Q&A with Ralph Humphrey, Don Lombardi, and Mike Packer
Drummer’s Reality Camp at LAMA, June 28 – July 2, 2010

The inaugural Drummer’s Reality Camp is the manifestation of an idea spawned over lunch between Don Lombardi of DW and Drum Channel, and Mike Packer of Los Angeles Music Academy. Ideas, by the way, are really the only thing you ever want spawned over lunch. We submitted three questions apiece to Don, Mike, and LAMA drum department chair, Ralph Humphrey. Their answers appear unedited.

Ralph Humphrey

Hollywood Drum: Please tell us about the private lesson component of the camp. Who will be instructing, and will there be a similar focus/theme for all or will lessons be customized to the individual interests of each student? Also, how will the ensembles be structured in terms of style and skill levels?

Ralph Humphrey: The so-called mentors will be handling the private lessons. As of now, Terry Bozzio, Joe Porcaro and myself are involved. There may be more by the time the camp ensues.

As for me, and probably for the other instructors as well, I will endeavor to find what the student is looking for and what I perceive to be his/her weak areas. I will be able to assist with technique, styles, sound, timekeeping, soloing and ensemble performance and interpretation. I am not sure about the ensemble structure as yet. However, I will assume that each ensemble will be style specific. In addition, we have found at LAMA that it is always not the best procedure to separate based on skill level. Instead, we put a weaker, less experienced player right next to one with more of both. Each can enjoy what the other brings to the music and it allows the weaker player to learn and enjoy from a higher level player.

HD: The week-long camp will be a unique opportunity for drummers to spend concentrated time with some of the world’s top drumset artists and professionals. Do you remember or did you participate in anything of the sort when you were coming up as a young player?

Ralph: My experiences growing up involved stage band practice as an elective since jazz was not considered a legitimate course of study. Nevertheless, thanks to great teachers, I got great experience and a lot of constructive criticism, along with a good amount of inspiration. Students nowadays have so much more to choose from and opportunities that were not available at the time I was in school. Nevertheless, it is up to the student to seek whatever method or opportunity to grow as a player.

HD: As drum department chair, please share how the overall philosophy and mission statement of the department will be integrated into the week’s experience.

Ralph: The course of study at LAMA has been developed since 1981 when Joe Porcaro and I were invited to create the drum program at Musicians Institute. We moved to LAMA in 1996 and took what we had created and did some major tweeking to the curriculum, hired really great teacher/musicians and have what we have today, which is probably the best course of drum study anywhere. The mission has always been to get the student to play as much as possible, and with pro musicians. That, along with the academic and technical parts of the curriculum produces a well-rounded and well-prepared student to enter the life of a working, creative musician, if they so choose.

We hope to use this philosophy in the week-long camp. Yes, it doesn’t give us much time to nurture the student. However, the level of teaching ability of each staff member, along with years of playing experience will undoubtedly leave an imprint on each attendee and hopefully encourage them to continue their studies at institutions like ours.

Don Lombardi

Hollywood Drum: How did the idea for the Drummer’s Reality Camp originate? Did it go through different stages, or has it developed true to the original inspiration?

Don Lombardi: This camp is a natural extension of the online learning experience giving students the opportunity to meet their teachers and further their education. When discussing the idea with Mike Packer and other principles of the LA Music Academy everything fell into place as they have the organization and the facility to give drummers this truly unique learning experience. We are looking at ways to pack more information into the five days. The goal is simple: You will come out a much better player than when you came in, whether you want to play for fun or become a pro. Additionally, you will meet and hang out with the best players in the world.

HD: DrumChannel.com was born partly out of your passion for education, and this camp is clearly a further manifestation of that purpose. Will Drum Channel continue to look for ways to bridge the virtual and the real, and do you see this event and collaboration as just the beginning of more to come? Look forward and tell us your vision for Drum Channel into the future.

Don: One of our goals would be to do an annual “Drummers Reality Camp” of this magnitude at least once a year. Some less intense 1 or 2 day programs during the year. We want to work closely with drum teachers around the world offering them a library of online lessons that they can add into their private instruction. Also, someday we would like to send our faculty members on the road doing clinics at local retailers and schools.

HD: It is no surprise that the professional drum community has come out in support of what you are doing with Drum Channel, but are you surprised at all by how eager pro players seem to be to participate in the educational realm? The old “I play, I don’t teach” cliché seems to be challenged. Thoughts?

Don: One of our missions at Drum Channel is to give the drumming community an online home. It makes no difference whether you are an amateur, professional or an air drummer. I have yet to meet a drummer who doesn’t feel like he is also a student. Whether it’s Terry Bozzio, Neil Peart, Alex Acuna or Chad Smith, they are all eager to learn from each other. And they are equally excited to show you how they do what they do. Some of our lessons come in the classroom experience where you have written material and obviously have to put some practice time in, in order to progress. Other lessons come simply through conversations and performance where you get to know your idols and understand what they went through.

Michael Packer

Hollywood Drum: As Vice President and drum department instructor at LAMA, you are involved with all aspects of this event. Please describe the process to date and tell us what you are most excited about.

Mike Packer: The idea of this camp started while I was having lunch with Don. He mentioned that Drum Channel wanted to do a camp at some point. I told Don that we (LAMA) do a summer camp every year and would love to co sponsor the event. From there we brain stormed the format and put together a wish list of people we would like to be involved. We’ve been very lucky that it has worked with peoples schedules.

As a drummer I am most excited about the staff that we have put together. I’m a fan of everyone that is involved and I think our students are going to get so much information. Plus, the way we have structured the camp keeps class sizes small so students will actually be able to interact with their teachers.

HD: LAMA has hosted other drum-oriented events in the past, but this is the first extended camp format; it seems it must fall somewhere between organizing a clinic and a full-quarter course. Concerning curriculum, what limitations or freedom has this structure presented?

Mike: This camp format provides great curricular freedom. Our teachers will have complete freedom to teach any concepts at the camp. Frankly, that’s the reason why they are here. We want our students to be exposed to our staff teaching the concepts that are their specialty. Ralph and Joe will be teaching in a format that we use at LAMA where there is a lecture with an ensemble attached. This way the students will get to perform what they just covered in the lecture.

HD: I imagine a one week one camp will attract a wider range of ages and ability levels than do the full-time courses. How will you be accommodating this, and what range of age and skill are you expecting?

Mike: We are expecting student’s ages to range anywhere from 14 years old and up. There are Ensemble Workshops that will be taught by Ralph and Joe. In these classes the students have the opportunity to play with a professional rhythm section. Some of the students may not feel comfortable playing and that’s OK. Not everyone has to play. Other than these ensembles the classes will be lectures and master classes. Students will have a one hour private lesson with a teacher who will asses and teach to each students individual needs.

For more on Drummers’ Reality Camp 2010 visit the LAMA event page.