This elective is designed to give composers and percussionists comprehensive understanding of historic and current trends with regard to percussion composition and arranging. Instruction will be given in a group class format and will incorporate notation, classification of instruments, and arranging techniques (density and weight) as well as historic analysis of scores by leading composers of percussion.  The student will compose compositions for mallet ensembles, including the arranging of classical transcriptions, mixed percussion ensembles, and solo percussion.

By the end of this course, students should be able to:
1. Analyze and internalize historic and current trends in percussion composition.
2. Compose specific musical examples utilizing key concepts, styles and theories in percussion literature.
3. Think, write and argue with these key concepts, themes and theories.
4. Reflect on and discuss your own learning as it relates to the subject matter of the course.

Indicative Assessment: Presentation of comprehensive, annotated portfolio of observations and materials (20%), One arrangement/adaptation of classical work for Percussion Ensemble (40%) One original composition for Percussion Ensemble (40%)

Contact time: 1.5 hours per week, assignment preparation 1 - 3 hours per week.

By Interview

High level analysis and theoretical skills in western music composition.

Cook, Gary D., Teaching Percussion, Schirmer Books, 1988.
Schietroma, Robert, Percussion Ensemble Arranging, RonJon Publishing, 1996.

N/A