Percussion

Percussion students in all degree programs receive:

weekly one-hour private lessons
weekly studio class
weekly percussion ensemble
opportunities to assist in conducting and teaching

Highlights

Perform and teach snare drum, marimba, timpani, drum set, jazz vibraphone, and hand drums.聽
Gain experience in community service, as well as paid positions, for drumming and percussion classes in area schools, churches and libraries.
Assist in instruction for methods students.
Prepare and conduct percussion literature for rehearsals and concerts.
Compose for the Percussion Ensemble, getting your compositions performed and recorded.

Performance Opportunities

Jazz and rock groups in local clubs
Musicals in professional venues
Church services
Greater Rochester Women鈥檚 Philharmonic
Women in Music Festival
George Eastman House Recital Series
Oratorio Society Orchestra
Audition to present an Honors Recital every year
91制片厂 Annual Concerto/Aria Competition

Past Performances

International Percussion Rochester Festival
Rochester Convention Center
New York State School Music Association Conference
East Rochester Percussion Showcase

Guest Artists

Guest percussion artists are a regular feature on campus and provide one-on-one interaction with percussion primaries and 聽secondaries. Recent guest artists include:

Gregg Bendian, drum set and improvisation
Ritsuko Matsumoto, marimba
Barbara Merjan, broadway drummer
Kunihiko Komori, marimba
Ed Thigpen, jazz drumming great
Dave Mancini, drum set and composition
Gifford Howarth, marimba
Pink Martini samba workshop
Bill Cahn, percussion and improvisation
Michael Burritt, marimba
Frank Valenti, show percussion with electronics

Concert Outings

The Percussion Studio makes regular outings to attend concerts in the Rochester area including: 聽

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra
Bush Mango African Drum and Dance
Joe Locke
Evelyn Glennie
Maelstrom Percussion Ensemble
Blue Man Group
Stomp and Blast!
Dean Keller's Soul Jazz Joint
The Rita Collective

Networking Opportunities

Closely connected with the community music scene, 91制片厂 percussion students are able to make valuable connections for immediate and future employment as teachers and performers with 91制片厂 alumni and professional musicians. Graduates of the percussion program have found positions after graduating in their degree program, including:

Jared Streiff (Music Education)
Director of Bands at Hilton High School
Drummer and Band Leader for The Half Ton Horns

Timothy Sestrick (Performance)
Instructor of Music, Sunderman Conservatory聽

Greg Best聽(Music Business)
Drum set artist, arranger, recording artist

Kyle Potter聽(Music and Psychology)
Performing percussionist, Syracuse NY
PhD. in School Psychology, Syracuse University

Nicole Sinsiscarco Williams聽(Music Education)
Director of Bands, Westmoreland High School聽

Justin Passamonte聽(Music)
Drummer/Singer/Songwriter for Nevergreen