Percussion

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Welcome to the percussion studio at the University of Colorado Boulder College of Music!

Our studio provides students with a comprehensive program of study designed to develop musicians with strong fundamental skills and sophisticated sensibilities applicable to any musical setting. The curriculum encompasses all aspects of percussion performance including orchestral percussion, timpani, solo marimba, chamber music, drum set, world percussion and contemporary practices. Students work with world-class artist-teachers in both private lessons and master class settings—an unparalleled experience in percussion training.

Private lessons + curriculum

Students study with accomplished faculty who are active performers, recording artists and dedicated educators. Private instruction goes beyond weekly lessons—professors are accessible and involved mentors, deeply committed to each student’s growth as both a musician and an individual. The curriculum is designed to foster growth in performance, pedagogy, technology, composition/arranging and improvisation, providing a comprehensive percussion education responsive to the ever-changing demands of the 21st-century musical landscape.

Weekly studio classes provide opportunities for students to perform in solo settings and participate in lectures on topics such as practicing techniques, interpretation, orchestral excerpts, contemporary performance practices and career preparation. These classes create a supportive environment where students develop their artistry while learning from both faculty and peers.

Recent and future guest artists include Marc Damoulakis and Paul Yancich of The Cleveland Orchestra; Matt Howard, principal percussion of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; Nate Morton, drum set player for the TV show “The Voice” and numerous major award shows across Los Angeles; Gwendolyn Dease, professor of percussion at Michigan State University; Svet Stoyanov, professor of percussion at the University of Miami; Mike Compitello, associate professor of percussion at Arizona State University; Jorge Alabe, world-renowned Brazilian percussionist and educator, and many others. Master classes and coaching sessions with distinguished professionals from major orchestras, ensembles and the commercial music industry provide students with diverse perspectives on the percussion profession.

Performance is at the heart of our curriculum. Students participate in the university’s large ensembles including orchestras and wind ensembles. Chamber music opportunities abound through the CU Boulder Percussion Ensemble, mixed chamber groups, student-formed ensembles and their own bands in the Boulder/Denver area.

All percussion students also participate in the Brazilian bateria ensemble, gaining immersive experience in Brazilian rhythmic traditions and world music practices. Additionally, students have the opportunity to audition for the Golden Buffalo Marching Band drum line and athletic bands.

Students regularly perform with professional organizations in the region including the Boulder Philharmonic, Fort Collins Symphony, Longmont Symphony, Colorado Ballet, the Boulder Samba School and many other ensembles. These opportunities provide invaluable real-world experience and professional networking while students are still in school.

Recital requirements vary by degree level. Undergraduate students present junior and senior recitals, while graduate students perform multiple recitals throughout their program. These performances take place in both formal concert hall settings and informal community events providing diverse experiences that prepare students for professional careers.

The percussion studio maintains a vast, world-class inventory of impeccably maintained percussion instruments and equipment. Students have access to eight dedicated percussion practice rooms, teaching studios and large rehearsal spaces designed specifically for percussion needs. 

From contemporary marimbas and professional timpani to an extensive collection of orchestral percussion, drum set equipment and world percussion instruments, the College of Music's percussion facilities rival those of any conservatory or music school in the country. 

Percussion facilities

Explore dedicated percussion practice rooms and large ensemble rehearsal spaces.

The percussion studio emphasizes careful attention to musical detail, collaborative skills and the development of technical proficiency paired with artistic expression. Through comprehensive training in all areas of percussion, students are equipped with the versatility and musical foundation necessary to excel as performers, educators and leaders in diverse professional settings—whether in orchestras, chamber ensembles, contemporary music groups, educational institutions or forging innovative creative paths in the 21st-century music world.

Michael Tetreault

Head of Percussion and Teaching Assistant Professor Michael Tetreault earned a BM from the Eastman School of Music in New York and an MMus from the Royal Academy of Music in London, United Kingdom. Tetreault is principal timpanist of the Central City Opera Orchestra, Boulder Chamber Orchestra and Fort Collins Symphony; principal percussionist of the Boulder Philharmonic and former assistant principal percussionist of the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. He has performed domestically and abroad with the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Toronto Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Central City Opera, Utah Symphony, Orchestre de Paris, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra (Dublin), Ulster Orchestra (Belfast), the Halle Orchestra (Manchester) and many others.MORE

Carl Dixon

Assistant Teaching Professor and versatile percussionist Carl Dixon is at home with music spanning multiple genres, continents and instruments. He can be found performing in concert halls, jazz clubs, dance parties, festival stages and street parades. At the College of Music, Dixon teaches percussion lessons to undergraduate and graduate students, and directs the Latin Jazz percussion ensemble and the Brazilian Bateria percussion ensemble. Dixon plays with the Brazilian music band Ginga and is principal percussionist of the Fort Collins Symphony and the Cheyenne Symphony, and percussionist with Opera Colorado; he has performed with the Colorado Symphony, Colorado Ballet, Central City Opera, Boulder Philharmonic, Colorado Springs Philharmonic and Greeley Philharmonic. Additionally, Dixon is the musical director of the Boulder Samba School and Bateria Alegria, a 20- to 30-member Brazilian drumming ensemble. MORE

Contact

Michael Tetreault
Associate Teaching Professor + Head of Percussion
michael.tetreault@colorado.edu

 

Upcoming brass + percussion events