“I thoroughly enjoyed the Interlochen Summer Percussion Institute.  The students were always fully engaged in masterclasses and performances.  A great event!”- John Tafoya, Former Principal Timpanist, National Symphony Orchestra, Chairman, Percussion Department/Professor of Music – Percussion Indiana University Jacobs School of Music

DAY 6

The final day started off with a technique session with Tommy Igoe and ended with a concert featuring John Tafoya, Tommy Igoe and the students.

Students with Tommy Igoe after final clinic session

John Tafoya performing the Oliverio Timpani Concerto

Tommy Igoe just before the performance of David Mancini’s Suite for Solo Drumset and Percussion Ensemble

DAY 4 & 5

Two great days that featured three wonderful and diverse group of artists – Cynthia Yeh of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, John Tafoya from Indiana University and Tommy Igoe from the Birdland Big Band and Lion King.  Check out the videos and photos below.

Students are gearing up for the Thursday night concert, 8 PM in Corson auditorium – featuring John Tafoya and Tommy Igoe.

Day 4 started with a clinic by Cynthia Yeh – she demonstrated and discussed orchestral tambourine, triangle, bass drum and cymbals.   In the afternoon the students played for her.   That evening, Cynthia was joined by John Tafoya and featured an orchestral rep session for percussion and timpani.   Throughout the two hour class, students listened to and played through (side-by-side with Cynthia and John) many standard orchestral pieces.   These included Scheherazade, Symphony Fantastique, Capriccio Espagnol and more.

Day 5 started with a clinic by former National Symphony timpanist and now Indiana University professor John Tafoya – he talked about timpani concepts and with each concept, he played timpani parts from the standard orchestral repertoire.  Highlighting the day was John’s performance of Stravinsky’s finale to the Firebird – a spectacular performance!

The evening session featured Tommy Igoe – he “warmed up” with an open solo that was virtuosic to say the least.   Tommy’s clinic focused on grooves and how to execute them with great musicianship and maturity.   He concluded the evening with a warm up called a “Lifetime Warm Up.”  He’s been playing this for years and is something his father taught him.     See http://www.tommyigoe.com/ to learn more about this warm up and his Groove Essentials books.

Quotes of the day:

“We have to value our own instruments before we can expect others to value them” –

Cynthia Yeh

“Whenever you play a piece of music, you are putting your stamp or mark on that piece;  always make it a good one” – John Tafoya

“We’ve got to be more than drummers, we’ve got to be audio engineers as we always have to be thinking about balancing the drums” – Tommy Igoe

“High stick height is the worst enemy of a good rhythm and groove” – Tommy Igoe

Cynthia Yeh in clinic

Cynthia Yeh in the orchestral rep class, playing side-by-side with students in Scheherazde

John Tafoya and Cynthia Yeh in the Orchestral Rep Class

John Tafoya in masterclass

Tommy Igoe in clinic

DAY 3

The day started with Joe Galeota drumming and dance and concluded with a recital by Mike Burritt – the program included his composition Rounders.

Quotes of the day:

“In Africa, you don’t play music for yourself, you play it for everyone else” – Joe Galeota.

“Always keep yourself at 12 O’Clock, remembering why you began playing music” –  Mike Burritt

“Rhythms have to be sharp – nobody wants to dance to lazy rhythms” – Joe Galeota

“Rests aren’t rests, they are active silence” – John Alfieri

DAY 2

Mike Burritt started the day off with a marimba clinic – check out the video below.   Mike played his piece “The Offering” – he played this at the morning clinic.    The day finished with Joe Galeota’s African drumming and dance class, also on the video.  In between the classes, the student percussion ensemble is rehearsing and gearing up for Thursday’s concert.

Students with faculty performers after Mike Burritt’s recital

Faculty and percussion performers with Mike Burritt

Joe Galeota leading the African drum and dance class

John Alfieri presented a snare drum class – John covered all the basics and set the tone on the importance of technique!

John Alfieri in clinic

Guest Artists: Tommy Igoe, Lion King/Birdland Big Band; Cynthia Yeh, Chicago Symphony Orchestra; John Alfieri, Interlochen Arts Camp; John Tafoya, Indiana University; Mike Burritt, Eastman School of Music; Joe Galeota, Berklee College.

Hosted by Keith Aleo