Why Study at LAMA: Key Kim Edition
Key Kim
Korean bassist Key Kim talks about why he chose to study bass at LAMA College for Music Professionals, and what typical life is like in the bass department (video is in Korean with English subtitles). Check out more student videos, LAMA instruction lessons and student and alumni performances on our channel here: http://www.youtube.com/lamusicacademy
-LAMA Staff
LAMA Students Visit GrooveWorx Studios
Several very lucky LAMA students enjoyed a very wonderful experience recently, via a trip facilitated by LAMA Artist Development Director Dorian Holley. Students were invited to visit famed studio GrooveWorx (Santa Monica-based haven for some of the most notable talent in the music business including: Pink, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Daughtry, Norah Jones and more). Students were able to attend a recording session with drummer Matt Laug (Alice Cooper, Slash’s Snakepit).
The students on the trip included Jonas Streffer (LAMA drum student), Paul Zewell (LAMA drum student), Jesper Windmar (LAMA music producer student).
-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
“Rock The Mic” Unplugged @ LAMA This Week!
On Thursday, November 29th GRAMMY U‘s “Rock The Mic” Unplugged comes to LAMA College for Music Professionals! For those wondering what GRAMMY U is:
…a unique and fast-growing community of full-time college students, primarily between the ages of 17 and 25, who are pursuing a career in the recording industry. The Recording Academy created GRAMMY U to help prepare college students for their careers in the music industry through networking, educational programs and performance opportunities…
The Grammy U showcase will feature artist performances from LAMA’s own Diego Ruvalcaba as well as: Ben and Alex, Billy Lawler, Gian Visciano, Jessica Leigh, Katie Stump, Lights Over Phoenix, Rees Finley and Thanai (representing: Azusa Pacific University, CSU Northridge, UCLA Extension and USC).
On top of that, we’ll be providing free Coffee Bean, popchips, and Chipotle!
We are so honored to host these great performers at LAMA. You must RSVP by Tuesday (Nov. 27th) to attend. The instructions of how to RSVP are on our Facebook event page here.
-LAMA Staff
LAMA Students Contribute Original Song to “Get Together Girls”
One of the elements of LAMA that we are most proud of is the large number of international students attending the school at any given time. This year is no exception! Recently, three of LAMA’s Ethiopian students — Etsegenet Mekonnen (Guitar), Kibrom Ashebir (Music Proudction) and Nefthalem Assegid Mulat (former Vocal program student) — contributed to a new documentary called “Get Together Girls”. The filmmakers phoned LAMA looking for musicians that could help them get the right sound.
Described on its Facebook page as “a story of women and community with a touch of creativity,” Get Together Girls focuses on teaching former street girls to be self reliant and support themselves and their families through fashion and creativity, learning all the manual skills that the tailoring projects requires. The film recently had a successful screening at the Women’s Independent Film Festival in West Hollywood and the students go to see their contribution up on the big screen. Here is the trailer it looks fantastic!
Get Together Girls – TRAILER from Vanessa Crocini on Vimeo.
-LAMA Staff
5 Reasons Adults Should Go Back To Music School
There have been a lot of articles posted lately about stats on adults going “back to school”. The articles tend to list all the wonderful ways an adult can go back and get a sociology degree or an anthropology degree. We were dissapointed that there aren’t many articles about the benefits of them going back to music school. LAMA welcomes adults who come here to refine their skills or build on their existing knowledge — also to get that real world experience of playing with our instructors and ensemble workshop musicians. So we thought we would lay out the top reasons adults should go back to music school here:
The Economy
Much like buying low, selling high, going back to school when the economy is at a low point is a common tactic. While it is looking like we could be seeing the end of the tunnel for America’s economic issues, there are others who argue that we could just be going down the rabbit hole. What that means is going to music school might be a nice little place to wait out our economic woes and graduate in a few years at the perfect time to start your career in music.
Take Your Skills To The Next Level
Have you taken a true inventory of your skills as a musician? Here are some good things to ask yourself. Can I read music? Can I jam with anyone in almost any style? How are my improv skills? Composition? If you are a little shaky on any of these, it might mean you have some room for improvement, which music school can help with.
There Are Great Career Opportunities
Unlike a lot of other careers, musicians actually have some pretty nice offerings waiting them after graduation. A school like LAMA will have a full-time career staff on hand to field job postings and make sure you have a good shot at landing a paying gig. The same can certainly not be said for graduating law students!
It Can Be More Affordable Than Other Educational Offerings
Speaking of law school — you might be surprised how much more affordable music school can be compared to the other degrees. Schools like LAMA have many scholarship opportunities too. LAMA also has staff on hand to deal with financial aid.
Do What You Love
More than almost any other area of study, there is something about music that brings out wondrous and joyous feelings in all who hear it. From performance, to composition, to practice, there is a pleasure with music that is so often missing when you are in a more traditional school setting. Many people who worked in the corporate world return to their passion and art by rediscovering it as an adult in music school. If someone said you could do what you love as a career, would you?
These are just a few of the reasons why adults might want to investigate going back to music school. There are about a million other equally good ones. If you are curious, make sure you do your due diligence in selecting the right music school for you. A tour of the school or an open house is always a good start.
-LAMA Staff
Succeed in the Music Industry
Do you agree with this graph? Experts released data showing the newest profile for a musician who wants to succeed in the music industry. Of course, they left off “being a LAMA grad” which is right up there with Genius and musically gifted 
But you are going to need a lot more than being Mac owner to get into LAMA!
-LAMA Staff
To Play or Not To Play (music)?
LA Music Academy’s “LAMA connect” — the school’s internal social network — has its own message board. It’s a great forum for the school’s musicians to talk with each other about the trials and successes of being a musician in today’s industry. Recently one alum posted a contemplative message about his experiences of late:
I am going through a period of reflection as of late in regards to music. I have had a somewhat bad experience recently where I put in a lot of time on a record, got paid very little, then the whole project got thrown out. This was more than just a hired sideman deal and I’m so very tired of working and not getting what I think I’m worth (within reason of course). So I guess what I want to know is how other people handle their situation when it comes to getting paid or doing it “for the love.” I’m struggling with the fear that if I only go for gigs that pay I won’t be playing very much; yet, at the same time I don’t want to continue to provide top notch drummin to people only to get screwed in the end.
So how do you approach your gigs? Do you stick to your session rate and make no compromises? Do you play for the love? With every business, it’s a learning experience. We encourage you to never give up and think the key here is finding the right balance and utilizing networking skills. Lay out the details for your gigs or recording sessions clearly — in the beginning — so everyone is on the same page. Don’t be shy about putting together music agreements. But most of all, don’t forget to have fun.
So what say you…to play or not to play?
-LAMA Staff
LAMA’s Gary Ferguson Records w/ members of Pennywise & Suicidal Tendencies
One of our drum instructors Gary Ferguson is recording with Phenagen featuring members of Suicidal Tendencies and Pennywise. The video below was posted on YouTube and is a great video of the band in the studio w/producer Darian Rundall during a February 2012 Los Angeles session. For more info on Phenagen visit their official website here.
Connect with LAMA
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