[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
<\/div><\/div>When did you start playing the drums and why? I started playing congas, at the age of 3 and moved towards steel pan and Drums at the age of 4. My father was a drummer within the Caribbean community in Toronto, Ontario and I was raised up in the “Pan Yard” which is where the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1479,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[56],"class_list":["post-6408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-endorsement-2","tag-endorsement-2"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
![<\/i><\/a> <\/i><\/a> <\/i><\/a> <\/div>\n[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/div><\/div>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\nWhen did you start playing the drums and why?<\/strong><\/p>\nI started playing congas, at the age of 3 and moved towards steel pan and Drums at the age of 4.<\/p>\nMy father was a drummer within the Caribbean community in Toronto, Ontario and I was raised up in the “Pan Yard” which is where the Steel Pan Orchestras would rehearse.<\/p>\nI would always try to play any percussive instrument I could have picked up or reach!<\/p>\nAt the age of 5, I was enrolled at the Humber College Community Music Program where I was introduced to formal training in jazz and classical piano and began my musical education from there.<\/p>\nWhat is your favorite type of music to play on the drums?<\/strong><\/p>\nI love to play any and every genre of music I can be part of.<\/p>\nI believe the more you can play and learn the better and the more versatile you can be not only as a drummer\/percussionist but as a musician in general.<\/p>\nWhat is your favorite single band\/artist and why?<\/strong><\/p>\nI don’t think I can answer this one truthfully, but by genre, it goes like this: <\/span><\/p>\n\nReggae<\/strong>: Bob Marley<\/li>\nJazz<\/strong>: Miles Davis 1 st & 2nd Quintets also his Quartet<\/li>\nPop<\/strong>: Michael Jackson<\/li>\nSoca<\/strong>: Machel Montano<\/li>\nBlues<\/strong>: B.B King<\/li>\nRock<\/strong>: Led Zepplin<\/li>\nRap<\/strong>: Biggie & Tupac<\/li>\nR&B<\/strong>: The Fugees<\/li>\nLatin<\/strong>: Marc Anthony … and all Motown and Soul Music!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nWhy did you choose Vikory?<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Vikory company stood out to me once they got my attention. Their sticks are unique, durable, feel great while playing with not much to no reverberation in the sticks. <\/p>\nYou can hit your drums with force or play lightly and they respond to your movements.<\/p>\nTheir aesthetics on the sticks also add some character and style to the drummer\/percussionist.<\/p>\nI use various models of sticks for different types of gigs or if I am playing Drums or Percussion.<\/p>\nAny special anecdote about you as a drummer?<\/strong><\/p>\nAt the age of 7, while playing at MusicFest Canada in Vancouver of 97′ with an ensemble from the Humber College Community Music Program, I was granted the first-ever Zildjian Outstanding Young Drummer Award for Humber College and was the youngest ever to win it (still holds that title).<\/p>\nWhen I arrived at the Zildjian Factory in Boston, Massachusetts, I was granted permission to walk through the entire factory, sit behind Buddy Rich and Gene Krupas’ Drum sets and to conclude the tour, was able to go inside the famous Cymbal Room or Cymbal Chamber and test\/pick out a few cymbals for free.<\/p>\nIt was the most memorable time I had as a drummer.<\/p>\nWhat’s your favorite Vikory model and why?<\/strong><\/p>\nI love them all<\/a>. To be honest, each one has its own character and can bring out different moods to a drummer\/percussionist and can be used in various situations and settings. <\/p>\nYou see art designs on drums, guitars and such, but not much on sticks. I can see this company going far and growing faster than they originally thought! <\/p>\nThanks, Aaron and welcome to the Vikory family!<\/strong><\/p>\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”4px|||||” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n share<\/span> Share <\/span> <\/i><\/a> <\/i><\/a> <\/i><\/a> <\/i><\/a> <\/i><\/a> <\/div>\n[\/et_pb_code][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″ locked=”off”][\/et_pb_text][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n arrow_back<\/span> Back to Vikory Blog <\/a><\/div>\n[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/div><\/div>When did you start playing the drums and why? I started playing congas, at the age of 3 and moved towards steel pan and Drums at the age of 4. My father was a drummer within the Caribbean community in Toronto, Ontario and I was raised up in the “Pan Yard” which is where the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1479,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[56],"class_list":["post-6408","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-endorsement-2","tag-endorsement-2"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t](\"\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/vikory.com\/blogs\/vikory-blog\/vikory-endorsement-luc-smela&media=\/\/vikory.com\/cdn\/shop\/articles\/Endorsement_-_Luc_Smela_1200x1200.png?v=1596712305&description=Vikory%20Endorsement:%20Luc%20Smela%20%E2%80%94%20%C2%A0%20Name:%C2%A0Luc%20Smela%20%C2%A0%20Country:%C2%A0France%20%C2%A0%20Status:%C2%A0Performer%20%C2%A0%20Favorite%20Sticks:%C2%A0Alebrije%20in%207A%20%C2%A0%20%C2%A0%20%C2%A0%20%C2%A0%20%C2%A0%20When%20did%20you...\"){kind=link}