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

Ran Into an Old Friend

Mark Schulman played a clinic before our LAMA Expereince event

Mark Schulman (center), drummer for Pink, playing a clinic before our LAMA Experience event. He taught Rock drums at LAMA for many years! Congrats on all the success Mark!

-LAMA Staff

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

3rd Annual #Drummer’s Reality Camp June 27-30!

Guess the drumkit!

Neil Peart, Doane Perry, Gil Sharone, Zigaboo Modeliste, Marco Minneman, Ralph Humphrey, Joe Porcaro, Tony Inzalaco, Gary Ferguson and Uli Frost are confirmed for the third annual Drummer’s Reality Camp, June 27-30, 2012 at Los Angeles Music Academy College of Music (and one day at DrumChannel.com studios).

For more information, CLICK HERE. The new Facebook page is up: www.facebook.com/drummersrealitycamp. Stay up to date and connect by liking the page today. Didn’t get a chance to attend last year? Check out the new 2012 promo video for some highlights!

Please help us spread the word about this fantastic event!

-LAMA Staff

3rd Annual Drummer’s Reality Camp

We’re very excited for the third annual Drummer’s Reality Camp at LA Music Academy (and one day at DrumChannel.com studios). They haven’t even announced official dates yet, but usually takes place at the end of June/early July. We’ll know more about dates and artists very soon.

For now, there is a brand new Facebook page up: www.facebook.com/drummersrealitycamp. Go like the page so you don’t miss any announcements or news!

Here’s a wrap up video from last year. Please help spread the word about this fantastic event!

-LAMA Staff

Video Tips Roundup: Afro-Cuban/Brazilian Rhythms for Drums

LA Music Academy Afro-Cuban/Brazilian drum Instructor Aaron Serfaty has been playing professionally for 20 years. From 1980 – 1990 he was a first call session drummer in his native country of Venezuela. He moved to Los Angeles in 1991 to attend the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). Soon after he began touring and recording with Arturo Sandoval and Jon Anderson, and performing with Sergio Mendes, Dori Caymmi, Oscar Castro Neves, Frank Gambale, Shelly Berg, Juan Carlos Quintero, Rique Pantoja and Don Grusin. Aaron is also the director of the Latin Jazz Ensemble at the University of Southern California (USC).

In these videos, Aaron discusses applying Afro-Cuban/Brazilian rhythms to the drumset. Familiar with the mambo or samba? What about pataflaflas? Don’t worry, Aaron can help!

-LAMA Staff

5 Gnarly Kid Performances

Kids shred Phoenixville’s Rock & Roll After School

It’s time to recognize the children…not screaming babies on the airplane, or dirty diapers and messes they leave behind. But we want to highlight them playing music! It seems every day google alerts come in: “8 year old drums black page”or “6 year old blazes through November Rain” so we compiled a list of just 5 of the gnarliest kids performances found on YouTube…though there are so many more. What other ones do you think we need to watch?

Insane Guitar Kid – We remember learning the guitar in Junior High and trying to master Jimmy Page’s Stairway To Heaven solo. How about at 5 years old!?

System of a Down-Toxicity, Drum Cover, 5 Year Old Drummer, Jonah Rocks – This video needs no explanation just watch! Let’s get this kid to Drummer’s Reality Camp next year!

The Next Mozart? 6-Year Old Piano Prodigy Wows All- Could this 6 year old really be the next Mozart? After watching her skills she very well may be!

O Holy Night – Incredible child singer 7 yrs old – Get this girl to sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl!

Little Boy Singing The Blues In A Guitar Store. What great pipes on this kid! Must watch.

Hope you enjoyed all these videos LAMA-heads. You better practice extra hard this semester there is going to be some stiff competition from the next generation!

-LAMA Staff

Video Quick Tip: Samba Rhythms for Drumset

Happy 11/11/11 to all!

Here we have a new quick tip video from LA Music Academy Afro-Cuban/Brazilian drum Instructor Aaron Serfaty, who has been playing professionally for 20 years. From 1980 – 1990 he was a first call session drummer in his native country of Venezuela. He moved to Los Angeles in 1991 to attend the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). Soon after he began touring and recording with Arturo Sandoval and Jon Anderson, and performing with Sergio Mendes, Dori Caymmi, Oscar Castro Neves, Frank Gambale, Shelly Berg, Juan Carlos Quintero, Rique Pantoja and Don Grusin. Aaron is also the director of the Latin Jazz Ensemble at the University of Southern California (USC).

In the video, Aaron discusses how to apply different traditional samba rhythms to drumset. Report back here with how your practice sessions went and if you have any questions, ask them in our comment section!

-LAMA Staff

Video Quick Tip: Afro-Cuban Rhythms for Drumset

LA Music Academy Afro-Cuban/Brazilian drum Instructor Aaron Serfaty has been playing professionally for 20 years. From 1980 – 1990 he was a first call session drummer in his native country of Venezuela. He moved to Los Angeles in 1991 to attend the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). Soon after he began touring and recording with Arturo Sandoval and Jon Anderson, and performing with Sergio Mendes, Dori Caymmi, Oscar Castro Neves, Frank Gambale, Shelly Berg, Juan Carlos Quintero, Rique Pantoja and Don Grusin. Aaron is also the director of the Latin Jazz Ensemble at the University of Southern California (USC).

In this video, Aaron discusses how to apply different Afro-Cuban rhythms to drumset, particularly for a mambo… are you going to give it a try? 🙂

-LAMA Staff

Ralph Humphrey Video Quick Tip: Paradiddle Variations

LA Music Academy Drum Department Chair Ralph Humphrey discusses playing different variations of paradiddles around the drumset.

Ralph, you never fail to amaze us.

-LAMA Staff