LAMA Open House October 12

We’d like to invite you to LAMA’s next open house, taking place October 12, 2013.

Here’s a breakdown of a typical agenda:

1:30 – 2:00 Registration
2:00 – 2:50 Performance Hall Group Orientation/ Live Performance(s)
2:55 – 3:00 Guided tour by our staff
3:00 – 3:30 Department Orientation
3:30 – 4:30 Auditions** (Excluding Music Producers)

Many of our guests love the opportunity to audition — those slots must be booked prior to the event and duration may vary by department. We will also cover admissions and financial aid counseling. You can also do an online digital audition. Visit www.lama.edu for more information, or RSVP by phone: (626) 568-8850. You can also e-mail admissions.

Not sure if you want to attend? Read our post, “10 Reasons You Should Attend Music College Open Houses.”

-LAMA Staff

Meet LAMA’s New Director of Admissions – Ashley Roberts!

We are very excited to introduce LAMA’s new Director of Admissions, Ashley Roberts! She joined our staff earlier this month so be sure to say hello and help give her a warm LAMA welcome! From Ashley:

I am so pleased to have joined the LAMA Staff! LAMA is at a great time of growth and I am happy to be working with such a successful team in a dynamic college. I look forward to contributing to the team’s efforts and helping students along with their musical careers.

-LAMA Staff

LAMA Artist Showcase Tonight!

Tonight, at The Mint in Los Angeles — our big annual LAMA artist showcase! We hope to see you there. You can email Iris @ lama [dot] edu for the FREE LAMA student/alumni guest list.  Full lineup and info on The Mint are below! You can also visit the event page on our Facebook.

Featuring Karmic, The Velvet Teaparty, and Micha Ciselle

Tickets available for purchase here.

(18+ only)

7:00 PM – Door Opens

7:30 PM – Karmic

8:15 PM – The Velvet Teaparty

9:00 PM – Micha Ciselle

-LAMA Staff

LAMA’s Fall 2013 Application Deadline: April 15

Only three more days until April 15th! We’re not talking about the IRS tax deadline…it’s the Fall 2013 application deadline for our bass, drums, guitar, vocals and music producer degrees. We encourage domestic and international students to visit this link for application information, housing options, FAQ and more: http://lama.edu/apply

-LAMA Staff

Jerry Watts Performs With John Daversa

If you’ve never seen John Daversa’s “small band” or orchestra, you are definitely missing out on some great music and musicianship! LAMA Bass Department Chair Jerry Watts has been performing with John for some time now — here is a clip from a recent performance at the Blue Whale in Los Angeles. Enjoy!

-LAMA Staff

Meet LAMA Private Instructor Peter Boskovich

We asked LAMA alumni and current LAMA private instructor Peter Boskovich to answer a few questions about his role at LAMA and what it was like studying at the school in Los Angeles. He also offers some great advice and tips for any music student or individual thinking of pursuing their music degree.

1. What is your current role at LAMA?

I’m a private instructor in the bass and producer department (producer students also take a quarter of bass and guitar lessons) and am an accompanist in Tierney Sutton’s ‘instrumentalist point of view’ classes, Ralph Humphrey’s ‘style and analysis’ and ‘contemporary’ classes among many others.

2. You attended LAMA, and graduated from the bass department. When was that and can you tell us more about your experience? 

Graduated 2004.  My experience in the bass department and as a student in general was a very special one.  I was fortunate to be surrounded by other very eager and determined students who pushed and inspired me to give it my all to tackle the curriculum and absorb the information as quickly as I could.  I remember the atmosphere of ‘friendly competition’ that drove us to play our best in every class.  By the end of my enrollment I can honestly say I was ready to get out and start gigging, although I have had a few bruises and bumps along the way, but overall I felt prepared.  I’ve played with many players all over the city coming from all over the world and I couldn’t have done it without the preparation I received at LAMA.

3. What advice do you have for young musicians looking to get their music degree at LAMA?

Don’t hesitate for one, and when you decide to commit to this institution as your place of learning, give it more than 110% like I did and you won’t regret a thing.  I still work with many of the dear friends I met as a student while at LAMA and continue to grow as a musician in the many professional settings afforded me by them.  The musical circles I work in all have many ties to the school even though the musicians might not have studied here.  LAMA is a great stepping-stone to get out into the city and start making musical relationships.  Also, it is important that you learn how you absorb information while in school, as we all learn in different ways.  I feel the curriculum along with the ensemble workshops are structured in a way that allows each student both the time and varied situations to absorb the material in ways that accommodate their levels of understanding.

4. What is the best part about studying music in Los Angeles?  

It’s LA man!  Come one.  I love this city with all of its diversity and varied cultural offerings.  There is no excuse for boredom in a town like this.  World-class players left and right, and myriad of venues in which to do so.  You can find inspiration any night of the week with all that is going on musically in this town.

5. Why did you start playing music? 

I started playing music because I hated football so much.  It was exhausting and it hurt a lot when I’d get leveled on the field.  Music was much nicer, and I was much better at it.  You also don’t have to wear those funny uniforms and instead get to look cool in front of a lot of people.

6. Tell us about your current musical projects etc.:

I’m actively gigging as a sideman in several jazz trio’s and quartets at the moment.  I have a project called Splice The Mainbrace with fellow teacher/instructor Jackson Allen that has started to play out.  We are both very excited about it and feel it an honest representation of our musical tastes and ambitions at the moment.

https://www.facebook.com/splicethemainbraceband  

I am also (and this might sound strange) working on an album of my own original tunes with me singing while playing chordal accompaniment on the bass.  I’ve explored chordal approaches to bass playing, and have also developed a deep appreciation for the songwriting idiom.  Between these two projects, and an endless list of things to practice and prepare for, I’m very excited about life and where it might take me.

-LAMA Staff

Video Quick Tip – Recording Drums

LAMA Instructor Andrew Murdoch discusses ways to record drums to achieve your ideal sound. In this video, he specifically takes on snare drums and some older Pearl toms (where they’ve added Naugahyde under the heads). Interesting stuff!

-LAMA Staff

LAMA’s Music Producer, Engineering Degree Program Explained

LAMA has released a new video featuring department Chair Sean Halley, who eloquently describes what students can expect while learning at LAMA in Los Angeles. Besides spending a lot of time recording, getting produced and producing others, you will learn signal processing, computers, songwriting and you take lessons on other instruments — so you can learn the language of instrumentalists and singers. Plus much more… Check out what Sean has to say in the video below:

-LAMA Staff

Bassists: Get Money for Music School

LAMA says grants are still available for its bass department — the deadline is days away, February 15, 2013 — that means you still have some time to apply and secure funding for your music education at LAMA.

You should call the admissions department at LAMA, 1-626-568-8850, to learn more.

Not familiar with our bass department? That’s ok — we made this video for you — Chair Jerry Watts Jr. discusses what you can expect from your time studying at LAMA.

-LAMA Staff

LAMA College for Music Professionals – Virtual Photo Tour

Just in time for today’s Open House at LAMA College for Music Professionals (2:00pm, Oct. 13, 2012), the Get to the Music Blog got its hands on these photos (by @verofoto) — we’ve turned them into the first LA Music Academy Virtual Tour! 🙂 Click the thumbnail for a much bigger image… have questions? Ask them in the comments below or tweet us at @LAmusicacademy and use #LAMAopenhouse in your tweet! -LAMA Staff

You’ve arrived at 370 S. Fair Oaks Street in old-town Pasadena, home to LA Music Academy!

LAMA’s “Music Production” program makes great use of the recording lab which is a fully functioning music studio complete with three iso-booths and a neighboring drum room.

You can Invoke your inner Dr. Dre or Rick Rubin with our extensive keyboard and synth collection.

Have you ever seen such a clean desk?

Thelonious Monk watches over everything in the LAMA conference room.

The Computer Lab is outfitted with ten 20” iMacs® and a 52” LCD monitor for instructor demonstrations. Each computer is equipped with Digidesign ProTools LE® software and an MBox2® recording interface.

Only thing left to do is drop off your application. Your fate rests with the admissions staff who sit behind these desks.

LAMA students love hanging in the courtyard, even for silly hat parties!

It won’t take long to familiarize yourself with LAMA’s beautiful courtyard and patio at the center of campus. The courtyard is home to good times. Join us for hangouts, jams, parties, BBQs and more!

One of the perks of being in Southern California is great weather year round.

Our favorite concert posters around the LAMA lobby. Bands include – Ween, Beach House and Pennywise!

Over your time attending LAMA, you’ll get to know Pablo who is always there to help and share a laugh! He also helps you get what you need from the student shop. Forget that guitar tuner at home? Let Pablo hook you up!

You’ll probably want to stash your gear in your own locker and don’t forget to catch up with your fellow classmates before class.

We have a number of large, clean classrooms which improve your overall learning experience.

Former Pointer Sisters touring guitarist and LAMA Guitar co-chair Bill Fowler teaching his students.

LAMA has a multitude of complimentary soundproof practice labs for students to use. Just sign up for some time!

Practice rooms can comfortably fit two people if you don’t mind getting cozy 🙂