November 17, 2015

Inaugural ‘Day of Percussion’ set for Saturday

by Andrea Hahn

CARBONDALE, Ill. – Drumroll please! The School of Music at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is hosting the first Day of Percussion, an event organizers hope will become an annual event. 

Christopher Butler, percussion faculty member, described the event as “a single day of percussion-related masterclasses, clinics and performances.” It all takes place in Altgeld Hall beginning at noon on Saturday, Nov. 21. SIU students are admitted free, tickets for others are $5 for the day. Butler said he arranged the day’s events with college and high school percussion musicians in mind. 

Here’s a look at the day’s schedule:

• Noon – Orchestral Excerpts 101, with William James, principal percussionist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.

• 1 p.m. – The Modern Drum Set Player, with Gavin Ryan, from Utah Valley University and Westminster College (Salt Lake City, Utah).

• 2 p.m. – Tweets and Blogs: Percussion Pedagogy Proverbs, with James Campbell, professor of percussion, University of Kentucky.

3 p.m. – The Saturation Point: How to Practice as a Percussionist, with Christopher Butler, lecturer in percussion, SIU.

4 p.m. – SIU Percussion Ensemble with ensemble and solo performances.