Percussion studies prepares students with a broad, comprehensive understanding of the percussion field, and the means to develop high-level technical skills on numerous instruments. The focus is on acquiring cultural fluency and the resources necessary to pursue careers in a wide array of musical situations.
Percussion students are immersed in rigorous training in a performance-focused curriculum. As they advance, students are encouraged to pursue their own individual objectives, such as engaging in creative cross-cultural and cross-stylistic collaborations that bridge Western classical, new music, electronics, jazz, and global perspectives on music. The curriculum covers traditional classical study, intensive chamber music and percussion ensemble experiences, improvisation, and electronic percussion, as well as the school’s principal conducted faculty-student group, the Ensemble at CalArts. This may be augmented with studies in jazz, Persian, Latin, West African, North Indian, and Indonesian percussion, among other traditions.
CalArts’ extensive instrument collection includes all standard percussion instruments for orchestra and jazz, a vast array of electronic percussion controllers, a variety of instruments from around the world, and many nontraditional, custom-built, and found instruments. Advanced students often design and construct their own specialized percussion instruments in the Institute’s well-equipped Supershop.
BFA
Undergraduate students develop their skills through major lessons, supplemental non-major lessons in other areas, world music courses, traditional repertoire, percussion workshop, performance forums, and intensive ensemble work. The curriculum further integrates courses in composition, creative skills and pedagogy, and encourages percussionists to incorporate experimental forms, improvisation, digital media, hybrid arts, and interdisciplinary performance into their individual studies.
MFA
The master’s degree track is designed for already-accomplished players to explore advanced performance techniques and branch out into new stylistic directions, as they develop their individual artistic profiles and prepare for professional careers across a number of diverse creative settings.
In addition to graduate major lessons, supplemental non-major lessons in other areas, and experiences with traditional and global contemporary repertoire, students participate in percussion workshops, performance forums, and intensive ensemble work.
The curriculum further incorporates courses in composition, creative skills, and pedagogy. It encourages percussionists to incorporate experimental forms, improvisation, digital media, hybrid arts, and interdisciplinary performance into their individual studies.