Drum Camp topic: drum camp reviews and info

[Steve Holmes]

Seems like Drum Camps are extremely popular these days, so I wanted to create a new topic for folks to bump linking to new ones, or also posting their good/bad experiences in them. Anyone been to any?

Drum fantasy camp (Weckl's)
http://www.drumfantasycamp.com/

Bissonette "groove camp"
http://greggbissonette.com/tag/groove-camp/

Thmas Lang Drum Binanza
http://www.thomaslangdrumcamp.com/

These guys contacted me recently as well, seems like they have a cool little camp in Croatia!
https://www.youtube.com/user/CroatiaDrumcamp

Mike J had the camp thing happening pretty early on.
http://camps.mikeslessons.com/

So...anyone been to one?

[Julián Fernández]

TRIPLE THREAT DRUM CAMP w/Mark Schulman - Daniel Glass & Bruce Becker

http://www.muso-mart.com/TRIPLE-THREAT- ... _p_75.html

[Dave Capuzelo]

I went to Drum Fantasy Camp in Cleveland in 2010 with Thomas Lang, Tommy Igoe, Dave Weckl, Peter Erskine, and Jojo Mayer ( Im the one who took that now-famous picture of Weckl staring at Jojo's afro ).

Overall it was a really good experience. I saw some incredible drumming, learned a bit, and met some great people from all around the world.

When I say I "learned a bit", I don't mean to say I'm so good that a little bit was all that they could teach me, its just that in that group environment you're kind of stuck at a slower pace while the less advanced people try to catch up. My only real complaint was that there was too much overlap in what they individually taught. For example, a large part of the classes with Weckl, Jojo and Lang was spent on the Moeller Technique. 1 time would have been plenty.

Having said that, I was lucky to spend at least an hour privately with both Jojo Mayer and Thomas Lang. This wasn't part of the camp, I just lucked out. Over the years I've been fortunate to meet, hang out with, and learn from many famous drummers, and I have to say these 2 honestly were the most "real" and humble drummers I've ever met. Just totally cool, easy to talk with, actually went out of their way to continue the conversation. Its been my experience that a lot of drum superstars talk a good game ("we're all in this together"... "we drummers are 1 big family") but when you get them alone, they spend a lot of time bad-mouthing other guys. I swear, 1 of the teachers at the camp actually said to me that Gary Chaffee's students couldn't play their way out of a paper bag.

Anyway, I spoke with Thomas Lang extensively about linear drumming, and when I told him I spent a few years with Gary Chaffee, he actually asked me some questions about his linear system, lol. Not saying that I was teaching Thomas Lang, but the point is he was genuinely interested in what we were talking about.

For the money I spent I could have taken a series of lessons with 1 teacher (Dave DeCinso would be great) and learned a lot more, but the overall experience and environment were worth it to me.

[beat hit]

Drummers Reality Camp

Famularo, Bozzio, Porcaro, Humphrey, Acuna, Spears, IGoe, Hamilton

http://www.lacm.edu/programs/drummers-reality-camp/

[willyz]

I was going to bring up the LAMA (er... I guess it's LACM now) one, but I was beaten to it! (zing!)

Anyway, I think the line up with JoPo, Ralph, Acuna, Jeff Hamilton, and Tommy friggin' Igoe is STELLAR!

[Lucas Ives]

After threatening Weck for years, I think I'm actually going to make the trip this time ... DiCenso on the list was just too good to miss, also interested to hear what Virgil and Coleman have to say and how they teach in a masterclass setting.

[Pocketplayer]

LAMA
Enrollment Now Open | Application Fee: $50 | Deposit: $300
Balance due (June 1): $545 | Total: $895
Individual one-hour private lessons with Ralph Humphrey can be purchased for an additional $100.00

Gregg Bissonette
No posted price

Lang
Link doesn't work...camp passed...no price info

Drum Fantasy
$1349

Croatia
No price...that I saw.

Mike J
$750

Triple Threat
$750

Add travel fares, hotels, meals...depending where you live (assuming most have to travel) this can be another $1000 easily.

The core benefit imo is THE HANG! Like taking a vacation...just hanging out all day and night w/drummers would make this very unique.

As a cost saver...just an idea, HOD Hang COULD be like a mini-drum camp if organized (I know Steve ain't into that) but it could be done for a weekend.

There is MORE than enough talent in HOD locally...and those flying in could most likely stay for free w/locals. The challenge would be organizing sessions and then sticking to topic OR just let the moment dictate the pulse and make it more formal then just hanging out.

If one guy was totally into Moeller, than he takes the Moeller session. Another into odd times...that's his session, another into gear...you get the idea. Some might feel, "Naw, I can't be THE GUY everyone sits under in HOD." Might be fun to dink this topic around some and get some feedback of what guys are interested in. It could be recorded, some killer audio and stories for podcasts (edited of course for content and privacy). The hang would be the best part and really continue the community.

Just a thot...

[Morgenthaler]

Lang has more camps going on: http://bigdrumbonanza.com/

[Pocketplayer]

The Lang camp is close by LA...$2300 bones w/hotel...and we all know another $500 min
for general expenses for the week...$2800

My first thought...how many private 1:1 lessons could I get for $2300 if that was my intention.
Again...the hang time and thrill is what first draws me to these camps, THEN the information.
Great line-up, no doubt...but in LA, there are a lot of opportunities for private 1:1 w/some
big cats if you are willing to shell out that kinda cash. Just sayin' Also, just because you're
a name player does not mean you teach well. That is an art in itself imo neglected in this
conversation.

The going rate for serious name cats is $100 hr from last check. That would be 23 private
lessons focusing solely on your own playing. Fun to tool around w/the idea.

Private lessons at the camp:
60-Minute Lesson - $150.00
90-minute Lesson - $200.00

NO disrespect in anyway to name players...but a 1:1 private lesson imo is like a counseling session...
only so much can really happen meeting one time outside of the "WOW factor" of sitting with a
hero of sorts.

Cats like Steve, who I think has a gift to teach, who listen well and can really focus on a student
is just as valuable.

[Juan Expósito]

Not a Drum Camp but I would like to go here: