Percussion is an one-year instrumental music class focused on integrating performance training on common instruments of the percussion family with the musical knowledge necessary for the interpretation of diverse genres of music, rhythmic and melodic sight-reading, basic music theory, rudimentary music history, and past and contemporary percussion music and performers.

The course emphasizes performance techniques, compositional techniques, and the cultivation of aural awareness skills as they pertain to the percussionist’s role in wind bands, orchestras, popular music, and marching arts groups.

Students will be assessed through performance of musical pieces, excerpts, exercises, etudes, and student-created material. Emphasis will be placed on the understanding of group versus solo performance. Performance criteria will include rhythmic accuracy, proper technique, tempo accuracy, dynamic range, and proper execution of rudiments as listed in the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) materials. Memorization and musical interpretation will also be a component of student assessment. Students will receive recorded video/audio feedback of their performance to create personal self-evaluations as to their perception of performance versus an outward observation of their performance. This will allow students to internalize areas that need improvement as they receive instruction throughout the course.