Undergraduate Percussion
Undergraduate Percussion
In the percussion studio at University of North Carolina School of the Arts, it’s all about finding your own rhythm. Being a student in the undergraduate percussion program means one-on-one private lessons, weekly studio master classes and ample opportunities to perform.
Bachelor of Music
Instrument Study
Explore repertoire for snare drum, keyboard percussion, timpani, multi-percussion,
and theatrical percussion with Dr. Ksenija Komljenović. You may also choose to dive into Afro-Cuban drumming with Mr. John R. Beck, or study drum set with Alan Hall, our new drum set instructor.
Each year, 5–10 guest artists and clinicians visit the studio, offering fresh perspectives
and inspiring new ideas. Students have the option to present a recital, gaining experience
in shaping a full program and sharing their artistry with an audience.
Performance
Performance is at the heart of the UNCSA experience. Every week, students and faculty
gather for Performance Hour to share music across a wide range of styles and genres.
Opportunities to perform include chamber music, orchestra, wind ensemble, symphonic
winds, big band, jazz combo, and nu ensemble. Students may also compete in the annual
concerto competition.
The percussion ensemble offers a chance to explore contemporary music repertoire as
well as arrange and perform works for our popular Spring concert, a sold-out event
that has become a highlight of the year for both the studio and its audiences.
Academics
First–Second Years
The first two years focus on private lessons, master classes, and ensemble performance,
alongside foundational studies in music theory, aural and keyboard skills, musical
styles, and a career-introductory course Professional Pathways for Musicians.
Students also take liberal arts courses in English, math or science, and the humanities.
Weekly Performance Hour continues through the third year, offering opportunities to
perform and experience a wide range of music.
Third–Fourth Years
In the third and fourth years, students continue liberal arts coursework, music history,
and career development classes. Fourth-year students complete a capstone recital,
first in a juried hearing and then in public performance.
Graduating students may also take Career Strategies for Percussionists, a one-semester course designed to prepare them for professional life. The course
explores a range of career paths and provides practical guidance tailored to each
student’s goals.
Careers
Graduates pursue a wide range of paths, including performing in orchestras, military
bands, jazz ensembles, teaching, freelancing, composing, or continuing their studies
in graduate programs.