ArtistWorks Drum Academy Launches Luis Conte School Of Percussion

Napa California-based technology and music education company ArtistWorks launched the interactive, online Luis Conte School of Percussion (LCSP) on April 11th, 2012, it was announced today. Grammy™ Award-winning, master percussionist Luis Conte has worked with some of the greatest names in contemporary music, including Madonna, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Santana, Jackson Browne, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Ray Charles, Tony Bennett, James Taylor, Shakira, Ozzy Osbourne, and Arturo Sandoval among others. Known for his impeccable feel, technique, musical knowledge and tasteful musicality as well as his ability to blend Afro-Cuban percussion styles in to contemporary Pop and Rock music -- Luis Conte is one of the most prolific and talented artists in contemporary music. As part of the ArtistWorks Drum Academy (ADA), the LCSP contains hundreds of high quality video percussion lessons that explore a wide variety of percussion styles and world rhythms including Martillo, Cha-Cha, Guaguanco, Columbia, Bembe, Songo, Salsa, Merengue, Samba and Mozambique as well as Hip-Hop, Electronica, Jazz, Soul and Reggae. The LCSP also offers a full curriculum of percussion techniques on how to play a diverse array of percussion instruments including congas, bongos, timbales, cajon, guiro, hand percussion and more. For the first time ever, ArtistWorks will offer bilingual lesson options. A native of Santiago, Cuba, Conte has recorded a number of video lessons in both English and Spanish and will respond to student video exchange questions in the individual student’s language of choice. The LCSP utilizes ArtistWork’s patent-pending, breakout video technology to create a direct, personalized educational experience. Subscribing students view Conte’s extensive curriculum of beginner-to-advanced percussion lessons and submit a video with questions/performances directly to Conte via webcam or smart phone for critique and guidance. Conte then reviews and responds personally to each student video submission. These “video-exchanges” are posted in the LCSP for all subscribing students to view and subsequently learn from Conte and from each other – creating a “virtual classroom” with an ever-evolving curriculum. ArtistWorks students study in a guided, self-paced environment that allows them to drive the learning process according to their schedule and access instructor guidance and critique at their own pace. Multiple camera angles allow students to see lessons from alternate viewpoints so they may analyze techniques from different vantage points. In addition, students can slow lessons down, and loop lessons to allow them to break lessons down and focus on every detail. “I talk to young players all the time who have watched my educational DVDs and they always have questions for me,” says Conte. “Now they can just ask me those questions personally and I can help them on the spot.” The Luis Conte School of Percussion www.contepercussion.com is open to percussionists, drummers, drum circles and drum groups at all levels of proficiency. Subscription fees are reasonably priced at $90.00 for 3 months; $150.00 for 6 months and $240.00 for a 12-month subscription. The ArtistWork’s Drum Academy also offers Rock drumming lessons with The Thomas Lang School of Drums and Jazz/Fusion drumming lessons with The Billy Cobham School of Drums. The ADA is not the static online learning experience seen before on DVD or other online education and video download sites. Rather, ADA schools take full advantage of high-resolution video, leading-edge social media tools and the Internet’s interactive capabilities to create a robust learning environment Founded in 2009 by former AOL executive David Butler, ArtistWorks, Inc is a Napa California-based technology and music education company that has created a proprietary, patent pending, online "video exchange" visual education platform which allows virtuoso musicians to “teach the world” by presenting their full method, technique or curriculum in HD video to subscribing students. Utilizing simple web cams, students are able to submit videos through the site to the ArtistWorks’ instructors for individualized critique and guidance – creating a two-way, individualized educational experience. ArtistWorks currently offers curriculums from such world-class, virtuoso artists as: guitarist Andreas Oberg; harmonica artist, Howard Levy; fingerstyle guitarist Martin Taylor; DJ Qbert; pianist Christie Peery; rock drummer Thomas Lang, jazz/fusion drummer, Billy Cobham, percussionist Luis Conte, banjo player Tony Trischka, flat pick guitar player Bryan Sutton, dobro player Andy Hall, mandolin player Mike Marshall, double bass player Missy Raines and fiddle player Darol Anger. For more information please visit: www.artistworksdrumacademy.com, artistworks.com or contepercussion.com Contact: elizabethlang@rockarcadia.com

Virtuoso Drummers Billy Cobham, Thomas Lang & Luis Conte Ink Deal with ArtistWorks to Launch Interactive Online Drum Schools

ArtistWorks Drum Academy Debuts on December 8th 2011 Featuring Unique 2-Way Video Exchange

(11.11.11 – Los Angeles, CA) Napa California-based music education company ArtistWorks will premiere the ArtistWorks Drum Academy (ADA) with the debut of online schools from three of the world’s most accomplished, respected and talented drummers: world-renowned jazz and drumming legend Billy Cobham, drumming superstar/producer Thomas Lang, and Latin Percussion Icon Luis Conte. Launching on December 8th, both the Billy Cobham Drum School (BCDS) and the Thomas Lang Drum School (TLDS) will utilize ArtistWorks’ patent-pending video technology, allowing for two-way video exchange and interactive instruction to elevate online instruction to an unprecedented new level. The Luis Conte Percussion School (LCPS) will be added in January of 2012.

The ArtistWorks online visual education format allows virtuoso musicians to teach students all over the world by presenting their full method in a series of high-quality video lessons online. Subscribing students work through the lessons and use simple web cams to submit videos to their teacher for critique and guidance. The Artists easily review and respond to student videos on their own time using the ArtistWorks Video Management System (patent pending). Both student video and Artist response are paired together online as a “Video Exchange” for the entire community to learn from.

“We are proud to offer drummers of all experience levels – regardless of their geographic location – the same remarkable opportunity to study music with the very best drummers in the world,” says ArtistWorks founder, David Butler. “Without question, Thomas, Billy, and Luis are the top players in their genres of rock/pop , jazz/fusion drumming and percussion, and the opportunity to learn directly from them and interact with them personally is priceless.”

The Thomas Lang Drum School, Billy Cobham Drum School, and Luis Conte Percussion School contains hundreds of high-quality video lessons starting from the beginner level and progressing to the advanced level. Unlike other static learning experiences seen before on DVD or other online sites, the ADA is a groundbreaking new model of online musical instruction that revolutionizes music education. The ADA Schools take full advantage of high-resolution video, cutting-edge social media tools, and the Internet’s interactive capabilities to create a robust learning environment. Not only do the schools offer hundreds of real-time and slow motion lessons available 24/7, they also enable teaching through personalized video exchanges with students all over the world.

World-renowned drumming superstar/producer, award-winning instructional DVD creator and author, Thomas Lang is a founding member of the progressive, heavy metal trio stOrk and has worked with artists such as Asia, Falco, Geri Halliwell and Spice Girls among others. Lang is widely considered to be one of the most talented and technically proficient drummers in the world and was named #13 on Rhythm magazine’s list of “Top Drummers of the Past 25 Years” .

“ArtistWorks has created an incredibly inspiring interactive platform that not only allows me to interact directly with my students, but allows students to learn and interact with each other,” says Lang. “Learning should be an organic, multi-dimensional experience and with the ADA students get the benefit of social interaction as well as direct, personal instruction.” – Thomas Lang

Legendary jazz drummer, bandleader and composer Billy Cobham has worked with Miles Davis, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jack Bruce and Bobby and the Midnights among others. Cobham has performed, recorded, and produced at the World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) with Peter Gabriel and currently serves as an Official Patron of WOMAD. With his legendary drumming style that combines exacting precision and explosive power -- Cobham is generally considered to be jazz-fusion’s greatest and most influential drummer.

“The networking on my site is both fun and functional,” says Cobham. “Students support each other while everyone explores the curriculum. There is an environment of camaraderie and unity that is essential to learning. I find the concept of being able to communicate directly with students all over the world incredibly exciting.”- Billy Cobham

The Thomas Lang Drum School (www.Thomaslangdrums.com) and the Billy Cobham School of Drums (www.cobhamdrums.com) will debut December 8th and both are open to drummers at all levels of proficiency. The Luis Conte Percussion School (www.luisdrums.com) will be added in January of 2012. Student membership plans are reasonably priced per school at $90.00 for 3 months, $150.00 for 6 months, and $240.00 for a 12-month subscription.

Founded in 2008 by former AOL executive David Butler, ArtistWorks, Inc is a Napa California-based technology and music education company that has created a proprietary, online "video exchange" education platform, which allows virtuoso musicians to “teach the world” by presenting their full method, technique or curriculum in HD video to subscribing students. Using simple web cams, students are able to submit videos to their teachers for individualized critique and guidance – creating a two-way, individualized educational experience. ArtistWorks currently offers curriculums from such world-class, virtuoso artists as: jazz guitarist Andreas Oberg; harmonica master Howard Levy; fingerstyle guitarist Martin Taylor; turntablist DJ Qbert; pianist Christie Peery; and the ArtistWorks Academy of Bluegrass with Tony Trischka (banjo), Mike Marshall (mandolin), Darol Anger (fiddle), Bryan Sutton (guitar), Missy Raines (bass), and Andy Hall (dobro).

For more information please visit: www.artistworksdrumacademy.com, www.Thomaslangdrums.com and www.cobhamdrums.com

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Media Contact: Elizabeth Lang, MUSO Entertainment – 323.243.4959 or via email at press@artistworksdrumacademy.com