Learn from the Pros

When learning an art, or honing a skill, being under the wing of a professional for a week is better than self-studying for 10 years.

At the Los Angeles Music Academy (LAMA) Music Camp, kids looking to level up their musical skills will do so under the tutelage and mentorship of professional musicians with careers that are chockfull of experience and excellence.

For vocals, instructors will include:

Dawn Bishop

Dawn Bishop graduated with a degree in Commercial Arranging from Berklee College of Music, where arranger Richard Evans and jazz vocalist Maggie Scott served as Dawn’s mentors. Shortly after finishing at Berklee, Ms. Bishop relocated to Los Angeles, California. She has been involved in music ever since, performing as vocalist, songwriter, arranger, and composer. Although she has a very busy schedule, Dawn continues to perform and record with a variety of international and local artists. Most of all, she enjoys leading her own group. She has performed with Sergio Mendes, Don Grusin, Bill Cunliffe, Gerald Albright, Alex Acuna, the Black-Eyed Peas, Ledisi, Brian McKnight, Patti Austin, Deniece Williams, Michael Paulo, Harvey Mason, India.Arie, John Legend, and Engelbert Humperdinck. Ms. Bishop recently provided backing vocals on Sal Santana’s (son of Carlos Santana) CD entitled Keyboard City. She was a member of the Hollywood Film Chorale on the Academy Awards in 2008, along with singing in the Sound FX choir for the NBA Playoff commercials later that same year. Her vocals have also been featured on tracks for both television and film.

Sara Leib

An accomplished jazz vocalist, Sara Leib has toured the U.S., Japan, Guatemala, and South Africa, and has shared the stage with the likes of Taylor Eigsti, Art Lande, and Hiromi. She has also sung for the WB, Hum Music, the N Network, the NBA, and on the Academy Awards. Sara also teaches at World Mission University and the University of Southern California. Musically educated at the Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, and USC, Sara subscribes to the idea that a musician should strive to be an artist, teacher and a scholar, and she attempts to learn something new every day. She has given master classes in jazz vocal improvisation internationally, twice served as a panelist for the NARAS Foundation’s Grammy In The Schools, and can currently be heard as the voice of an airing Coffeemate commercial. In her spare time, Sara enjoys food, wine, travel, and collecting tribal art.

For guitarists, instructors are:

Jackson Allen

Jackson Allen grew up in Northern California, greatly influenced by his guitarist father who played a heavy role in the music scene there. Originally playing drums, Jackson began playing as a teenager with musicians such as Joe Lewis Walker, Terry Haggerty, and Nina Gerber. After transitioning to guitar, Jackson attended LAMA’s Guitar Program and graduated in 2006. Since then, Jackson has steadily worked in Los Angeles for many artists, played sessions for TV commercials and other recordings, and performed and recorded with many notable LA musicians. He has also toured extensively with Filipino super stars, Gary Valenciano and Martin Nievera, and performed with Filipino TV star, KC Concepcion, and artist Kate Earl (Universal Republic).

Dave Hill

Dave Hill, originally from Washington State, began his serious music studies while attending the Cornish School of the Arts in Seattle. Over the years he has worked with Chick Corea bassist Jimmy Earl, the legendary, “Three Dog Night”, smooth Jazz recording artist, Gregg Karukas and fusion extraordinaire Frank Gambale, as well as many others. In addition to his live performances, he has also worked as a staff transcriber for REH Instructional Videos. He has also been featured in Guitar Player magazine in the “Sessions” column. Look for his original contemporary Jazz group “The Dave Hill Quartet”, playing around the greater LA area. Finally, Dave’s first book for Hal Leonard publishing, “The Licktionary” is on the shelves now. Please visit www.davehillmusic.com for more info.

For bass players, mentors include:

Andre Berry

Originally from Cleveland, OH, Andre moved to LA in 1985 to attend the Los Angeles City College Music Program, where he studied under Doc Simpson and Woody James. After four years of classes, he landed his first big road gig in 1989 with the Busboys. Andre then went on to join A&M Records recording artist Total Eclipse. Since then, he has performed and/or recorded with Dave Koz, George Duke, Warren Hill, Marcus Miller, Danny Jung, Jeffrey Osbourne, Tom Scott and the L.A. Express, Mindi Abair, Dave Benoit, The Brothers Johnson, Rick Braun, Peter White, Jeff Golub, Steve Ferrone, A Tribe Called Quest, Paul Jackson, Jr., and many others. For the latest information, please visit www.andreberry.com.

Philip Bynoe

Philip Bynoe, originally from Boston, studied at the Berklee College of Music under Wit Browne. He has played on several TV shows, jingles, and soundtracks including The Tonight Show, The O.C., and Las Vegas. In addition to touring with Steve Vai on the G3 tour, he has also toured and/or recorded with Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Gary Cherone, Nuno Bettencourt, Terry Bozzio, Virgil Donati, Kevin Eubanks, Buddy Miles, Bette Midler, Steve Perry, Mike Mangini, Slash, Derek Sherinian, and many others. He is endorsed by Yamaha Guitars, Carvin Amplifiers, Morley Pedals, and LaBella strings.

Last but not least, the drum performance degree will be instructed by:

Joe Porcaro – Department Chair

Joe Porcaro’s musical spectrum ranges from jazz and rock to opera and symphonic. He has recorded with jazz artists including Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Freddie Hubbard, Don Ellis, Mike Manieri and rock/pop artists such as TOTO and Madonna. His credits includes numerous television shows and movies. One of the most highly regarded percussion and drum instructors in the world, Joe is the author of two drum books: Joe Porcaro’s Drum Set Methods and Odd Times, and the instructional video Joe Porcaro on Drums. Please visit Joe’s Drummerworld page for more info.

Steve Pemberton

Steve Pemberton, a musical chameleon, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music. His work spans all styles, from touring/recording with noted jazz artists such as Mel Torme, Doc Severinsen, Grover Washington, Jr., John Pizzarelli, the New York Voices, Patti Austin, Peter Nero, the Count Basie and Quincy Jones Orchestras, Ray Charles, Ken Peplowski, Don Menza, Pete Christlieb and Tom Scott, to being a member of the Boston Pops Orchestra as the featured drumset artist. In the world of film and Broadway, he has worked with John Williams, Marvin Hamlisch, Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne and Jerry Herman. Pop/rock/country artists include Jeffrey Osborne, Johnny Mathis, Melissa Manchester, Maureen McGovern, Peabo Bryson, Crystal Gayle, Amy Grant and Vince Gill. He has performed at the Hollywood Bowl to the White House, including 5 performances at Carnegie Hall, and has worked with over 125 orchestras worldwide. A published composer of percussion music, Steve has had numerous pieces premiered at the Interlochen Arts Academy, New England Conservatory of Music, University of Miami and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC). Please visit www.steve-pemberton.com for more info.

Get the most out of your musical education, by learning from the pros, playing with them and being mentored by some of the best in the business only at LAMA Music Camp. LAMA College for Music Professionals is located at 370 South Fair Oaks Ave. To find out more about the degrees offered and full profiles of all the instructors at LAMA, visit http://www.lama.edu or call (626) 568-8850 for more information.