Percussion & Steel Band Academy Session
July 8 - 20, 2013
About the Birch Creek
Percussion & Steel Band Program
The Percussion & Steel Band program offers a comprehensive summer education experience for the young adult percussionist/drummer. Through firsthand experience in many performances, small-group instruction, and master classes, the Percussion & Steel Band Program provides an incredible study of all the instruments and styles expected of today's percussionist who is planning on working at the college level and beyond. Birch Creek provides an enviroment not found on larger, lecture-style campuses. Our small size and very busy concert schedule challenges each student, whatever his or her level, to learn and perform at a pace found on the professional music scene - with personal guidance from professional faculty members each step of the way. Students study in classes, master classes, optional private lessons, and perform in concert percussion and mallet ensembles, steel bands, world drumming ensembles from Brazil, Cuba, and Africa, and a handful of theater pieces, à la Blue Man Group and Stomp.
Areas of Study
Concert Percussion
Concert/rudimental snare drum technique and reading skills, timpani, and accessory instruments (tambourine, triangle, cymbals, etc.)
Mallet Percussion
Two/ four-mallet keyboard technique and reading skills, concert marimba, jazz vibraphone/improvisation, ragtime xylophone
Drum Set
Jazz, Rock, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian and Caribbean styles
Steel Band
Technique, history, and arranging
World Percussion
Afro-Cuban (congas, bata, etc.), Brazilian samba instruments, pandeiro), East Indian (tabla), African (Gahu dance and instruments)
Orchestral Percussion
Snare drum, timpani, and accessory instruments
Music Software
Recording, composing & notation software
Professional Studies
College audition/performance strategies, time management workshops, sightreading classes, and music business presentation
Detailed admissions information, including AUDITION RECORDING REQUIREMENTS (note: Percussion & Steel Band auditions are only required if applying for financial aid), can be found on the Admissions Procedure page.
Program Director: Ben Wahlund
(Percussion specialist for Naperville School District 203 and St. Charles North High School, educator at North Central College, owner of Black Dog Music Studio in Aurora, Illinois. Mr. Wahlund also performs in The Screaming Norwegians percussion duo)
Steel Band Director: Liam Teague
(Assistant Professor of Music, Northern Illinois University, and Co-Director of the Northern Illinois University Steel Band, DeKalb, IL)
