Valley Star

Issue date: 10/19/05 Section: Valley Life

Media Credit: Melanie Saldaña SAMBA CIRCLE - A group of students practice Samba rythms at Remo´s North Hollywood Studio.

As you walk in, the floor is rumbling and your chest is beating. The pounding sound is bouncing off the walls like a stampede of charging bison from a familiar western. Once inside the main room, you see what is causing all the commotion: it's just little kids making some big noise.

This was all taking place at the Remo Recreation Music Center, vision of Weatherking drumhead pioneer Remo D. Belli. His drumheads and percussion instruments are world famous yet he showed up to the music center in North Hollywood last Saturday to watch a bunch of kids play his drums for free.

The Remo drumhead manufacturing facilities were in North Hollywood for 38 years. "We were right here, on Raymer," Belli said as he pointed in the direction of the street, "Then we moved the location to Valencia in 1995." In a way the center stayed behind.

"At first they didn't know what to do with the place," said manager Mike DeMenno, "Then I started working here and I got it, the true vision."

The vision is the wonder of drums.

DeMenno spoke passionately about the moving abilities music and particularly drums have on people. "Whole families that can't talk to one another come in here and leave excited and happy."

He said that Remo feels that drums are a powerful force so much so that "You could come in here with another brand of drums and he won't care, he'll just be happy there is a drum in your hand."

This energy and love for music exuded from DeMenno when he played the role of drum circle facilitator in front of 50 children with glowing faces whose ages ranged from 1 to 10.

Among the excitement DeMenno managed to keep their attention by chanting during the circles and coming up with fun percussion games.

At one point the fun and energy got him behind a piano and he beat some 50's rock chord progressions to accompany the pounding of drums.

"This place is great," said newcomer Maribel Villalobos, "The kids can just let out all their energy and have fun making music."

But the Remo Recreational Music Center isn't just for the kids.

The facility is best known for hosting the free weekly drum circle for grown-ups on Tuesday nights and they have expanded to offer pay events like seminars, clinics, concerts, classes, workshops and wellness programs, all open to the public.

"This place is like any recreational center, except there is no gym or ping pong tables but there are drums and they're here for everyone to play," said DeMenno.

The Remo Recreation Music Center is located on 7308 Coldwater Canyon, North Hollywood. For a full schedule of events you can call (818) 982-0461 or log on to www.remo.com/rmc.

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