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

Peter Erskine App Features LAMA Drum Instructor Aaron Serfaty

New App!

We are very proud to announce LAMA drum instructor Aaron Serfaty, the go-to studio drummer for Afro Cuban and Brazilian drumming, is featured on the “Erskn Afro Cuban Essentials”, a brand new app from Peter Erskine (currently available in the App Store).

Here is how the App works:

Using the built-in mixer, the user can create their own combo: full rhythm section (trio), music-minus- piano, music-minus-bass, music-minus-drums, or solo tracks of drums-only, bass-only or piano-only PLUS any combination of congas, bongo and timbale percussion tracks. There are click-track and count-off options, too. 

This YouTube video showcases all the features of the app:

Want more from Aaron? Check out his quick tip videos from LAMA College for Music Professionals below:

-LAMA Staff

Ralph Humphrey’s Drum Clinic Tour in Germany

If you’ve never seen a drum clinic with LAMA’s honorable Drum Department Chair Ralph Humphrey, it’s a real treat for the mind and ears! Ask any of our drum students about the studio great and former Zappa drummer and you’ll see why. He’s currently touring Germany including Drumweek in Berlin for a variety of drum clinics through August 8th! Remaining dates and locations include:

• August 5th – Beathouse, Cologne, GERMANY

• August 6th – Kulturzentrum Schlachhof, Kassel, GERMANY 

• August 7th – Hamburg School of Music, Hamburg, GERMANY 

• August 8th – Music College Hannover, Hannover, GERMANY

Ralph, mid-drum clinic, at Musikhaus Schoenau – July 24th

Hope you’re having a good tour Ralph – can’t wait to have you back at LAMA!

-LAMA Staff

LAMA Alumni Ryan Lacey’s Band Gaelic Storm LIVE Today

Gaelic Storm

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from all at LAMA!

LAMA alumni Ryan Lacey (pictured; second from left) and his band Gaelic Storm (they have a Billboard #1 World Album) take the stage today for a 100% LIVE, jig-inducing St. Patrick’s Day performance on Mark Cuban’s AXS TV channel at 5pm (PT)/8pm (ET). Check your local listings!

-LAMA Staff

Drummer Chaun Horton Talks Preparation, Studying, Performing

Chaun Horton at LA Music Academy College of Music

LA Music Academy alumni have gone on to play with some of the biggest names in the music industry. LAMA drum grad Chaun Horton is one of them. He just wrapped this video where he talks about growing up and playing in the church, what to expect from the LA Music Academy drum program and playing with pop/R&B stars Macy Gray and Natasha Bedingfield:

Best of luck Chaun — the video turned out great!

-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

Neat, New Gadgets for #Musicians (like #Ipad Drums)!

There may be no other group of people as gear obsessed as musicians. We buy guitar pedals, replace tubes, get the newest drum skins all in our quest for having the coolest sound. The last 10 years have been fascinating as the merging between computer technology and music gear has married happily.

Recently Fox News ran a great piece on some of the newest gear out there.  Check out the Ipad drum set shown in the video. We love the idea of being able to travel with a real-life practice pad. As any drummer knows lugging your “kit” around is one of the few downsides of providing the rhythm. Now if your band needs to run through a song all you need to bring along is your Ipad!

Click the image above or here to view the video.

-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