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

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

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

#Drummers! All New Ralph Humphrey Video Quick Tip

Ralph Humphrey, the Drum Department Chair over at LA Music Academy has released his newest video in a series of video quick tips for drummers.  In this video, LA Music Academy Drum Department Chair Ralph Humphrey discusses playing different variations of paradiddlediddles around the drumset.

-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

Drummers! All New Ralph Humphrey Video Quick Tip

Ralph Humphrey, the Drum Department Chair over at LA Music Academy has released the first in a series of video quick tips for drummers. In this video, Ralph discusses hand patterns over foot ostinatos. The video was shot in the brand new recording studio on the LAMA campus!

-LAMA Staff

Drummer’s Reality Camp 2011 – Video Recap

DrumChannel.com and Los Angeles Music Academy College of Music hosted the Second Annual Drummer’s Reality Camp June 29 – July 2, 2011. Guest artists included Alex Acuña, Kenny Aronoff, Terry Bozzio, Jim Keltner, Cobus Potgieter, Gil Sharone, Thomas Pridgen, Cobus Potgieter and LA Music Academy’s own Ralph Humphrey, Dave Beyer, Aaron Serfaty, Tony Inzalaco and Joe Porcaro. The four-day event took place at LA Music Academy in Pasadena. Campers were treated to workshops, lessons, master classes, special performances, meet & greets/autograph sessions, a DW Drums factory tour and in-studio, live clinic by Terry Bozzio at DrumChannel.com studios. Drummer’s Reality Camp will return again in 2012.

-LAMA Staff

David Letterman’s Drum Solo Week

Via cbs.seenon.com

Do drummers fancy the Late Show with David Letterman? Probably to watch Anton Fig right? Well, percussionists of the world, mark your iCals starting June 6th — as reported by TVline.com, Letterman is dedicating next week’s episodes to some of the industry’s top drummers. Monday kicks off with Late Show’s own Anton Fig. Sheila E follows Tuesday, along with Roy Haynes Wednesday. The week is capped off with Rush’s drumming legend Neil Peart. We already think they need to do Drum Solo Month. There are just too many great drummers out there!

-LAMA Staff