The first annual Northwest Percussion Project was held at Pullman High School in Pullman, Washington and was a huge success, seeing almost 130 participants and volunteers, some of whom traveled from as far away as Seattle to take part in this year’s event.

The Northwest Percussion Project is a completely hands-on percussion experience for students in 5th grade through high school, music teachers and anyone else interested in learning about the fundamentals of percussion. Participants are divided into groups by age, and take part in workshop sessions in all areas of percussion that are tailored to their abilities and interests. The goal is to provide all participants with useful information that they can take back to their own musical situations.

Sessions were presented by Dan Bukvich (University of Idaho), Dave Jarvis (Washington State University), Spencer Martin (Whitman College), Edward Littlefield (Artist & Educator) and Quentin DeWitt (Percussion Educator & Artist). The topics included stick technique, timpani fundmentals, mallet percussion fundamentals, drum tuning, concert percussion, drumset styles and hand percussion. The event concluded with all participants coming together into a massed percussion ensemble, where they learned and performed a piece for their parents and friends to close things up for the day. This event was organized by Quentin DeWitt and sponsored in part by Pearl, Adams, Sabian, Aquarian, Vic Firth, DrumDial and Keeney Bros. Music Centers,Inc. Next year’s Northwest Percussion Project is planned for March 10th, 2007.

For more information, visit www.NorthwestPercussionProject.com/npp.htm

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