Percussion

PERCUSSION PERSONALITY TRAITS: Coordinated, Communicative, and Organized
Only 8-12 students will be chosen for Percussion

Just because you are always tapping on things does not mean you are a natural percussionist (drummer). In fact, the PERCUSSION section is the most select, hand-picked section of the band. ONLY students with the highest grades, lowest discipline problems, backgrounds in piano lessons (optional, but certainly helpful), and extremely high gross and fine motor skills will be considered for percussion.

Physical Considerations: Students should exhibit a great deal of coordination in gross and fine motor skills.

Other Considerations: The study of percussion includes bells, triangle, tambourine, maracas, claves, xylophone, marimba, and timpani among many other instruments. This is not just “drumset class.”

Private Lessons: Because of the extremely detailed nature of percussion and the necessity to learn more than one instrument, percussionists are expected to take weekly private lessons with the private percussion instructor at Vandeventer. Learning how to properly play percussion instruments is time-intensive.

Note: Students who participate in private lessons experience less frustration and statistically are more likely to continue their music education in high school. It is expected that students selected for percussion are planning to participate through high school. Lessons are $20 per week and scholarships are available.

Students with a history of academic or disciplinary difficulty are not considered for percussion.