Video Quick Tip: Stretching Exercise for Guitar

In this new quick tip video, brought to you by LAMA College for Music Professionals, Guitar Department Chair Jody Fisher gives guitarists a great “strength and power” exercise (where you learn very slowly and keep going slower and slower). This exercise will help you increase the span between your first and second finger. What other exercises do you practice on the guitar?

-LAMA Staff

Jody Offers a New Look at LAMA’s Guitar Program

In this new video, brought to you by LAMA College for Music Professionals, Guitar Department Chair Jody Fisher explains what you can expect as a student in the guitar program and why choosing a music school like LAMA is the best choice today for your advancement as a musician.

For more information, visit the guitar department page here:

-LAMA Staff

Video Quick Tip: Altered Dominant Chords

In this new quick tip video, brought to you by LAMA College for Music Professionals, Guitar Department Chair Jody Fisher discusses how to use altered dominant chords, focusing on altered fifths. Any questions? 🙂

-LAMA Staff

Get Your Own Mic

Good thing you can’t smell the microphone in these videos.

Kudos to Audio-Technica, who in 30 seconds or so, reminds us of what it’s like to use a venue’s microphone:

Thanks to success of the first vid, they produced a follow up:

If you can, get your own mic! 🙂

-LAMA Staff

Should Cell Phones be Banned at Concerts and Shows?

A new article from NPR’s Bob Boilen continues the fast growing debate about appropriateness of using (or not using) your cell phone to shoot photos, video and also “socialize” (tweet) from a show. We welcome the discussion because being a concertgoer is very different than what it was like 10-20 years ago, thanks to today’s technology.

A lot of us are tech-savvy, multi-tasking music fans that want to share our experience with others — and we want to share now! And as Bob says, it’s not like there aren’t plenty of other distractions at a music venue or club. What say you — should cell phones and photos at concerts (big venues or small clubs) be banned? Would you follow the rules or not? Voice your opinions here!

-LAMA Staff

Bill Murray Song

Do you “keep it Bill Murray?” Sweatshop Union certainly does!

Happy Friday!

-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

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