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Percussion
study at the University of Delaware is centered around building strong
fundamentals on snare drum, timpani, and keyboard mallet instruments, as
well as the entire family of orchestral percussion. These skills are
put to use every day in our Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and
Percussion Ensembles. We also believe that today's market, whether it be
music education, music performance or the business of music, requires
additional skills in marching percussion, Latin percussion, steel band
and jazz improvisation on both drum set and keyboard mallet instruments.
We have assembled what we believe to be the top faculty in the
country. Percussion students at UD learn improvisation in the first
semester of their freshman year and continue through their last semester
of study. This important skill, along with a strong emphasis on sight
reading and technique, helps mold our students into thinking, performing
and musical percussionists.
​Percussion studies at UD consist of four major areas:
Percussion students participate in ensembles throughout the
department, as well as Percussion Ensemble, Marimba Ensemble and
Delaware Steel, UD's steel band ensemble. Delaware Steel also hosts an
annual Steel Band Festival each spring.