Healing Beat
Almost every week, Remo Percussion Center in North Hollywood holds a free drumming workshop in an old warehouse, where beginning and professional drummers from the San Fernando Valley and beyond receive a one-hour lesson from some of the music industry’s top drummers.
The workshops are run by drummer Christine Stevens, 36, Remo’s director of music therapy and wellness. A specialist in music therapy and social work, Stevens focuses on ways to build a sense of community among participants through music. Stevens brings in professional drummers and also leads community drum circles, family drum circles and health rhythm nights each month.
On Tuesday, New York psychotherapist Robert Lawrence Friedman, who wrote “The Healing Power of the Drum,” will head the workshop.
“Drumming allows people to let out their joy, fear and anger,” Friedman said. “And by letting those out, that creates better health. Everyone can drum. It is a universal force that is ancient and healing.”
His goal is to teach people the ease and accessibility of drumming, he said.
“It doesn’t take a lifetime of learning,” he said. “In 10 minutes, someone can learn to hit the drum and make themselves heard in the world and sound good.”
World-renowned conga drummer Richie Gajate-Garcia, who tours with Sting, conducted the workshop last week when a dozen drummers sat in a circle learning how to make drums “talk.”
“I like to teach non-musicians, people who are looking for something to do for relaxation and entertainment,” said Garcia, who wrote “Play Congas Now--the Basics & Beyond” and has two top-selling drum videos.
Well-known percussionists who have led workshops include Leon Mobly, Paulo Mattioli and Italian tambourine player Allesandro Bellani.
The free classes are held to increase knowledge about world percussion instruments, Stevens said. Drummers play their pick of the hand and ethnic drums from Remo’s stock shelves. The Santa Clarita-based company is a leading manufacturer of percussion product heads.
Quincy Newell, 33, of Van Nuys said he took his 3-year-old son, Taja, to the workshop because the boy loves drums.
“I wanted to get him an early start,” said Newell, a drummer with the band Strange Fruit and marketing director at Rhino Entertainment in Los Angeles.
Chuck Johnson, a display designer from Altadena, said that his drumming has improved and that he is less stressed since he began attending the workshops.
“You can work out your aggression on the drums,” he said. “It’s not just a physical thing--you have to think, you have to know where to come in and play. And it’s not just playing by yourself. It’s learning how to interact with people, enjoy playing with people. That’s what music is.”
BE THERE
Drum workshop conducted by Robert Lawrence Friedman, Tuesday, 7-8 p.m. at Remo Percussion Center, 7308 Coldwater Canyon Blvd., North Hollywood. Free. Call (818) 982-0461 or (818) 982-4051.