Ventura Drum School

Happy Birthday to one of the most passionate, explosive, dynamic drummers ever! Mr. Brian Blade!!

Easily one of my biggest influences since the moment I first heard him play! (many years ago w Joni Mitchell then years later with his own The Fellowship band)
To me he is one of those rare players who has all the formal skill set(s) but his expression in the moment transcends that as he bends the rules to create beautiful rhythmic phrases. This music could be called jazz or, something else!?
Thematic, compositional and bold but loose & adventurous in all the right places. Enjoy

Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band - Full Performance (Live on KEXP) http://KEXP.ORG presents Brian Blade & The Fellowship Band performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded February 26, 2016. Songs: Stoner Hill Landmarks Shena...

Happy Birthday Ringo!!

Ringo Starr’s Big Birthday Show! Happy 80th Birthday Ringo! The Big Birthday Show is a Starr-studded charity broadcast with featured performances by Ringo, Paul McCartney, Joe Walsh, Ben Har...

RIP Joe Porcaro 😢
Please watch

JOE PORCARO - Jazz Drummer, Percussionist & Educator (Co-founder of L.A. Music Academy LACM) Joe Porcaro, his legacy and long family line of musicians, including his sons Jeff, Mike & Steve (Toto), shares personal and inspirational stories contributi...

If you haven’t tried them, I suggest you do! All I carry in my stick bag! 5b, 5a, 8d, Rute 505s, Heritage wire brushes, T1 mallets. American made! Best in the business!!

Why do we play drums? Lately I’ve been thinking how important it is to answer this question for yourself. Why?
I believe if we know WHY we are pursuing drumming, it can really help streamline the learning process!
Once I know what you want to pursue we can more effectively create a custom curriculum just for you!
Maybe it’s ensemble performance (a band), or studio work, or solo performance, or studying various styles you want to master, or teaching, or songwriting or maybe you just want to make drumming a fun hobby. Each of these paths require different (and some overlapping) skills.
Whichever direction you choose, I can help you develop the skills specific to that area! PM me and let’s get drumming!

Wow, did we just kinda fast forward into summer!?
Want to let everyone know, VDS is now accepting students again for in-person, one on one drum lessons! Also, I will continue to offer private drum lessons via Skype or Zoom as well.
Also, here’s a cool pic of John Bonham and his heifer. 😎🥁❤️

Happy Birthday John Henry Bonham!
Arguably, the best rock drummer ever!
So much of how I play the drums comes from studying this man and his contributions to music and drumming!
As I get older, I feel and see more glimpses of the inner man. Who was John Bonham? He was a husband, who loved his wife, Pat very much (he hated touring and being away from her and their kids). He was a father who loved spending time with his children enjoying music and I dare say lots of outdoor activities like farming and exploring motorcycles and hot rods! From stories, we know he was a guy who enjoyed a pint with friends in his local pub. It’s important to remember he was a human being with faults and insecurities just like all of us. But he also was given an amazing gift which he shared with great vigor for all the world to witness!
For that we are grateful and honor his memory. May God bless his eternal soul!

Sad to share the passing of another of the drumming community’s true Greats!! Mr. Jimmy Cobb!
He was the drummer on Miles Davis’ iconic Kind of Blue album and many others.
I’m sure many more eloquent drummers than myself will give awesome examples of how he shaped Jazz drumming and drumming in general.
For me, just to mention a coupla things, it’s the subtle things he was so masterful with. Like seamlessly switching from brushes to sticks inside a tune without skipping a beat or his ability to turn a simple entrance of the drums in a tune into a controlled explosive event!! RIP Jimmy Cobb

Happy Mother’s Day to all you awesome Moms! Thank you for all the amazing little things you all do every day! Here’s a pic of my mom @ 18 , Sheila! She left us in 2001 but she lives in my heart always. So grateful I got to grow up with a cool mom who loved art, music and a good laugh!!

RIP Little Richard! Thank you for all the amazing music and for redefining showmanship itself!!
What can I say that hasn’t already been said! A true Rock&Roll pioneer! Pictured here in classic form with drummer Earl Palmer who in my opinion invented Rock&Roll drumming! What a legacy! Without these guys we never would have had Led Zeppelin giving us their ode to Little Richard, Earl (Clearly a big influence on Bonham!) Palmer, Chuck Berry and even a little Elvis in their own classic, Rock and Roll!