Percussion Studies at the University of Kentucky

• Jim Campbell - Provost’s Distinguished Service Professor, Director of Percussion Studies

Cultural and stylistic diversity is the future of music and society. For a percussionist, versatility is the key to maintaining a cutting edge in our current cultural and economic climate. Percussion crosses all boundaries and percussion students have the widest possible vocabulary of instruments and musical genres to master - more than any other instrumentalist.

To stay competitive, a percussionist must be fluent in the standard core orchestral instruments and literature of snare drum, mallet keyboard, timpani, and accessories; 20th century styles of multiple percussion; jazz and commercial styles of drum set and vibraphone; electronic percussion and computer music applications; global music styles of Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and India. Additionally, music educators and performers of the 21st century should be prepared to face extra-musical challenges ranging from cuts in funding and program reductions to the ups and downs of an unpredictable and highly competitive live music market.

The Percussion Studies Program at the University of Kentucky is designed with a comprehensive approach to the study and performance of literature in all styles and idioms of music. The goal of the percussion curriculum is to develop musicianship, technical proficiency, cultural awareness, and technological literacy in both performance and pedagogy. Regardless of degree concentration, the undergraduate student will maintain regular study of keyboard percussion and additional directed areas based on individual goals and needs. Graduate students may choose to specialize in one or more areas as they work toward degree recital requirements. The Percussion Studies Program provides professional-level experiences and opportunities for all students that foster growth through self-discipline, creativity, and entrepreneurship. Successful students will embrace these challenges as they develop a passion for life-long learning that will lead to a rewarding career.

The UK Percussion Ensemble has been recognized for its innovation and excellence by the Lexington Herald-Leader and as one “...of the things that were particularly good and positive about Central Kentucky performing arts and artists. Seeing the UK Percussion Ensemble rehearse with a precision and enthusiasm that makes it easy to understand why the group is picking up so many awards.”

The UK Percussion Ensemble has won the prestigious Percussive Arts Society Collegiate Percussion Ensemble Contest three times. They have also performed at several Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival, The Bands of America Percussion Ensemble Festival, and alongside international guest artists such as Robin Engelman, Steve Houghton, John Bergamo, Michael Burritt, Bob Becker, William Cahn, Michael Spiro, Chalo Eduardo, Ney Rosauro, Liam Teague, Dick Schory, Anders Åstrand, Richie Garcia, Dave Samuels, Danny Gottlieb, Glenn Velez, Emil Richards, Joe Porcaro, Jerry Steinholtz, David Johnson, Rich Holly, Dean Gronemeier, Fred Sanford, Thomas Burritt, John Parks, J.B. Smith, N. Scott Robinson, and many others.

The UK Steel Band annually performs for over 5,000 grade school students with their highly acclaimed program, “Drums: from Africa to Trinidad”.

The Lexington Herald Leader has called the percussion program, “…an underappreciated jewel that makes Lexington a special place to live: We get regular exposure to interesting percussion repertoire, rarely heard and expertly played.”

Since 1994, University of Kentucky percussion students have been selected as finalists in the Percussive Arts Society International Solo Competition a total of nine times, finishing in first place five times, a record of achievement matched by no other institution. U.K. Percussion students and alumni perform internationally with groups and in prestigious settings including: Stockholm International Percussion Event, Sweden; Seoul International Drum Festival, Korea; Journees de la Percussion, Paris; Festival de Percusion, Puerto Rico; Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival; Fusion Arts Exchange; Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice (SICPP); Caixa Percussion Trio, U.S. Army Field Band; The Broadway show, “Blast”; the touring company of “Jeckyl and Hyde”; the Grammy winning band, Wilco; The Dallas Brass; Saxon’s Civil War Band; Top Brass; Music for All Summer Symposium, World Marimba Competition in Stuttgart, Germany; Huis Ten Bosch European resort in Nagasaki, Japan; the Brass Band of Battle Creek; Lexington Philharmonic; and the Louisville Orchestra.

Other graduates have secured successful teaching careers in public schools across the country and at colleges such as the University of Michigan, University of Iowa, University of Tennessee-Martin, East Tennessee State University, Tennessee Tech University, Syracuse University, Sam Houston State University, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Mercer University, Minnesota State University-Moorhead, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, and Kutztown University.

Many students have successfully auditioned for nationally competitive drums corps and have served on the instructional staff of several Division 1 corps, including the Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, Blue Coats, Vanguard, Madison Scouts, Carolina Crown, Boston Crusaders and Southwind.

“…it turns out that UK is one of the country's leading, if not the leading, percussion schools, due to the presence of percussion guru James Campbell. Who knew? They've got 30 percussion majors here, 24 undergrad and 6 grad, and four of the sophomores…nailed my percussion quartet Snake Dance No. 2, as well as it's ever been played."
- Kyle Gann, composer, critic and musicologist from his weblog “PostClassic”