Percussion & Steel Band Academy Session
July 9 - 21, 2012
About the Birch Creek Percussion & Steel Band Program
The Percussion & Steel Band program is considered to be one of the most comprehensive summer education experiences for the young percussionist/drummer. Through hands-on experience in performance, small-group instruction, and master classes, students learn an excellent working knowledge of all the instruments and styles essential for today's percussionist. The Birch Creek program provides an environment not found on large lecture-style campuses. Our small size and busy concert schedule challenge each student, whatever his or her level, to learn and perform at a pace found on the professional music scene.
All students perform in the Birch Creek Steel Bands, World Drumming Ensembles from Brazil, Cuba, and Africa, and theater pieces, รก la Blue Man Group and Stomp. Students also perform in Percussion and Mallet ensembles, and participate in classes in world percussion, drum set, theory, and computers & MIDI.
Areas of Study
Mallet Percussion
Two & four mallet marimba, xylophone, jazz vibes
Orchestral Percussion
Snare drum, timpani, and accessory instruments
World Percussion
Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, African, East Indian
Drum Set
Jazz, rock, Latin and Caribbean styles
Music Theory
Written and aural
Computers and MIDI
The use of computers for composition, publishing, recording, editing and learning through educational software
Detailed admissions information, including AUDITION RECORDING REQUIREMENTS, can be found on the Admissions Procedure page.
Program Director: Robert Chappell
(Head of Percussion Studies, Northern Illinois University School of Music, and Presidential Teaching Professor, DeKalb, IL)
Steel Band Director: Al O'Connor
(Associate Dean, College of Visual and Performing Arts [retired], Northern Illinois University, DeKalb IL)
Artist-in-Residence: Liam Teague
(Assistant Professor of Music, Northern Illinois University, and Co-Director of the Northern Illinois University Steel Band, DeKalb, IL)
