Bellson Will Beat Music Into Them : Jazz: Drummer, whose talent doesn’t end on bandstand, will teach students at O.C. clinic. He’s happy to pass on his skills.

It’s a common practice among educators trying to bring some relevance to their classes: Bring in a working professional to discuss and, depending on the trade, demonstrate the skills his or her business requires. When that professional is drummer Louie Bellson, the sessions offer double rewards.

A hard-working swing drummer whose career spans some 50 years, Bellson will both lecture and perform when he comes to McGaugh Elementary School today for an afternoon clinic and an evening concert with the Los Alamitos High School Jazz Band I and the McAuliffe Middle School Jazz Band.

Session trumpeter Ron King, who tours with Bellson’s group, will join the bands as featured soloist. A combo of Los Alamitos alumni and the high school’s Jazz Band II also will perform. Both the concert and the clinic are open to the public.

Bellson is well known on the education circuit. He had just completed a clinic-performance at Edmunds College in Washington state with singer Joe Williams when he explained why he feels obliged to give something back to music students.

“My main concern when working clinics is to pass on what I know,” he said. “My mentors--Big Sid Catlett, Gene (Krupa)--all took time the time to tune me into what was going on, took the time to teach me what they had learned on the road when I was just getting started. They passed off a wonderful heritage to me. And I made a vow to pass it along just like they did.

“You know, you do get paid (for doing clinics),” he added with a laugh, “but not much. It’s just a joy to work with younger people. You give them something, they give you something back. It’s a great way to keep on your toes. They’re going to ask you about every phase of the craft so you’ve got to be prepared.”

Not every musician is cut out to teach as well as perform, Bellson said. “Buddy Rich was a great player, a great man and a great friend of mine. But he didn’t like to do clinics. You have to love doing this kind of thing.”

Bellson cited drummer Alan Dawson and trumpeters Dizzy Gillespie and Clark Terry as master clinicians. “Clark is one of the best. He meets kids at eye level and says, ‘I’ll play with you, I’ll work with you, but let’s get something accomplished.’ He’s both a great performer and a great teacher. Dizzy is the same way.”

“It’s not an easy thing. You can’t just walk in and say “All right, let’s see what you’ve got,’ and then tell them they can’t play. They’d be completely deflated and you wouldn’t accomplish a thing. You’ve got to remember that these kids are still in high school or in junior high. They’re still young.”

Noting that “we didn’t have anything like (school jazz clinics) when I was growing up,” Bellson added sadly that he’s seen a retreat in some music programs over the last few years.

“In certain areas, they have wonderful music programs, especially at the college level. You could back the bus up to the school and they’d be ready to load it up with their instruments and hit the road. But in some places, interest in music programs is way down. Schools don’t have the money to bring in people like Clark Terry anymore.”

He puts some of the blame on today’s students. “Some young people have no patience to learn. They’re into other things, there’s no time and they have no patience. They don’t want to take the time to learn the fundamentals. They just want to learn a few beats so they can go out and play a gig.”

Still, he said, he generally is optimistic about the future of music education. “I see these college bands today, and they’re already playing charts from my book, making a great effort. You hear that same band two years later, and you’re in awe.”

Chuck Wackerman, the music director at both Los Alamitos and McAuliffe (and the father of drummer Chad Wackerman), said his students are very aware of who Louie Bellson is, especially since this is the drummer’s second visit. “He’s more than a great drummer,” said Wackerman, who has known Bellson for nearly 20 years. “He’s a fantastic musician, he’s interested in young people and relates well to the students, and his incredible playing is a real inspiration.”

Indeed, Wackerman met Bellson at an event like the one tonight.

Proceeds from tonight’s clinic and concert will help buy arrangements for the school bands and help finance their trip to the Reno International Jazz Festival competition, where they have received “superior” ratings the last few years.

Louie Bellson gives a drum clinic at 4 p.m. and plays with the Los Alamitos High School Jazz Band I and the McAuliffe Middle School Jazz Band at 7:30 p.m. at the McGaugh Elementary School, Bolsa Avenue at Seal Beach Boulevard, Seal Beach. Admission $12 for both the clinic and the performance. Information: (310) 594-4077.