rhythm nation

They arrive most Tuesday evenings at a huge North Hollywood warehouse with rhythm in their souls and anticipation in their eyes. It’s a diverse group, usually between 25 and 50 adults and children, and they’ve come to drum.

The free guest artist signature series and clinic at Remo Percussion Center is open to the public. Each visitor is handed a drum from the archives of Remo Inc. of Valencia, the world’s largest producer of drums and drumheads. (Congas, bongos, African djembes, Middle Eastern dounbeks, Irish bodrans are among the thousands of drums that Remo makes.)

Everyone gathers in a circle around the evening’s guest artist, who offers tips and techniques. Then the hypnotic beat begins as hands meet the heads of distinct-sounding drums from around the world. “Drums are in so many cultures,” says John Fitzgerald, a drummer and hand percussionist who is in research and development with Remo. “There’s a craze in drums in America now.”

During the drum-alongs, Fitzgerald says, “People look for what they need. Some need the experience of connection, and some abandonment. It takes a long time to learn other instruments, but if you hit a drum, you’ve played the drum. You can learn fast and it’s very accessible. It’s experiential instead of observational.”

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For information on Remo drum classes: (661) 294-5600 or www.remo.com.