During their years at MSM, students in the percussion department will have the opportunity to receive private lessons with most or all of the teaching faculty. Each student is assigned a primary teacher, who will oversee their studies. Students receive weekly private lessons with a variety of teachers. The plan is worked out each semester between the student and the primary teacher.
As part of their private-lesson program, all students will participate in these seminars. These are small group sessions taught by Chris Lamb. Level I, Percussion Skills and Concepts, is for freshman, sophomores, and first-semester graduate students. Level II, Orchestral Repertoire Seminar, is for juniors, seniors, and grad students. Level I will focus on physical movement that allows the percussionist the freedom to continually absorb new techniques required for the growing number of percussion instruments. Emphasis on how technique affects tone production will be made, and speed and control will begin to be observed. In Level II, application of the fundamentals of technique, touch, and tone production will be made to specific orchestral repertoire for all instruments, always keeping in mind the musical directives of the composer. Both classes will include a packet of material designed to guide the student in practicing the topics and ideas presented in the classes.
This is a weekly class for the entire department, taught by all of the faculty. It is a full-spectrum approach to percussion performance and practice through sectionals, orchestral repertoire sessions for percussion and timpani, Western and non- Western instrument workshops, and lecture/demonstrations by visiting artists. Instrument maintenance as well as stick construction and mallet wrapping will also be discussed. Students are expected to perform regularly in class either in master classes, workshops, or solo performance settings.
A number of the lab classes are devoted to the Marimba Project. These are performance-oriented classes led by She-e Wu, where students have the opportunity to play solo and small ensemble repertoire for their peers, culminating in a spring concert in which all students perform.
Recent master classes by visiting artists have included:
The acclaimed Manhattan Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Jeffrey Milarsky, typically presents two major programs each year, as well as occasional additional performances. The group performs the most ambitious repertoire in the genre, drawn from both "classics" and contemporary works, and in a wide range of styles. The Ensemble also commissions and premieres new works by emerging composers. Many smaller pieces are done without a conductor. Here is a list of some of the repertoire performed in recent seasons:
All students in the percussion department perform with the Manhattan School orchestras. Placement is determined by auditions at the beginning of each semester. All students also perform with the Manhattan Percussion Ensemble. In addition, there are opportunities to perform with the contemporary ensemble Tactus, the jazz department’s ensembles (including the Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra), mixed chamber ensembles, solo recitals, composers’ concerts, and various ad hoc orchestras and other ensembles.
Percussionists in the Orchestral Performance Program > Percussionists in the Contemporary Performance Program > Percussionists in the Jazz Arts Program >
Our department's handbook includes information for current students on a variety of issues including Placement Auditions, Lesson Schedule, Seminars, Ensembles, Jazz Department, Recitals, Concerto Competition, Library Collection, Instrument Care, and Jury Requirements, etc. Percussion Department Handbook >
Erik Charlston Department Co-Chair
Duncan Patton Department Co-Chair