| Dickerson Percussion A Tradition of Excellence |
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| About the Percussion Program |
| The percussion program at Dickerson Middle School consists of over 50 students. The students participate in 6th grade beginning percussion, one of two 7th grade bands, and one of two 8th grade bands. In addition, the students have the opportunity to participate in the Dickerson Percussion Ensemble and the Dickerson Jazz Band. As a part of their curriculum, the students develop technique and reading skills on snare drum, keyboard percussion, and timpani as well as study basic techniques for various accessory percussion, Latin and African percussion instruments, and drumset. The Dickerson Percussion Ensemble is an extra-curricular program which rehearses three times a week before school with occassional after school rehearsals and weekend camps with guest artists and clinicians. The ensemble gives several performances throughout the year including a prism concert with the Dickerson syphonic bands and ensembles in the fall and an "Evening of Percussion" in the spring. Past guest artists and clinicians include: Mike Lynch - Simpson Middle School, Lassiter High School Travis Downs - Tapp Middle School, McEachern High School David Starnes - Kennesaw Mountain High School Kari Klier - University of Alabama "Million Dollar Band" Nick Angelis - University of Cincinnati, Blast Jorge Simmonds - Atlanta Falcons House Band Mike Back - Walton High School Ralph Hardimon - DCI Hall Of Fame John Lawless - Kennesaw State University, Chattanooga Symphony Sonny Emory - Earth, Wind, & Fire Tony McCutchen - University of Georgia Lalo Davila - Middle Tennessee State University Glen Caruba - Nashville Recording Artist/Percussionist, world record holder for fastest bare hands Emil Richards - PAS Hall of Fame Kit Chatham - Cirque du Soleil Boomshaka from Northwestern University The percussion ensemble performs a wide variety of musical styles including: Japanese Taiko Ensemble, Brazilian Samba Band, and Latin, African, and Native American music as well as contemporary percussion ensemble music, xylophone rags, and marimba ensembles. A majority of the students in the program study percussion privately with prominent percussionists from the metro-Atlanta area. Several students each year are selected to participate in prestigious honor bands and camps including the University of Georgia Middle School Honor Band, the GMEA District 12 Middle School Honor Band, the Georgia Middle School All-State Band, and the Interlochen Arts Camp. |