Ricky Loza

It is one in the morning and Ricky Loza is finding his groove.He plays his drum set for another two hours before sleep.Music is his life.

In his time, Loza has played at the White House and met political icons such as Al Gore and Henry Kissinger.
...
But the most pleasure, Loza claims, comes from teaching at The George Washington University.

"I love to teach," said Loza, a jazz percussion instructor."I feel very happy when a student has never sat at the drums, and some of them then become really good.I realize that I did something good for young people."

Loza grew up in El Salvador in a musical family.When he was young, he played with the family's Marimba band in the small city where he lived.When Loza was four years old, his father, an accomplished drummer, decided Loza would also play the drums.

"I became a natural musician," said Loza, in understandable, but broken English."My father taught me how to play, listen, and have respect for both good and bad musicians."

Loza came to the United States when he was 30 years old, stopping at various cities to showcase his musical talent.He excelled in Latin beats, yet he really wanted to learn American jazz music.His biggest challenge as a musician, he said, was to learn jazz technique and acquire the skills to play with other musicians.

But Loza's most difficult challenge as a person was much more significant.

"I knew no English when I came to the United States," he explained."I joined an English language school for six months when I first got here.This country really opened the door for me when I learned the language."

Although famous in El Salvador, Loza decided to pursue his career in the United States.He still returns to El Salvador twice a year to perform for his Salvadoran fans.

"At the time I moved here, I was making more money in El Salvador then I could have in the U.S.," he said."I was regularly featured in El Salvador newspapers.But I wanted to try different music, different work.All of the places here are the best for music.These past 33 years have been the best part of my life."

During those 33 years, Loza has not only performed for politicians, but also celebrities.He has continued to produce albums, totaling 19 CDs.Loza has traveled to many countries to perform, and has appeared in two movies.But he says playing with Tito Puente, the great timbales player, was one of his proudest moments as a musician.

"I played with Tito in 1974 in New York, and we became friends since then," said Loza.
...
"I love to give back to young people," said Loza.

Loza's students have a deep appreciation for Loza and his passion for teaching.

"Ricky taught me to be a leader on the drums," said Jason Blank, a senior timbales player who took lessons with Loza for two years."Ricky taught me to be a leader on the drums," said Jason Blank, a senior timbales player who took lessons with Loza for two years.
...
Loza also teaches respect for the origins of the music his students perform.

"Ricky has helped me understand Latin music, especially where it comes from and the culture behind it," said Chris Guarin, a junior trumpet player in Los Gringos, GW's Latin Band which Loza co-directs with Dave Marsh, a local bass player and GW professor."Ricky has helped me understand Latin music, especially where it comes from and the culture behind it," said Chris Guarin, a junior trumpet player in Los Gringos, GW's Latin Band which Loza co-directs with Dave Marsh, a local bass player and GW professor.
...
"Ricky's style is a fusion of the best music from North and South America," described Marsh.
...
Ricky really cares about his students, and his students really care about the music they are playing."

Loza said that he has also learned from his students how to be a better instructor.

"I use a lot of therapy when I teach," said Loza."It is most difficult when a student doesn't think they can do it, doesn't think they can master a beat.I have learned several techniques to deal with these types of situations."

Loza is contently able to claim that he has accomplished most of his goals, both in his career and in his life as a drummer.

"I supported my brothers and sisters from drumming," remembered Loza.

It is one in the morning and Ricky Loza is finding his groove.He plays his drum set for another two hours before sleep.Music is his life.

In his time, Loza has played at the White House and met political icons such as Al Gore and Henry Kissinger.
...
But the most pleasure, Loza claims, comes from teaching at The George Washington University.

"I love to teach," said Loza, a jazz percussion instructor."I feel very happy when a student has never sat at the drums, and some of them then become really good.I realize that I did something good for young people."

Loza grew up in El Salvador in a musical family.When he was young, he played with the family's Marimba band in the small city where he lived.When Loza was four years old, his father, an accomplished drummer, decided Loza would also play the drums.

"I became a natural musician," said Loza, in understandable, but broken English."My father taught me how to play, listen, and have respect for both good and bad musicians."

Loza came to the United States when he was 30 years old, stopping at various cities to showcase his musical talent.He excelled in Latin beats, yet he really wanted to learn American jazz music.His biggest challenge as a musician, he said, was to learn jazz technique and acquire the skills to play with other musicians.

But Loza's most difficult challenge as a person was much more significant.

"I knew no English when I came to the United States," he explained."I joined an English language school for six months when I first got here.This country really opened the door for me when I learned the language."

Although famous in El Salvador, Loza decided to pursue his career in the United States.He still returns to El Salvador twice a year to perform for his Salvadoran fans.

"At the time I moved here, I was making more money in El Salvador then I could have in the U.S.," he said."I was regularly featured in El Salvador newspapers.But I wanted to try different music, different work.All of the places here are the best for music.These past 33 years have been the best part of my life."

During those 33 years, Loza has not only performed for politicians, but also celebrities.He has continued to produce albums, totaling 19 CDs.Loza has traveled to many countries to perform, and has appeared in two movies.But he says playing with Tito Puente, the great timbales player, was one of his proudest moments as a musician.

"I played with Tito in 1974 in New York, and we became friends since then," said Loza.
...
Indeed, while Loza accomplished much in his career, he still says teaching is the best part of his life as a drummer.

"I love to give back to young people," said Loza.

Loza's students have a deep appreciation for Loza and his passion for teaching.

"Ricky taught me to be a leader on the drums," said Jason Blank, a senior timbales player who took lessons with Loza for two years."Ricky taught me to be a leader on the drums," said Jason Blank, a senior timbales player who took lessons with Loza for two years.
...
Loza also teaches respect for the origins of the music his students perform.

"Ricky has helped me understand Latin music, especially where it comes from and the culture behind it," said Chris Guarin, a junior trumpet player in Los Gringos, GW's Latin Band which Loza co-directs with Dave Marsh, a local bass player and GW professor. "Ricky has helped me understand Latin music, especially where it comes from and the culture behind it," said Chris Guarin, a junior trumpet player in Los Gringos, GW's Latin Band which Loza co-directs with Dave Marsh, a local bass player and GW professor.
...
"Ricky's style is a fusion of the best music from North and South America," described Marsh.
...
Ricky really cares about his students, and his students really care about the music they are playing."

Loza said that he has also learned from his students how to be a better instructor.

"I use a lot of therapy when I teach," said Loza."It is most difficult when a student doesn't think they can do it, doesn't think they can master a beat.I have learned several techniques to deal with these types of situations."

Loza is contently able to claim that he has accomplished most of his goals, both in his career and in his life as a drummer.

end of article dingbat"I supported my brothers and sisters from drumming," remembered Loza. "And I made a good living myself. I got everything I wanted playing the drums. I have been very lucky."

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Professor RICKY LOZA teaches percussion at the George Washington Univ. in D.C. A native of El Salvador, he plays drums, timables, tympani, electric drums, and a full gamut of percussion instruments. A professional musician since the age of 12, he toured Central North and South America with the International Polio Orchestra. In 1967, he joined the National Symphony of El Salvador to premiere music composed and conducted by the great Pablo Casals. Soon after, Ricky began touring the Washington D.C. area night clubs, branching out from Latin music to playing jazz almost exclusively.

Ricky Loza

Ricky Loza , a well-known Drummer and Percussionist in the DC jazz arena and music professor at George Washington University , has played with Latin Jazz god , Tito Puente and a roster of other Jazz musicians.