UNA Percussion

As an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, the UNA Department of Music has much to offer--outstanding faculty, exceptional performing ensembles and quality degree programs, including professional degree programs in music education, general music, and music performance, as well as a liberal arts degree program in Music Business, and the nations first ever Percussion Specialist Certificate.

Opportunities for performance in music include both large and small ensembles in the University's band, choral, and orchestral ensembles. UNA percussionists study a range of styles including classical percussion, drumset, world percussion and marching percussion. The UNA Drumline were the winners of the 2013 PASIC Drumline Battle in Indianapolis. Students from the percussion studio remain active year round by also competing in DCI, DCA and WGI as well as attending events including the Leigh Howard Stevens Marimba Seminar, The Broadway Percussion Summit, winning the Taiwan Percussion Festival Collegiate Marimba Competition, and competing in the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Modern Snare Drum Competition.

About the Studio

Location: UNA is located in Florence, Alabama. Our location puts us within easy access of Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and Birmingham. In addition, there is a rich history with the recording industry right here in The Shoals area! The community is a great college town that helps to foster the camaraderie valued in the percussion program. Our location has also allowed students from UNA to take additional lessons with percussionists from many different areas near campus.

Degrees and Tracks: UNA offers a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Music Education, a Bachelor of Music in Performance, a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Instrumental or Choral Music, a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science in Entertainment Industry, the Certificate in Music: Percussion Specialist, and a Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in Music Education.

Lessons: All UNA percussionists take lessons ranging from half an hour to one and a half hours a week. These lessons focus on all aspects of performance, from orchestral, chamber and solo literature to drumset. A student graduating with a percussion degree from UNA will be comfortable performing a wide range of styles in any given setting. The size and variety of faculty experiences allows the students to take a wide range of lessons to explore and discover who they are as a musician.

Studio Class: In addition to the above, we hold a weekly studio class during which students perform for critique from their peers. The studio class also discusses topics ranging from the history of percussion to important new works in the percussion literature.

Guest Artists: Guest artists in various specialties, ranging from orchestral percussion to drumset artists, visit the percussion department at UNA during the year. The guest artists typically perform a solo recital and teach lessons in addition to presenting a masterclass for the percussion studio.

Equipment: The UNA Percussion Studio is housed in the Music Building. This building contains our extensive collection of instruments as well as lots of practice space for percussion majors!

Activity: UNA Percussion students get the opportunity to be active in many other outside areas as well. Students have attended festivals including the NYU Broadway Percussion Summit, The Leigh Howard Stevens Marimba Seminar, The UCF Summer Percussion Symposium, the Emory Percussion Symposium, and the Modern Snare Drum Competition. Our students have marched in and instructed a large number of WGI, DCI and DCA ensembles. Students have also studied composition, including having their works performed by groups here at UNA (and throughout the US)! UNA students are also encouraged to seek out performing opportunities in the region, including performances throughout the Shoals, numerous church and theater productions in the region, and even working and recording in the famed recording studios of the Shoals area!

The UNA Percussion Program Proudly Uses