2008 Drum Fantasy Camp
Spots still available for camp with Steve, Dave Weckl, Horacio Hernandez, Jamey Haddad, and more!

Steve will join Dave Weckl, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez, Jamey Haddad, and more at the 2008 Drum Fantasy Camp, August 23-27 at the Hyatt in Cleveland, Ohio. Drummers of all ages and playing levels, and from all over the world, will be attending...and so can you!

On the first day, campers will attend a "team clinic" with the instructors at Noon. In the evening, they will attend a double concert featuring Steve Smith and Vital Information PLUS Dave Weckl with guitarist Oz Noy and bassist Will Lee.

Then, for the next four days, drummers will attend two three-hour master classes per day. There are only 15 students to a class, making it very intimate. The instructors will lecture and also work with students one-on-one. It's a very friendly and non-competitive atmosphere that accommodates drummers of every age and playing level.

 "It was amazing how people bond so quickly," said Steven Orkin, organizer of Drum Fantasy Camp. "Drummers seem to share ideas rather than competing with one another, as evidenced by the scene in the cafeteria."

Orkin is referring to the 2007 camp, when groups of campers huddled around tables talking drums and trading concepts with their sticks and practice pads. The instructors also tend to eat where the campers eat. This provides more time for questions and discussion - as did the the lawn right outside the classrooms. Steve was seen leading impromptu lessons out there after lunch, with campers tapping out odd time signatures and trying Indian konnokol!

Of course the campers didn't complain.

The last three nights of the camp are called "jam nights," in which the campers get to sit in with an all-star band. The band is led by guitarist Vinny Valentino, and featured bassist Baron Browne, and singer Chrissi Poland.

This band often performs on Monday night in New York city with a very great drummer - Joel Rosenblatt. But, on "jam night," it is the campers who are given the opportunity to contribute.

But there are some conditions...

Ms. Poland, an extremely professional and accomplished singer who graduated from the Berklee School of Music, and who appears on the new CD from Moby, joins Vinny in expressing what they want from their drummers.

Specifically, they want a solid groove and all eyes on the bandleader for direction during the group's funky rock and blues tunes. No soloing. Nothing too flashy. Just music.

The drummers really respond.

With two kits on stage and drummers lined up for each kit, a new drummer starts as the previous drummer stops - allowing the groove to flow, and each drummer to do their thing.

And, each drummer leaves the stage with a pat on the back from the instructors, who also jump in from time-to-time. This led to some very fun moments.

For example, when the band broke into Van Halen's "Hot for Teacher," last year, campers were treated to Jason Bittner's blindingly fast version of the song's double-bass shuffle. Steve also joined in on the song, showing a different side of his playing!

Dave Weckl and Horacio Hernandez spent most of the two nights on timbales and congas, accompanying campers during their turns on the drum kits. There were a lot smiles back and forth as campers realized who was backing them up!

This is a great opportunity to learn with Steve, Dave, Horacio, and more.

Go to www.drumfantasycamp.com to learn more and sign up!

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