LESSONS

You’ll learn how to read music, how to get great sounds from your instruments, and study various techniques like drum rudiments and mallet permutations. We’ll build a broad vocabulary of instruments, discuss their origin, and their role in different ensemble settings. You’ll study exercises, solos, and excerpts of music geared toward percussion techniques, while participating in ear training exercises that build your ensemble awareness..

We’ll discuss how to embody the heart of the marching band through studies of how to safely hold a drum, march on the field, project your sound, and perform for a large audience. You’ll play exercises geared toward metric accuracy, volume adjustment, technical chops, and stamina. You’ll learn a multitude of warm-ups and musical excerpts from both DCI and WGI performance examples.

You’ll gain the ability to identify and navigate Drums, Cymbals, and Hardware. We’ll play exercises that train your ability to maintain tempo, control dynamics, and multitask effectively. You’ll learn music by ear and by chart for both the stage and recording booth. You’ll study basic world drumming styles, using their rhythms and emphasis to build versatility around the kit!

Is percussion your passion? You’ll want to know the ins and outs of the audition process. I’ll teach you how to identify programs that are catered to your goals, create deadlines for all of those pesky online applications, and choose repertoire that will highlight your strengths. You’ll learn performance strategies, practice playing under pressure, and prepare questions for your audition.