetime television special, featuring Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, The Dixie Chicks and more. Gary has also recorded on many film and jingle dates and has also contributed tracks to the GarageBand Drum Libraries.

In this video, Funk Drum Instructor Gary Ferguson demonstrates a great hand/foot combination based on gospel chops to create some exciting variations. For more info, visit lamusicacademy.edu

-LAMA Staff

Video Quick Tip – #Drums: “The Half Time Shuffle”

Dave Beyer is an in-demand professional drummer and educator in the Los Angeles area. He toured and recorded for 3 years with Melissa Etheridge, and has played or recorded with The Motels, Jewel, Joan Osborne, Gregg Allman, Michael McDonald, Christopher Cross, Stephen Bishop, Helen Reddy, Jango, and Debra Davis. He has performed at major venues worldwide, including the Greek Theater, Universal Amphitheater, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Woodstock, Madison Square Garden and Royal Albert Hall; and has played on The Tonight Show, David Letterman and Ally McBeal, to name a few. Dave also stays busy as a session player, a producer and runs his own recording studio.

In this Quick Tip, LA Music Academy rock drums instructor Dave Beyer demonstrates several variations of the half time shuffle. For more info, visit lamusicacademy.edu

-LAMA Staff

Video Quick Tip – Drums: Left Hand Ghost Note Funk Ostinato

Gary Ferguson teaches funk drums at LA Music Academy College of Music. After his first recording at the age of 17 with Shirley Bassey, Gary Ferguson began touring in the mid-70’s with Etta James, Olivia Newton-John and Cher. Since then, he has also toured/recorded with Eddie Money, Ray Charles, Glenn Hughes, Jim Messina, Roberta Flack, Yoko Ono, David Benoit, Les Dudek, Michelle Phillips, Bette Midler, Susanna Hoffs, Charlie Sexton, Billy Preston, Melissa Manchester, John Hiatt, the New Radicals, Stevie Nicks, Lani Hall, Larry Carlton, Steve Lukather, Edgar Winter, James Ingram, Billy Bob Thornton, K.D. Lang, Pat Benatar, Ben Folds, and many more. In 2000, he performed on the Women Rock Lifetime television special, featuring Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, The Dixie Chicks and more. Gary has also recorded on many film and jingle dates and has also contributed tracks to the GarageBand Drum Libraries.

In this video, Funk Drum Instructor Gary Ferguson demonstrates a very useful left hand ghost note ostinato for funk drumming. For more info, visit lamusicacademy.edu

-LAMA Staff

5 Incredible Drum Solos

There was a time when the drum solo became a staple of every concert. Everyone would exit the stage and the drummer would be left alone to take over. In this LAMA Video Roundup we are going to highlight 5 Incredible Drum Solos that we found on the Internet. WARNING – Watching these videos could make you turn down the lights in your room, shine a spotlight on your kit and rock out!

Comment here with links to other incredible drum solos!

Rush – Neil Peart Drum Solo

Steve Smith of Journey – Khanda West

Tommy Lee – Upside Down Drum Solo

Terry Bozzio – The Black Page

Alex Van Halen – Drum Solo

=LAMA Staff

Drummers, Let Ralph Humphrey School You

Ralph Humphrey discusses his drum department at Los Angeles Music Academy College of Music:

-LAMA Staff