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     1   Welcome to percussionteacher.com 

10/01/2008 01:22 PM -0500
    A percussive arts and pedagogical resource for
  music educators,
parents, and percussion students.

         

  Please use this web page as a point of departure for
  heading in the right direction for the needs of the
  student percussionist.

This information page will address the many different questions
 that arise when teaching or parenting the young percussionist.

Many useful hyperlinks will be included to prevent you from
wasting time surfing the internet.

By simply returning to percussionteacher.com, you will more
efficiently locate desired websites.

  1  Welcome
  2
  Percussion Lessons
  3  Meet the Teacher
  4 
Master Sessions
      Rental Instruments

      Shopping Perc. Online

      Instrument Repairs

      Percussion Dictionary

      Fun Kids Pages

  
   Young Artist Competitions
  5 
Music Camps
  6  Upcoming Concerts
  7 
Directory of  Teachers
  8 
Solo Recommendations
  9 
Choosing a Music School
 10
Instrument Manufacturers
 11 Studio Policies
Instruments for Sale
P
ercussion Organizations
  4  Master Classes
W
here to Find the Best Buy
Instrument Maintenance
How to Practice Effectively
The Physics of Percussive Sound
Who's Who in Percussion
Scholarships


Percussion Organizations

How to Change Drum Heads

How to Choose a Teacher

Finding Percussion Teachers

Stick and Mallet  Recommendations

Instrument Choices

I will be adding and revising regularly.  Please be patient. I am a full time musician, not a web master, and Rome was not built in a day. Check back frequently for updates. My goal is to help guide you through the sea of percussive information to make wise choices. I have offered all of this advice to parents and music teachers on many occasions for 12 years. After repeating the same information too many times, it finally dawned on me to collate all of this information into a website for many people to use.  I hope it helps.    Meredith Nelson

Scroll down for more information about my studio.

Bookmark this page now!   Percussion Teacher.com

Meredith Nelson,
percussionist
Houston, Texas  713-688-4081

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 Bookmark this page now!                      Percussion Teacher.com               713-688-4081

 2  Looking for percussion lessons?

I am seeking students at all levels of musical development
    (including beginners)
            desiring to experience
                  
ACCELERATED ARTISTIC GROWTH
      for my private studio in the  Houston area.

Likely candidates would be students who are interested in:

a)  pursuing musical studies at a university or conservatory
b)  placing in the regional and state band or orchestra
c)  performing well in musical competitions
                      
OR
d) students who love music
and are simply interested in
    the challenge of playing with detailed technique and
    musical finesse

Beginners are always welcome in my studio. It is so important to get started on the "right foot"
(both musically and technically) from day one to ensure a solid foundation for proper and accelerated musical development, not unlike the
long term benefits of early nutrition.

I have had great success with beginners as
early as 5th grade.

           My biography is posted below.

Please call 713-688-4081 for more information.

Meredith Nelson

  

 

 

  3    Meet the Percussion Teacher,   Meredith Nelson

Meredith Nelson was the Assistant Principal Timpanist/Percussionist with the San Antonio Symphony for the 2007-2008 season. She has been a percussionist with the Austin Symphony Orchestra since 2003, and served as Principal Timpanist of Orchestra X in Houston. She is a former member of "The President's Own" United States Marine Band in Washington, D.C., having performed both in Washington, D.C. and on national concert tours from 1998 to 2002. Ms. Nelson has performed as a guest artist percussionist with the Houston Symphony, Houston Ballet Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, Maryland Orchestra, USB21 (United States Brass 21st Century), and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. She has also served as guest Principal Timpanist  with the Houston Symphony, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Houston Grand Opera, and Monarch Brass Ensemble.

She began her musical studies on the piano at the age of 5. While continuing her training as a pianist, she started to study percussion a the age of 11. Professional training in percussion commenced at Northwestern University where she received her Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance and Music Education. At Northwestern she received the award for Music Education Program Honors in 1995. Professional development as a percussionist continued at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University with a Master of Music in Percussion Performance in 1997.

As a part of her artistic training, Ms. Nelson attended festivals such as the Pacific Music Festival, National Orchestral Institute, National Repertory Orchestra, North Carolina School of the Arts, and Hot Springs Music Festival, with concerts as far away as Europe and Asia. For professional studies she has been privileged have been under the tutelage of Alan Abel, Richard Brown, Patricia Dash, Brian Del Signore, Mike Lefebvre, Edward Koehler,  Al Payson, and Paul Wertico .

In addition to her many Houston and Austin performances she maintains a studio of about 18 students per year. Her personal interests include figure skating, cooking, reading, swing/lindy hop dancing, the organ, and most recently, creating this web page.            

Houston Symphony
San Antonio Symphony

Austin Symphony 

Houston Grand Opera

Houston Ballet

The President's Own"
United States Marine Band

Maryland Symphony

Civic Orchestra of Chicago

National Repertory Orchestra

Pacific Music Festival

National Orchestral Institute

H
ot Springs Music Festival  

Northwestern University

Rice University

Alan Abel

Richard Brown

Patricia Dash

Al Payson

Paul Wertico

Philadelphia Orchestra

Chicago Symphony Orchestra
http://www.houstonsymphony.org/
http://www.sasymphony.org/ 
http://www.austinsymphony.org/
http://www.houstongrandopera.org/

http://www.houstonballet.org
http://www.marineband.usmc.mil/
http://www.marylandsymphony.org/
http://www.cso.org/main.taf?p=2,4
http://www.nromusic.com/ 
http://www.pmf.or.jp/index_en.html
http://www.nationalorchestralinstitute.com/
http://www.hotmusic.org/
http://www.music.northwestern.edu/indexf.html
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~musi/
http://www.pas.org/About/HofDetails.cfm?IFile=abel
http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~musi/facultybios/brown.html
http://www.cso.org/main.taf?erube_fh=cso&cso.submit.CSOPerfBio=1&cso.artistid=pdash
http://www.pas.org/About/HofDetails.cfm?IFile=payson
http://www.paulwertico.com/ 
http://www.philorch.org/styles/poa02e/www/index2.html
http://www.cso.org/

Meredith Nelson, percussionist    713-688-4081

  4  Master Sessions with the Percussion Teacher 
Want to know the secret to an amazing snare drum roll?

      Having trouble with a specific technique?
         
              Do you find
timpani tuning confusing and stressful?

                          
  Need artistic direction?

If you would like to receive pointers from the Percussion Teacher, but do not wish to take regular lessons, consider scheduling a Master Session.
Master Sessions are 20 minutes in length and cover a very specific musical or technical issue.  

RATE per Master Session: $20.00

Please call 713-688-4081 to schedule a 20 minute Master Session.

Master Session topics include, but are not limited to:

Choosing Collegiate Audition Repertory
Choosing a UIL/Recital Solo
Cymbal Techniques (a2) mf/f
Cymbal Techniques (a2) pp/p
Efficient and Effective Practice
Glockenspiel Technique
Major Arpeggios
Major Scales
Mallet Sticking-Rules of Thumb
Marimba-Legato Stroking
Marimba-2 Mallets
Marimba-4 Mallets
Melodic Development
Melodic Intervals
Melodic Practice Techniques
Minor Arpeggios
Minor Scales
Musical Sensitivity
Perfecting Rhythm
Perfecting Time
Phrasing
Preparing an Audition
Sight Reading- Mallets
Sight Reading-Snare Drum
Sight Reading-Timpani
Snare Drum-Basic Stroking
Snare Drum-Closed Roll
Snare Drum-Open Roll
Snare Drum-Developing Your Palette of Colors of Tone Production
Snare Drum Sticking-Rules of Thumb
Snare Drum-3 and 4 Stroke Ruffs
State/Region Marimba Music-2 Mallets
State/Region Marimba Music-4 Mallets
State/Region Snare Drum Music
State/Region Timpani Music
Stylistic Interpretation
Tambourine Technique-Shake Rolling
Tambourine Technique-Thumb Rolling
Tambourine Technique-Fast and Loud Playing
Tambourine Technique-Soft Playing
Timpani-Finger Technique
Timpani Mallet Recovering
Timpani-Mallet Selection
Timpani Sticking-Rules of Thumb
Timpani-Stroke and Tone Production
Timpani-Tuning
Triangle Techniques
Understanding Your Piece
Xylophone-Sound Development
Xylophone-Mallet Selection

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

              

RENTAL INSTRUMENTS

Texas
Instruments for Rent  
Brian Del Signore  
email: delsignorefamily@sbcglobal.net
 

Marimba Warehouse Inc.
http://www.marimbawarehouse.com/
email: marimbawarehouse

Phone: 281-933-9200
  ,
281-933-9201
10408 Mule Rd. Suite 200
Stafford, TX 77477

California
California Percussion LLC

Absolutely Music, Inc.

http://www.californiapercussion.com/Rentals.htm

    

Instrument Tuning and Repairs

Marimba Xylophone Vibraphone Tuning & Repair Service

Salazar Fine Tuning
1051 Samoa Blvd.
Arcata, CA 95521
707-825-9579
www.salazarfinetuning.com

Percussion Dictionary

What does PAUKEN mean?
Ever wondered what an MBIRA is? 
What instrument do I play if my part says SIL?
Do you need a TEPONAXTLE?
Does the piece call for PIATTI a 2?  

Click on the following hyperlink to connect to a fantastic Percussion Dictionary
created by Tony Edwards, member of the University of Texas at Austin Percussion Faculty
and Timpanist with the Austin Symphony Orchestra.

http://perc.music.utexas.edu/Students/Dictionary.aspx

      KIDS PAGES      

DSO Kids Page

The Dallas Symphony Orchestra has a FABULOUS Kids Page for learning about the orchestra.  What fun! I really enjoyed this website. J
Be sure to check out the most exciting section in the orchestra -  Percussion, of course!

 http://www.dsokids.com/2001/rooms/DSO_Intro.html

                                                 

 "The President's Own" Kids Corner

Join Conductor John Philip Sousa  for a  White House  tour and performances by "The President's Own" United States Marine Band.

http://www.marineband.usmc.mil/kids_corner/index.htm

SFS Kids
The San Francisco Symphony has a great website for kids, opening with the 4th movement of Beethoven's 9th Symphony.  You can even compose your own tune. Check it out!

www.sfskids.org/

Austin Symphony Orchestra - ASO Kids
Our conductor, Maestro Peter Bay, even has his own room on this page! Kids get a chance to conduct the orchestra.

http://austinsymphony.org/education/public/aso_kids/

$$ Shopping  $$
        Percussion
              Online

While it may be convenient to go to your local music store, the music, mallet, and instrument selection is usually very limited. Most percussionists I know generally order products (music, mallets, sticks, instruments, tuning forks, music stands, metronomes, recordings, etc.) via a mail order/online percussion company and have it delivered to their front door. There is usually a vast selection of percussion and related products, more than any general music store is willing to keep on hand. Prices through mail order or online dealers are often lower than prices at the local retail store, and, if the order is shipped to another state, usually tax-free. The standard price for shipping starts at about $8.00. Naturally, the price will increase if you order something heavier (i.e. hardware, cymbals, drums, etc.). Continental U.S. deliveries usually take 1-5 business days, depending on your proximity to the company.  Many of these dealers will handle instrument orders for larger percussion companies. There are a few percussion companies, such as Marimba One, Drummer’s Service, and DeMorrow Marimbas,  that still serve as the only dealer of their product.

Listed below are several mail order/online businesses that specialize in percussion.
Percussion Dealers

Classic Percussion
Hagen, Germany (English Spoken , Shipping Worldwide)
http://www.classic-percussion.com

Columbia Products International
New York - New Jersey

http://columbiamusic.homestead.com/tambourine.html

Lone Star Percussion
Dallas, TX   ( 214) 340-0835
http://www.lonestarpercussion.com/

The Percussion Source
Coralville, IA   1 (866) 849-4387
www.percussionsource.com/

Steve Weiss Music
Philadelphia, PA  (215) 659-0100
www.steveweissmusic.com/catalog/

 

         

Specialized Percussion Companies

Drummer’s Service
Pittsburgh, PA
http://www.drummersservice.com/
– Top of the line, custom field drums, bass drums, and unquestionably the finest handmade drumsticks. If you are looking for Old World craftsmanship of a high quality product, this is the place.

Marimba One
Arcata,CA  (707) 822-9570
http://www.marimba1.com/
 - Independent business that has a reputation for crafting only the finest product and allows for customization. This instrument may be ordered only through Marimba One.

Music Dealers that Include Percussion              

Afromart Gift Enterprises
Long Beach, CA

http://www.afromart.net

 

Master Classes
        
  with the Percussion Teacher

For more information,
        call Meredith Nelson   -   713-688-4081

Master Class Topics (include but are not limited to):
 
Bass Drum
Cymbals
Marimba
Phrasing
Region Band Audition Music
Region Orchestra Audition Music
Rhythm
Snare Drum
State Band Audition Music
State Orchestra Audition Music
Tambourine
Timpani
Xylophone

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Young Artist Competitions

Houston Young Artist's Concert (Texas)
Houston area young artists audition to perform on the annual concert.
Ages Pre-school-18 years. Standard repertoire required.
Accompanists should be 25 years or younger.

www.hyac.org/

Houston Civic Symphony – Young Artist
Competition (Texas
)

If you are a music student in the 5th through the 12th grade,

we
invite you to participate in our Young Artist Competition.
Winners to perform with the Houston Civic Symphony.

http://www.civicsymphony.org/competition.asp

Symphony North of Houston Young Artist
Concerto Competition (Texas)

http://www.symphonynorth.org/

Clear Lake Symphony Youth Concerto
Competition (Texas)

Contestants must be from the Houston Area. Junior and Senior
Divisions for students in elementary, junior high, and high schools.
In addition to providing an opportunity to perform with the Clear Lake
Symphony, the orchestra assists these young musicians with
scholarship awards
.
http://www.clearlakesymphony.org/youth_concerto.htm

Pearl Amster Youth Concerto Festival
(Texas)

Provides an opportunity for young solo instrumentalists to perform
 with the Austin Civic Orchestra on its spring program. Winners will
also receive a scholarship support award. Students or teacher must
reside within  a 100-mile radius of the capitol in Austin. Applicants
must be 18 years of age or younger by the date of the live audition.
http://www.austincivicorchestra.org/ACO/Amster.html

Colonel George S. Howard Young Artist
Competition (D.C.)

The United States Air Force Band's Young Artist Competition is
open to high school woodwind, brass and percussion instrumentalists
in grades 10 through 12 who are citizens or legal permanent residents
of the United States. Applicants from all over the country submit
videotapes of themselves playing a specified selection for their instrument.
Finalists are then invited to a live audition in Washington, D.C. The
winner performs as a soloist with The United States Air Force Concert
Band during the Guest Artist Series at DAR Constitution Hall.

http://www.usafband.com/comp_young.cfm

Lewisville Lake Symphony Young Artist
Competition (Texas)

Students may reside anywhere in the United States. Areas of

c
ompetition are Piano, Strings, and Winds. Senior division of
competition-Grades 9-12. Junior division of competition-Grades 6-8.
Musicians compete for cash prizes and performance with the LLS.

http://www.lewisvillesymphony.org/new_page_1.htm

Ft. Worth Symphony Orchestra Young Artist
Competition (Texas)

http://www.fwsymphony.org/fwso0304/pages/edu_evteen.asp

Collin County Young Artist Competition
(Texas)

Sponsored by the Plano Symphony Orchestra
This annual Concerto competition is open to students who live or
attend school in Collin County or study music with a Collin County
teacher or PSO musician. Senior division – Grades 9-12.
Junior division – Grades 1-8.

http://www.planosymphony.org/learnmore/young.htm

The Blount-Slawson Young Artists Competition
Sponsored by the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra,
this competition is open to all musicians in the 7th through 12th
grades residing in and attending school in the United States.
http://www.montgomerysymphony.org/young_artists.htm

Mid-Columbia Symphony Young Artist Competition
Designed to promote and encourage talented musicians in the
Mid-Columbia region, this 8 division competition is open to instrumental
students through grade 12 and vocal students through age 22.

http://www.midcolumbiasymphony.org/education.htm

Tampa Bay Symphony Young Artist
Competition Open (
Florida)

Florida musicians up to age 21 may apply. Winner of competition
will perform a solo with the symphony on a concert and receive a
cash award.

http://tampabaysymphony.com/yac.htm

Young Artist Auditions
MSO Stars of Tomorrow (Wisconsin)

Open to all Wisconsin high school students, the Young Artist Auditions
are held annually for string, woodwind, brass, and percussion musicians.
The top three winners will have the honor of appearing as soloists with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at the Pabst Theater. Other outstanding contestants will be chosen as finalists or honorable mention winners to
play side-by-side with MSO musicians.

http://www.milwaukeesymphony.org/education/youngartistcompetition.asp

Florence Frager Young Artist Competition
(Missouri)

The competition is held in February and is open to high school orchestral instrumentalists. Each winner will receive an honorarium and will be a soloist

at the final regular concert, playing a movement from a concerto
accompanied by the Clayton Symphony Orchestra.

http://www.claytonsymphony.org/competition.html

New England Philharmonic Young Artists
Competition
 

The New England Philharmonic holds its Young Artists Competition each year

in October. The winner of the competition is invited to perform a movement of

his or her concerto with the New England Philharmonic. All musicians must be

18 years or younger and have not yet graduated from high school.

http://www.nephilharmonic.org/young_artists_competition.shtml

 

South Bend Symphony Orchestra Young Artist

Competition (Indiana)
Musicians compete for cash prizes and the opportunity to perform with

the orchestra.  Age: All students through their senior year in high school

are eligible. Applicants must reside in one of seven counties in Northern

Indiana and Southern Michigan.

http://www.southbendsymphony.org/pages/young_artist.htm

 

Peoria Symphony Guild Young Artist Competition

(Illinois)
This is open to young musicians in grade school through high school who

live within a 50-mile radius of Peoria. The winner is awarded the honor of

performing as soloist with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra at the annual

student concerts at the end of April and will receive the Alice Oakley Memorial Scholarship.
http://www.peoriasymphony.org/psoguild/youth_concerts/competition.html

California Youth Symphony Young Artist
Competition (California)

Open to any instrumentalist 18 years or younger. Generally one pianist
and one other instrumentalist are chosen to appear with the CYS and
each winner receives a cash prize of $200.
http://www.cys.org/html/competitions.html

Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition  (Idaho)
The purpose of this competition is to foster young artists with superior musical
abilities who reside in the Pacific Northwest. The three divisions for competition
are: Professional, Collegiate, and High School.

http://www.cdasymphony.org/yac.html

                 

                More to come!  Please bear with me as I continue to add to this website.
                           Check back frequently for regular additions and updates !
 
 

 

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Summer Music Camps

In my 11 years of teaching, I have found that students’ development is the greatest and most consistent when musical instruction is received
year round. 
Summer lessons are great, but  sometimes it is nice to have a brief change of pace, or receive new ideas from another teacher.
Here is a list of websites for summer music camps. See if you can find one to fit your student’s interests and budget

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A American Festival for the Arts 
Arrowbear Music Camp
Aspen Music Festival and School
TX    
CA
CO