I-Jen Fang / Music

My dream idea is to take two to three students to the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) in Indianapolis, IN, November 20-22, 2014.

PASIC is the largest percussion event in the world featuring over 120 concerts, clinics, master classes, labs, workshops, panels and presentations. The finest artists from all over the world are invited to present and perform at PASIC. The program showcases all areas of percussion, including: drumset, marching, keyboard, symphonic, world, recreational, education, music technology, new music, and health & wellness.

I know none of my students have experienced anything like this in the field of percussion and I think this will be a great opportunity for them to explore all different aspects of percussion. The students who I will be taking are the ones participating in the UVA Percussion Ensemble, Charlottesville Symphony, and/or taking private percussion lessons with me. One of them is also interested in composing and has been writing for the UVA percussion ensemble since the first year he has been at UVA. There are percussion ensemble concerts performed by other universities or professional percussion groups. This will be a great opportunity for them to learn about composition techniques and experience different sound and instrument choices through these performances. Symphonic presentations will help them with their playing in the orchestra. Health and Wellness sessions will make them more aware of their postures while playing their instruments.

This is an opportunity for the students to watch the finest artists in our field to perform and to check out the latest inventions of percussion instruments. The PASIC attendees also get to visit the Rhythm! Discovery Center, the world’s foremost interactive percussion museum, for free during PASIC.

When we return, they will share their experiences with the percussion students taking private lessons, percussion ensemble, and orchestra in the Fall and the Spring semesters.

Also, the PASIC registration includes one year membership of Percussion Arts Society (PAS). The membership includes many useful learning tools on-line. PAS restrict membership area offers great resources for students to research about the pieces they are working on.

Budget:

PASIC Registration Fees for students $180 x 3 = $540
Round trip flights from Charlottesville, VA to Indianapolis, IN, Nov. 20-23, 2014, around $400 x 3 = $1,200
Hotel rooms, $160 per night x 3 = $450 x 2 rooms = $960Apple-picking excursion and end of semester dinner with entire percussion studio = $300

Total = around $3,000