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Updated on January 26, 2012
IU Jacobs School of Music
Summer Percussion Academy and Workshop 2012
July 8-14, 2012
Faculty: Keith Aleo, Kevin Bobo, Steve Houghton, Michael Spiro, John Tafoya, Liam Teague, and Cynthia Yeh.
More information on this summer event can be found at: http://music.indiana.edu/precollege/summer/percussion.
APPLY TODAY!
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra!
I had the pleasure of performing with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra last week - playing Ravel: Bolero, Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto, and Strauss: Also Sprach Zarathustra under the direction of Marin Alsop. Special thanks to Derek, John, and Brian (pictured above) -- I had a great time!
Repertoire included:
Barber Second Essay and Symphony No. 1, Bartok Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celeste, Beethoven Symphony No. 4 and 5, Brahms Piano Concerto and Symphony No. 1, Debussy La Mer, Dvorak New World Symphony, Mahler Symphony No. 1, Mozart Symphony No. 39, R. Korsakov Scheherazade, Shostakovich Symphony No. 11, Sibelius Finlandia and Symphonies 1 and 2, Stravinsky Firebird, Tchaikovsky Francesca di Rimini and Symphony No. 4
A BLAST from the PAST: Check out my previous PASIC adventures:
Sponsored by: Grover Pro Percussion,
Remo, Inc., and Yamaha Corporation Many thanks to ALL OF YOU who attended my clinic at PASIC!
NEW Tafoya Timpani Signature Timpani Mallets Available through Grover Pro Percussion!
via the Grover Pro Percussion Website.
Be sure to visit the Grover Pro Percussion Facebook site HERE. And BE SURE to CHECK THESE MALLETS out at PASIC!
These mallets have been designed to deliver a clear sound over a huge dynamic range. The bamboo is excellent and each mallet contains a rounded wood core. A terrific mallet and PERFECT for auditions!
Be sure to visit the Grover Pro Percussion Facebook site HERE. And BE SURE to CHECK THESE MALLETS out at PASIC!
These mallets have been designed to deliver a clear sound over a huge dynamic range. The bamboo is excellent and each mallet contains a rounded wood core. A terrific mallet and PERFECT for auditions!
AND IF that isn't ENOUGH . . .(!) A NEW BOOK! Check it Out!!
BEYOND The Audition Screen features 27 orchestral works currently requested at timpani auditions. The included CD-ROM contains the entire timpani parts (subject to copyright restrictions) in Adobe® Acrobat® PDF format for further study along with annotated forScore files for the Apple® iPad®.
Each page includes important items to consider in preparing each orchestral work. These observations are taken from John Tafoya's personal experience with orchestral timpani auditions and from his professional experiences in rehearsals and performances with world-renown conductors.
The reader will also enjoy a variety of musical and technical options presented in this book. Options include: edited dynamics, stickings, timpani mallet recommendations, illustrations, exercises, errata, extra notes, tempos, and an interesting section on timpani maintenance by Marshal E. Light, owner and manager of the American Drum Manufacturing Company.
- Patrick Schleker, Principal Timpanist, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra
- Mike Crusoe, Principal Timpanist, Seattle Symphony Orchestra
"Expert advice from a true master. All of the information that John Tafoya has compiled, from the interpretation ideas to timpani maintenance, makes this a fantastic resource for the percussion community."
"I find this book to be an excellent source for elevating one's musical awareness in performing the repertoire, which is the key to playing timpani."
Beyond the Audition Screen is available through HAL LEONARD Corporation
IU Summer Percussion Academy/Workshop 2011
was a TERRIFIC SUCCESS!
Check out the Official IU Jacobs School of Music Percussion Academy/Workshop Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/IU-Jacobs-School-of-Music-Summer-Percussion-Academy/128141840574377
Our Summer Percussion event this year featured IU faculty Kevin Bobo, Steve Houghton, Michael Spiro, and John Tafoya. Guest artists included Joel Brainard, The Caixa Trio (Julie Davila, Julie Hill, and Amy Smith), Will James, Mark Latimer, and She-e Wu. 30 participants from all over the U.S. attended masterclasses covering many areas of percussion. They were also treated to special evening concerts throughout the week (faculty recital, Caixa Trio concert with Steve Houghton, The "World of Percussion" with Michael Spiro, a band concert performance featuring Mark Latimer performing the first movement of the Oliverio Timpani Concerto No. 1 and the IU festival orchestra concert - Tovey/Urban Runway, Gershwin/Rhapsody in Blue, and Mahler Symphony No. 1.
NOI 2011
I had the pleasure of working with the super talented musicians of the National Orchestral Institute this week. They were featured in a terrific performance on Friday night, performing Brostrom: Twilight and Hall: Escape Velocity. Saturday night they will be performing Rudiger Pawassar's "Sculpture in Wood".
The IU Percussion Ensemble had a terrific concert season this year. Please check them out (click on the above photo).
I had a terrific experience working with the percussion students at FSU in Tallahassee, Florida this past week. BRAVO to Professor John Parks and the percussion studio at FSU! My visit began with a rather crazy masterclass on Sunday evening (after I had been on the road for 7 hours) followed by lessons, a special Seminar (with awesome brownies) and a class in which we went through the process of putting on a new timpani head. Special thanks to Matt Jordan - I still owe you some money for meals . . .
I had a terrific time in Tennessee - visiting the Blair School of Music (Vanderbilt University), UTM, and the University of Evansville. Special thanks to Mr. Bill Wiggins (Blair), Julie Hill (UTM), and Bill Shaltis (UE)!
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.
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.
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
Thanks for a TERRIFIC Week!!
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.
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.
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.
Purchase your pair of Maracastix today! Click HERE for more information.
Click HERE to view the Wikipedia Timpani webpage.
THE DRUM AND PERCUSSION COOKBOOK:
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!"
Here are a couple places that carry teflon tape:
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
Marion Rubber Company
Specific Information on the Teflon Tape:
Each roll is about $35 or so - Marion Rubber Company offers a "blister pack" - which is a package of 2 rolls.
IU Percussion Ensemble In Action
FSU Visit
Zildjian Score Magazine - Online
Check out the LATEST Zildjian Score Online Magazine Videos!
Tafoya in Tennessee!
Photo: University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM)Houghton and Tafoya BURN IT UP on Santorini!
IU Summer Percussion Academy and Workshop News
The World of Percussion Concert
NOI Percussionists ROCK during
The National Orchestral Institute began its Chamber Music Week on May 31 which included 2 percussion chamber performances (Hollinden: The Whole Toy Laid Down and Hollo: Jose Before John 5 on Saturday, June 5 as well as Burritt: Doomsday Machine and Fitkin: Hook on Sunday June 6) at the Clarice Performing Arts Center on the campus of the University of Maryland's School of Music.
Chamber Music Week!
(bottom row left to right): Karli, Katy, and Yours Truly].
Another Awesome Week at the Arizona MusicFest
The Timpani Supplement
More Pictures and Documents
by Edmund A. Bowles
Check out John Tafoya's Native American Percussion Debut(!) 
Preview The Working Timpanist's Survival Guide on Google Books!
You may now preview a portion of my book on the Google Book Search website located at: http://books.google.com/books and typing in the word Tafoya or click HERE to go directly to the book preview.
Ordering Maracastix just got easier!
Tafoya's Drums featured on Wikipedia
From Meredith Music Publications!
CREATIVE RECIPES FOR PLAYERS AND TEACHERS
edited by Rick Mattingly
ISBN 978-1-57463-101-2
Teflon Tape
A few people have Emailed me recently inquiring about teflon tape - primarly where to purchase it. The teflon tape used on the lip of timpani bowls (to act as a lubricant between the bowl lip and the head) is not the same kind of teflon tape you'll find at your local hardware store. 
Mr. Marshall E. Light
American Drum Manufacturing Co.
P.O. Box 40403
Denver, CO 80204
-highly recommended
web: www.lefima-usa.com.
Contact person: Becky Schneider
Indianapolis, IN
(317) 638-6525
3M Teflon Tape
model # R5480 JK 7105 77
3/4" width x 36 yards
Click HERE for previous "latest news" items (archives).