Updated on July 20, 2010

Houghton and Tafoya BURN IT UP on Santorini!

Steve Houghton and John Tafoya premiered "Santorini"- a duet for drum set and timpani by Steve Houghton. This piece was part of the IU Summer Percussion Academy/Workshop's Faculty Recital which took place Monday, July 19 in Auer Hall. Other performers included Kevin Bobo, John Kilkenny, Michael Spiro, and the Steve Houghton Jazz Trio.

IU Summer Percussion Academy and Workshop News

The World of Percussion Concert

The IU Summer Percussion Academy/Workshop got off to a GREAT START this evening with "The World of Percussion" concert - featuring our counselors and staff performing solos and duets. The second half of the program featured Michael Spiro showcasing our Steel Pan, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian Ensembles.

For information on this summer event click HERE

The IU Summer Percussion Academy/Workshop faculty will be featured in a recital tomorrow (Monday, 7/19) evening at 7 pm in Auer Hall.

NOI Percussionists ROCK during
Chamber Music Week!

The NOI Percussionists were AWESOME this year! Performing the above repertoire at an incredibly high level!

[Pictured (left to right top row): Elliot, Nick, and Joe
(bottom row left to right): Karli, Katy, and Yours Truly].

Thanks for a TERRIFIC Week!!

Another Awesome Week at the Arizona MusicFest

I had the opportunity to perform as principal timpanist for the Arizona MusicFest Orchestra (Scottsdale, AZ) during the week of February 21st. The orchestra, under the direction of Robert Moody, performed 4 concerts (12 services!) and included orchestral musicians from major symphony orchestras.

The Timpani Supplement

Timpani enthusiasts will WANT to pick up this book - which includes a few photos of my instruments as well!

Order it HERE on Amazon.com.

Check out John Tafoya's Native American Percussion Debut(!)

Be sure to check out David Patterson's work, "Beaver Moon" -- taken from a recent recording session with Native American Flutist James Pellerite.

Click HERE to listen to this recording.

Indiana University Jacobs School of Music percussion students had a terrific time at PASIC (held in Indianapolis) this year. There was a significant "IU Presence", with several students earning awards.

Christopher Latournes was named Winner of the PASIC Orchestral Percussion Mock Audition. The judges included professional musicians from the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, and U.S. "President's Own" Marine Band.

Nick Taylor was awarded First Place in the PASIC Marching Festival Individual Competition, Collegiate Snare Drum Category, after performing a unique and awe-inspiring solo.

Colin Hill received a Second Place award in the highly competitive PASIC Marching Festival Individual Competition, Collegiate Keyboard Category.

Separate from the specific awards, the IU Drumline, under the direction of Joel Brainard, performed in the College Standstill Exhibition as part of the Marching Percussion Festival at PASIC. Although this was an exhibition, the drumline was adjudicated by the nation's most reputable marching percussion teachers and arrangers. The audience cheered as the IU Drumline loosened up the crowd, and demonstrated how much fun it can be to perform in a college drumline.

Finally, the Indiana University Latin Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Michael Spiro was featured in a special performance for the Hall of Fame Celebration, and had the entire crowd of distinguished guests and artists on their feet, applauding their stellar performance.

BRAVO to all the wonderful efforts of the IU percussion students!

Equally inspiring was the leadership of Steve Houghton, President of PAS. He worked on the planning of PASIC for the last year, developed the incredible PAS museum, was involved in the Ribbon cutting for the Grand Opening of Rhythm! Discovery Center, and was a keynote speaker on behalf of PAS. He presided over 2 PAS Board of Directors meetings; presenting budgets and bylaw changes. Steve also attended countless meetings with PAS committees and chapters, met with a number of artists invited to perform at PASIC, and presided over the PAS awards ceremony at the Thursday evening concert. Steve also presided over the Hall Of Fame Celebration and announced the awards at the Friday evening concert. He met regularly with Industry folks throughout the conference and welcomed the audience to the Saturday evening concert. Bravo (and thanks!) to Steve Houghton!

Want to read more!

Please be sure to check out the "News and Events" section of the IU Jacobs School of Music Department Website at: http://www.music.indiana.edu/department/percussion/news.shtml.

Those of you who want to look back at some previous PASICs - click HERE.

Order The Working Timpanist's Survival Guide at a Discount!

Discounted Price: $27.50 (shipping included to anywhere in the Continental U.S.). International shipping will require additional funds. Please email me for details.

ORDER this via PayPal today!

Preview The Working Timpanist's Survival Guide on Google Books!

Ordering Maracastix just got easier!

Purchase your pair of Maracastix today! Click HERE for more details or for prompt payment via PayPal or with a major credit card, click the button below:

Special thanks to all of our summer percussion academy/workshop faculty: Kevin Bobo, Christopher Deviney, Steve Houghton, John Kilkenny, Stanton Moore, Michael Spiro, Leigh Howard Stevens, and John Tafoya.

Information on the 2010 IU Summer Percussion Academy/Workshop will be posted within the next month or so at: http://www.music.indiana.edu/special_programs/summer_percussion or email John Tafoya at johntafoya@aol.com for more information.

NATIONAL ORCHESTRAL INSTITUTE 2009

NOI Percussion Section Photo (left to right): Rob, Alison, Joe N., Joe L., Katy, Ross, and Yours Truly...

Another great chamber music week with some incredibly talented percussionists at the National Orchestral Institute in College Park, Maryland. During this past week the NOI percussion section rehearsed and performed Dave Hollinden's "The Whole Toy Laid Down", Bruce Hamilton's "Raptures of Undream", Nigel Westlake's "Omphalo Centric Lecture", and Part 2 of Daniel Levitan's Marimba Quartet. They will also perform "Ogoun Badagris" by Christopher Rouse later in the festival.

For more information on upcoming NOI performances please check out: http://www.music.umd.edu/special_programs/national_orchestral_institute/.

From February 23 - March 1, 2009 I had the good fortune to be part of the 2009 Arizona MusicFest held in Scottsdale, Arizona (Robert Moody, Music Director). The final week of this impressive winter music festival included 4 orchestra concerts (Brahms: Symphony No. 1, Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, Vaughan Williams: Dona Nobis Pacem, Dvorak: Cello Concerto with Lynn Harrell). During the week I also had the opportunity to work with the very talented students at Arizona State University (Prof. J.B. Smith, host) and the University of Arizona in Tuscon, AZ (Prof. Norman Weinberg, host).

2009 AZ MusicFest Percussion Section: Benjamin Irons, Jim Nelson, John Tafoya, Steve Fitch, and Matthew Darling

More Rave Reviews for the IU Percussion Ensemble!

Check out the IU Percussion Department's website for the latest IU percussion news.

Click HERE to visit the IU Percussion Ensemble's website.

Tafoya's Drums featured on Wikipedia

Click HERE to view the Wikipedia Timpani webpage.

NEW from Meredith Music Publications!

THE DRUM AND PERCUSSION COOKBOOK:
CREATIVE RECIPES FOR PLAYERS AND TEACHERS
edited by Rick Mattingly
ISBN 978-1-57463-101-2

This valuable collection of quick-to-read yet deeply insightful strategies is like finding expert trade secrets all placed in one easy, quick-to-read source. Contributors to the book were even eager to get a look at each other's ideas! With outstanding records of performance, workshop clinics, recordings, research, composition, leadership, and teaching, the 57 authors provide their favorite "recipes" that cover an extreme range of topics from rudiments to rock, drum set to symphonic playing and keyboard percussion to interpretation.

Contributing authors include: Kenny Aronoff, Anders Astrand, John H. Beck, Michael Burritt, Bill Cahn, James Campbell, Anthony Cirone, Christopher Deane, Robin Engelman, Peter Erskine, Mark Ford, Danny Gottlieb, Gordon Gottlieb, Neil Grover, Rich Holly, Steve Houghton, Glenn Kotche, William Moersch, Jeff Moore, Al Payson, Michael Rosen, Ed Saindon, Dave Samuels, Ed Shaughnessy, Ed Soph, John Tafoya, Garwood Whaley, She-e Wu, and MANY OTHERS!!!

For more information go to: http://www.meredithmusic.com/ and click on "What's New!"

Tafoya joins facebook

In an effort to keep up with the current trends (still trying to be cool ...) I have recently joined facebook. I never knew I had so many friends!

Teflon Tape

Here are a couple places that carry teflon tape:

Mr. Marshall E. Light
American Drum Manufacturing Co.
P.O. Box 40403
Denver, CO 80204
-highly recommended

Lefima (USA) now has a kit available w/ Teflon Tape, Teflon Aerosol Spray, Grease & Grease Gun for grease fittings. Also available separately. Prices on request. Contact Everett M. Beale, U.S. Agent. Tel/Fax: 978-649-7685
web: www.lefima-usa.com.

Marion Rubber Company
Contact person: Becky Schneider
Indianapolis, IN
(317) 638-6525

Specific Information on the Teflon Tape:
3M Teflon Tape
model # R5480 JK 7105 77
3/4" width x 36 yards

Each roll is about $35 or so - Marion Rubber Company offers a "blister pack" - which is a package of 2 rolls.

Click HERE for previous "latest news" items (archives).