Percussion at UW
The UW’s percussion studies program emphasizes technical mastery and musicianship with a practical aim of preparing students to excel in a wide range of professional musical settings.
Graduates of the percussion studies program are teaching at universities, touring internationally as bandleaders and percussionists, performing in musical theater productions from Seattle to Broadway, and performing in jazz ensembles, orchestras, experimental contemporary music ensembles, and popular music groups.
Distinguished Faculty
Faculty in the program include newly appointed chair Bonnie Whiting, whose research and performance interests include a range of percussion styles across centuries, in particular non-traditional notation, interdisciplinary performance, improvisation, and the speaking percussionist. The program also benefits from related faculty in Jazz Studies, including drumset instructor Ted Poor, and Ethnomusicology, including gamelan specialist Christina Sunardi. Students in the program have also performed in concerts and festivals related to the Harry Partch Instrument Collection, in long-term residence at the UW under the curatorship of composer Charles Corey through 2019.
Performance Opportunities
Offering undergraduate, masters, and doctoral degree options, the program also presents performance opportunities open to undergraduates and non-majors. The UW Percussion Studio is a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, majors and non-majors, who perform in quarterly studio performances, present solo degree recitals, and participate in the School’s many performance ensembles, including the UW Percussion Ensemble, UW Modern Ensemble, UW Symphony Orchestra, various wind ensembles, small jazz ensembles, and the UW Big Band.
Visiting Artists
Students also benefit from visiting artists who perform concerts with faculty and students and lead master classes and workshops. Some recent guest artists have included renowned percussionists Allen Otte & John Lane, Robyn Schulkowsky, Arx Duo, Third Coast Percussion, and others.
Course Highlights
Studio Class: Students investigate weekly percussion-related topics in class, through group listening & discussion and visits by select guest speakers.
Percussion Ensemble: The UW Percussion Ensemble performs regularly throughout the school year in Meany Theater and Meany Studio Theater. The group, comprising undergraduate and graduate percussion majors, focuses on contemporary music of many genres composed for percussion ensembles ranging in size from trios to nonets and dectets.
Private Lessons: Private lessons with the UW’s studio instructors enable students to tailor their lesson experience to their specific long-term goals and to discover areas of strength or specialty.
Large Ensembles: Students apply techniques and skills acquired in private lessons in various large ensembles, including the UW Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Modern Ensemble, UW Big Band, and various bands and orchestras.
Ethnomusicology: Percussionists are encouraged to participate in the UW's musical ensembles studying and performing music from around the world. The UW Steel Bands, Javanese Gamelan, Zimbabwean Marimba Ensemble, and Gospel Choir meet year round, while guest artists visit to teach quarter-long classes. Previous guest artists include Amarylis Rios, Paco Diez, Heri Purwanto, and Ganesh Rajagopalan,
Graduates of the percussion studies program are teaching at universities, touring internationally as bandleaders and percussionists, performing in musical theater productions from Seattle to Broadway, and performing in jazz ensembles, orchestras, experimental contemporary music ensembles, and popular music groups.
Distinguished Faculty
Faculty in the program include newly appointed chair Bonnie Whiting, whose research and performance interests include a range of percussion styles across centuries, in particular non-traditional notation, interdisciplinary performance, improvisation, and the speaking percussionist. The program also benefits from related faculty in Jazz Studies, including drumset instructor Ted Poor, and Ethnomusicology, including gamelan specialist Christina Sunardi. Students in the program have also performed in concerts and festivals related to the Harry Partch Instrument Collection, in long-term residence at the UW under the curatorship of composer Charles Corey through 2019.
Performance Opportunities
Offering undergraduate, masters, and doctoral degree options, the program also presents performance opportunities open to undergraduates and non-majors. The UW Percussion Studio is a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, majors and non-majors, who perform in quarterly studio performances, present solo degree recitals, and participate in the School’s many performance ensembles, including the UW Percussion Ensemble, UW Modern Ensemble, UW Symphony Orchestra, various wind ensembles, small jazz ensembles, and the UW Big Band.
Visiting Artists
Students also benefit from visiting artists who perform concerts with faculty and students and lead master classes and workshops. Some recent guest artists have included renowned percussionists Allen Otte & John Lane, Robyn Schulkowsky, Arx Duo, Third Coast Percussion, and others.
Course Highlights
Studio Class: Students investigate weekly percussion-related topics in class, through group listening & discussion and visits by select guest speakers.
Percussion Ensemble: The UW Percussion Ensemble performs regularly throughout the school year in Meany Theater and Meany Studio Theater. The group, comprising undergraduate and graduate percussion majors, focuses on contemporary music of many genres composed for percussion ensembles ranging in size from trios to nonets and dectets.
Private Lessons: Private lessons with the UW’s studio instructors enable students to tailor their lesson experience to their specific long-term goals and to discover areas of strength or specialty.
Large Ensembles: Students apply techniques and skills acquired in private lessons in various large ensembles, including the UW Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Modern Ensemble, UW Big Band, and various bands and orchestras.
Ethnomusicology: Percussionists are encouraged to participate in the UW's musical ensembles studying and performing music from around the world. The UW Steel Bands, Javanese Gamelan, Zimbabwean Marimba Ensemble, and Gospel Choir meet year round, while guest artists visit to teach quarter-long classes. Previous guest artists include Amarylis Rios, Paco Diez, Heri Purwanto, and Ganesh Rajagopalan,