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The percussion program at Episcopal Collegiate School offers students unparalleled musical experiences, including exclusive opportunities to learn from and perform alongside world-renowned guest artists. These special appearances allow students to engage with top-tier musicians, gaining insight and inspiration from experts in the field. The program also exposes students to advanced music genres and techniques typically found only at the collegiate level, giving them a unique advantage in their musical development. By combining these exceptional opportunities with a strong foundation in music education, the program fosters lifelong musicianship, nurtures a love for music, and instills a deep appreciation for the arts that extends into students' lives and communities.
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A Unique approach
Experiencing Music through Percussion
The percussion classes at Episcopal Collegiate School are unique in their structure and composition. Rather than the group being a subset of the larger music program, the percussion ensembles are stand-alone courses focused on the development of young musicians. Beginning in sixth grade, students graduate through three levels of percussion, learning to read music and perform on all the instruments within the percussion family, including concert percussion, drum set, and steel drums. Through the various performing ensembles within the percussion program, our students perform in the community, educate audiences, and build the foundation for a life rich in the arts.
Our Program
Steel Band
The Episcopal Steelcats perform across Arkansas, including with the Arkansas Symphony, at the state Capitol's tree lighting, and on KUAR’s Live at Laman. Their 2012 CD, Live at Laman, features calypso, soca, and pop tunes, with recent performances at Wildwood, Beethoven & Blue Jeans, and Arkansas Children's Hospital.
African Drumming & Dance
Sixth-grade percussionists begin with hand drumming, learning technique, group performance, and listening skills. Every two years, they study Ghanaian drumming and xylophone traditions with Dr. Mike Vercelli from West Virginia University.
Ragtime Marimba Band
Intermediate percussion students explore 1920s Ragtime xylophone music and have scored two Buster Keaton silent films, The Balloonatic and The Boat. Recent guest artists include Bob Becker, Dr. Ryan Lewis, and Jon Singer.