Welcome to the Percussion Studies page on the Northern Arizona University School of Music website!  You are invited to browse through our pages for insights into the percussion studies program at NAU, upcoming events, audition dates & help, contact information, and more.

The School of Music at NAU is dedicated to the undergraduate experience, maintaining advantageous student access to faculty and facilities.  With only 19,000 students (approximately 300 music majors), classes are small and opportunities are outstanding.  NAU is known for its comprehensive music education program, while performance degrees are supported with rich ensemble and recital performance opportunities.

NAU percussion studies focus both on quality performance experiences and the pedagogical theory behind those performances.  Because of extensive individual attention, percussion students share the opportunity to benefit from hands-on experiences in keyboard percussion, timpani, snare drum, auxiliary and orchestral percussion, multiple percussion, African drumming, steel drum ensemble, Brazilian batucada, Latin percussion & frame drumming, and a whole world of percussion ensemble and chamber music literature.  Weekly master classes and visiting guest artists support and intensify our students’ well-rounded course of study, engaging them musically and intellectually.

The Wind Symphony, the NAU Symphony Orchestra, the NAU Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble I, the NAU Percussion Ensemble, and the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, are just a few of the music ensembles that invite and challenge your musical contributions.  Our outstanding conductors and performing faculty dedicate themselves to creating and providing each student with a far-reaching musical education based on rigor, challenge, artistry, distinction, and accomplishment.

Graduate studies in performance and music education center on the career goals and musical needs of the individual.  Teaching opportunities are available in the marching percussion program, the percussion ensemble program, the Percussion Techniques I & II courses, and with the Preparatory School in the College of Arts and Letters.  Performing is at the core of education for the graduate percussion student, where leadership opportunities abound within the ensemble community.  Please inquire about our scholarship and assistantship opportunities in the NAU Percussion Studies graduate program.

The beauty of Flagstaff, Arizona inspires the artistic spirit and encourages the pursuit of dreams.  We hope that you will contact us about becoming a member of the NAU Percussion Studies program and the School of Music family.

Sincerely,

Dr. Steve Hemphill

Professor of Music

Director of Percussion Studies

E-Mail: Steven.Hemphill@nau.edu

Office Phone: (928) 523-3739