Philosophy
Percussion studies are designed to develop in the percussionist the highest possible level of musicianship and proficiency in performance and/or teaching, depending on the curriculum of study the student chooses.
The percussion curriculum is designed to present a logical and relevant sequence of study of all the percussion instruments throughout each entire degree program. Musical performance skills and concepts of education will be acquired through the following:
- The development of a technical facility to meet the needs of artistic expression. Mastery of this facility enables the performer to perform with the optimum level of musical artistry and expression through total freedom and control of technique and with understanding and sensitivity to the concepts of expression and phrasing on percussion instruments.
- Performance and familiarity with the musical and pedagogical literature associated with percussion – stimulate interest in professional literature related to percussion instruments and percussion performance of a cross-section of literature in all styles and areas of percussion.
- The development of the ability to read at sight.
- Experience in solo and ensemble performance.
- Regular attendance and participation in weekly percussion studio/master classes.
- An understanding of teaching procedure, practice, pedagogy, rehearsal and conducting techniques. Observation of the working procedure in the private studio, studio/master classes, and ensemble rehearsals are relevant to this goal.
- Gain a practical understanding of the learning process aimed at increased efficiency and economy in skill acquisition in order to: (1) acquire a constructive problem-solving orientation and (2) enhance the quality of time spent in the practice and study of percussion.
- Cultivate interest in and development of improvisatory and compositional skills as they relate to percussion performance.
- Develop an awareness of those disciplines and potential situations which can directly benefit from the experience of applied study: self-motivation, problem solving, goal setting, self-reliance and confidence, leadership, sensitivity, etc.
The student’s scholarly and applied preparation and performance of materials while enrolled
in percussion studies should:
- Reflect his or her progressive understanding of tone production and technical development on the respective percussion instruments. This should include concepts of rhythmic understanding, dynamic observance and control, articulation and phrasing, pitch accuracy, technical velocity and finesse.
- Show a clear understanding of the selected music with regards to musical style and form, including the ability to verbalize about the historical placement of the piece, its tonality framework and/or compositional techniques employed.
- Performance should be stylistically correct with regard to the rhythmic, articulation and phrasing concepts of the period and style.
- Be musically meaningful considering the student’s artistic talents and level of achievement.
- In addition the student is expected to develop the ability to assume organizational procedures, i.e., correct set-up and care of instruments, capacity to prepare music by set deadlines, and a sense of responsibility to meet all rehearsals, performances and commitments on time and observe Department of Music and Percussion Area policies.
- The student is expected to possess, or else quickly cultivate, and attitude towards percussion study that is as musical and sophisticated as the attitude expected from a student studying any string or wind instrument. Unless this attitude is serious and well intended, the percussion student will have a very difficult time developing and understanding the philosophies and techniques of musical percussion performance and education.
- At the completion of a degree program, the student will have reached a professional level of proficiency in performance and will have be capable of giving a full recital (required of performance, education, and general majors) which could include composers from the Renaissance to the present whenever applicable.
- The student will be capable of playing an honorable audition for an orchestra, combo, and studio job or teaching position. Pedagogically, the student will also have attained a great awareness of the historical evolution and development of percussion instruments, their actuators and actuation through their construction and acoustical properties and their literature and pedagogy.