Iowa drummers are about to have a chance to learn from one of the best in the business.

Drummer Gregg Bissonette, who has played with the likes of David Lee Roth, Santana and Ringo Starr, will present a drum clinic April 13 at Rieman Music, 6501 Douglas Ave. in Urbandale. Admission is free, but there is limited seating.

The clinic, which is sponsored by Mapex Drums and Rieman Music, is part of the music store’s continuing clinic series, which has featured artists such as Rik Emmett from Triumph and Billy Sheehan.

“We strive to have as many different styles of clinics as possible,” said Steve Rorebeck, Rieman Music buyer and self-proclaimed “resident drum guru,” who is responsible for the clinic.

“[Bissonette] was going to be available, so I decided while he was in town, let’s have a clinic,” said Rorebeck.

Bissonette was already scheduled to appear at Grinnell College for the Iowa Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society’s Days of Percussion April 11 to 12.

“He will play along with several different types of music to show you different styles,” Rorebeck said. “There’s really not an art of percussion he’s not going to cover.”

After the two-hour clinic, Bissonette will talk with guests and sign autographs. There will also be giveaways, including snare drums and other Mapex equipment, Rorebeck said.

Barry Larkin, associate professor of music and percussion instructor at Iowa State, said workshops can be very helpful for musicians. He said it is a wonderful opportunity to be close to a music legend and interact, as it’s hard to ask questions at a concert.

Larkin first heard of Bissonette when he joined David Lee Roth’s band.

“They usually share their own processes and thoughts regarding different musical settings,” said Larkin. “But the best is you get to hear them play up close – totally cool.”

Bissonette said the clinic will feature two main themes. First, people have to realize that they have to play musically.

Bissonette currently has a DVD out called “Musical Drumming in Different Styles,” in which he stresses the importance of listening to and experiencing as many different styles as possible. He also reinforces the primary role of being a contemporary drummer is to play what’s right for the music. Larkin agrees.

“It is important to know the styles and techniques, but to me ‘musically’ means sensitivity to what is happening around you, and breathing with it,” Larkin said. “Playing in a musical group is like having a ‘large’ conversation. If one person just likes to yell and disrupts constantly, you won’t invite that person over again.”

The other main focus of the workshop, Bissonette said, will be to make people aware that this is a people-oriented business.

“It’s not just about playing music, it’s also about what kind of person you are – how you relate to other people,” he said.

Larkin said he stresses the same ideas to his students. He said there is no job fair for the music business – it is solely the word of mouth and the artist’s reputation. It takes five good performances to overcome the damage from one bad one, he said.

“People don’t realize music takes work every day. It is like being a bodybuilder – you can’t achieve that in a day and if you stop working out, things sag. You have to love to play your instrument for the sake of playing,” he said.

Bissonette tells up-and-coming musicians to be persistent, but not so persistent that it drives people crazy.

“Knock on doors, get your stuff out there, find as many opportunities to play as you can,” he said.