|
|||||
|
||||
|
Day of Percussion 
The 2008 Day of Percussion, planned and hosted by the Joliet Junior College Department of Fine Arts Music Section, was held on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at the JJC main campus band room. Clinicians for the event were Mr. Mark Dorr, Instructor of Percussion and Director of Bands at Grinnell College , Grinnell, IA and Principal Percussionist of the Des Moines Metro Opera, and Andrew P. Simco, Adjunct Instructor of Percussion at Joliet Junior College and Principal Timpanist of the Des Moines Metro Opera, Illinois Philharmonic and Elmhurst Symphony Orchestras. As with our 2007 Day of Percussion, the event was held in two sessions. The morning session was devoted to percussion instruments, with a particular emphasis on marimba and snare drum. Then followed with demonstrations on the various auxiliary percussion instruments such as cymbals, triangle, bass drum, and tambourine. 
Students from Joliet Junior College, Joliet Central High School and Morris Community High School were present, and when the final head count was taken, a total of 23 students were present, along with band directors Mike Fiske, of Joliet Central High School, and Krissy Mondelli, of Morris Community High School. The percussion ensemble workshop opened up with members of the JJC Percussion Ensemble performing "Dueling Cymbalists – A Cymbal Romp" scored for cymbals of all types. The performance, like all the others at the event was applauded and critiqued. Following the JJC performance/demonstration, all of the participants combined to form one large ensemble, for Mark Dorr brought with him an arrangement of "Santa Claus is Coming to Town". He divided the students into several groups: drums, auxiliary percussion, and mallets. It was interesting to see and hear the different combinations combine to make a joyful noise! 
For the afternoon's final event, the Joliet Central Percussion Ensemble performed Chris Brook's "Fortress of the Prince", and it was a most impressive performance. Mark Dorr complimented the ensemble on its fine work, and like all other performances that day, presented a well-crafted critique which led to a marked improvement when the ensemble repeated its performance. Tips included pre-positioning of certain instruments, balancing of the snare drum parts, and the art of listening to one another. It was a fitting end to a very busy and informative day. All participants came away with a lot to ponder and new methods of improving themselves.
Andrew Simco |
||||
|
|
