News Article

CNA grad drums his way to LA


1/19/2010 1:38:53 PM


Brandon Hopkins is a drummer - and a great one at that. He managed to beat the odds and overcome personal tragedy to enjoy the cultural hotbed of Los Angeles. However, before he could even think of moving to the big city, he had to start his education. Brandon completed the Music Industry and Performance program (MIP) at College of the North Atlantic (CNA).

“I always knew I wanted to be a professional musician, so after I graduated high school I went for it,” he explained of his choice to enroll in the MIP program.

Brandon says the program’s Theory and Performance class helped him immensely.

“He was a genius in those areas,” Hopkins says of MIP instructor, Wade Pinhorn. “And the Sound Reinforcement and Studio class with Scott Hammond came into great use when I was tracking drums in various studios down in LA.”

While Brandon, 23, was at CNA, he had the opportunity to be involved with many different musical projects, including drumming for the band Coy Decoy. The band won a Provincial Battle of the Bands and travelled across Newfoundland and Labrador performing. Brandon went on to graduate with honours from the MIP program in 2006.

“It was a big surprise to everyone, even me. I was never the school type, but I knew I loved music.”

After graduation Brandon was ready to take on the world with his drumming skills, but his family was struck with a major tragedy.

“In July 2007, my younger brother Stephan died in a tragic boating accident that devastated me and my family. I decided to stay home for a year and be with the family and also practice and become a better drummer.”

Brandon practiced all the time, but soon realized it was time to get his career going. So in February 2008, he started researching advanced music schools in Canada and the United States. After a lot of thought, he applied to the Musicians Institute (MI) on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, California. The Musicians Institute is an accredited member institution of the National Association of Schools of Music with three stories and 60,000 square feet of world class recording and performing facilities. Brandon got in.

“I received my acceptance letter the following June. I was also awarded the Musicianship Scholarship which is given to outstanding and extraordinary students. I was just happy to be accepted.”

But it was not a simple pick-up and go. Brandon struggled to get the funding he needed to live and go to school in LA. Just days before he was scheduled to leave, he finally received confirmation that his government funding would come through.

“I packed everything I owned and stuffed it into three bags and left Deer Lake September 24 and headed to LA. When I got there I had no clue where I was going to live or with who I was going live with, but I knew I had to give it a shot , after all we only live once,” he exclaimed.

He arrived and immediately felt the culture shock of such a busy and moving city. Brandon says it was mind blowing to fly over a city of 10 million people.

“I was just a little Newfoundland kid trying to make it.”

When you think of Hollywood, you think music, movie stars, clubs and parties, but the so-called LA lifestyle didn’t appeal to Brandon. He joined a Christian church called Oasis as soon as he got there. He joined the church’s worship band and met a lot of music professionals. However, school still came first for him.

“The first two quarters I was in school I really focused on honing my skills and learning everything I could. I would get up at five in the morning and walk the two-mile road down Hollywood Blvd to MI to practice for six to eight hours every day before class.”

He finished the first two levels of the program and decided it was time to start his career. Brandon met amazing people, musicians, recording engineers, film engineers, actors and label representatives on his quest to drumming fame. He played many gigs in the Los Angeles area and met big stars like Lindsey Lohan and Gene Simmons. Brandon also recorded and performed in some of the best state-of-the-art facilities and says it was quite the honour.

He says he would not have been as successful if it wasn’t for the courses he took at CNA, noting the Music Business course with Ginger Bennett got his business and entrepreneurial skills into motion.

“Any musician/artist has to be an entrepreneur to succeed and I am so thankful I choose CNA first. Because I went to CNA I was able to learn the necessary tools to communicate and work with people who are working professionals in today’s music industry. CNA has some of the best teachers I've ever encountered.”

After enjoying some gigs and recording in LA, Brandon headed back to the Musicians Institute to complete his associate degree in drumming. Many students who start the program never make it to the final level due to the intense workload.

“We were practicing more than eight hours a day. It was so much material, but I loved it. I had the best time of my life at school. I was top of my class and would have graduated with honours.”

However, just days before the Christmas break Brandon got the news that his student loan was re-assessed and he would not be receiving anymore funding. He was unable to finish the program with just three months left to graduate.

“I do intend to go back and complete the program in the near future, and I hope I can continue from where I left off.”

Brandon is now in Grand Falls-Windsor and has already started a new band. They are writing new material and recording an EP with plans of touring Newfoundland this summer.

“I would rather live and work in Newfoundland; but sadly there aren’t that many opportunities for musicians and artists here. My plan is to make a name for myself and then help other musicians and artists from this province have a chance to make a living at what they love - music.”

Although he has not yet completed the MI program, Brandon has learned you have to be resilient to succeed in the music industry, and he doesn’t intend to give up anytime soon.

For more information about Brandon Hopkins visit his YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/bopkins14.

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Media Contact:

Colleen Connors
Public Relations Specialist
(709) 643-6408
colleen.connors@cna.nl.ca