World Percussion Committee

Chair: Kenyon Williams, E-mail: willdrum@mnstate.edu
The World Percussion Committee works to promote and enhance the intellectual and artistic discourse in the field of world percussion music. The committee provides unique opportunities and forums for percussion students, educators, and artists across the globe through PAS to expand their cross-cultural awareness, musicianship, and understanding of world percussion traditions.

Committee Report and PASIC 2007 Meeting Minutes
Submitted January 15, 2008
by World Percussion Committee Chair Kenyon Williams

The World Percussion Committee pursued a variety of projects during 2007. At their PASIC 2007 committee meetings, the committee also debated, approved, and forwarded to the PAS Executive Committee a proposal for the creation of a High School/Collegiate World Percussion Ensemble Showcase Performance category for PASIC. Also, debated and approved to forward as a possible panel discussion topic for PASIC 2008 was The Influence of Non-Western Music on Western Percussionists: All Paths Lead to World Additionally, the committee endorsed the recommendation by Ken Dalluge not to pursue a PAS World Percussion Teacher Training Seminar at this time. Committee member Allen Teel was encouraged to begin pursuing the possibility of a PAS strategic partnership with the Smithsonian Institution/Folkways Recordings to bring Folkways artists/ensembles to PASIC with Smithsonian support. Also at PASIC 2007, Barry Dove presented a self-produced, well-received video tribute to John Wyre, founding chair of the World Percussion Committee.

The committee additionally made a special effort to publicize study abroad opportunities for non-Western percussion study via the PAS Website and Percussion News. Via e-mail, the committee confirmed its membership and voted to clarify a variety of committee procedures, namely: selection of PASIC reviewers, elimination of standing subcommittees, elimination of theme PASIC concepts, and elimination of a WPC member self-nominating PASIC proposal category.

PASIC 2007 Meetings Minutes

Committee Members Present:

Committee Members Present on Thursday, Nov. 1^st: Jeff Jones, Allen Teel, Sean Daniels, Kerry Greene, Dave Wonsey, Josh Jennings, Jim Carey, Julie Hill, Mike Vercelli, Barry Dove, Paschal Younge, Ken Dalluge, Stan Dahl, Miguel Castro, Valerie Naranjo, and Kenyon Williams.

Committee Members Present on Saturday, Nov. 3^rd: Allen Teel, Julie Hill, Barry Dove, Ken Dalluge, Stan Dahl, John Yost, Michael Williams, Kerry Greene, Chris Sampson, N. Scott Robinson, Patrick Cooperman, Chris Tanner, and Kenyon Williams.

Committee Meeting Agendas and Minutes:

(minutes are in italics)

1. General Business

   1. Recognition and thank-you to Immediate Past Chair, Dr. Younge

   2. Updating of Committee Membership/Contact Information

   3. Reminder of John Wyre memorial, 4pm Friday, Convention Center C223

      1. Special thanks to Barry Dove

2. Selection of a Panel Discussion Topic for PASIC 2008

   1. Clarifications of rules for panels (1 year on, 1 year off, not an official PASIC appearance, 4-5 members, mix of new and familiar faces)

   2. Potential Panel Topics

      1. Exploring World Percussion Abroad. A discussion of varying approaches to exploring non-Western music outside of the United States. Potential topics could include: cultural adaptation issues (both as a tourist and as a student facing new pedagogical approaches), locating quality native instructors and musical environments, preparing for the trip, safety concerns, etc. Panelists would include group study/tour organizers and individuals who have explored one or more non-native cultures on their own.

      2. Other proposals: The Influence of Non-Western Music on Western Percussionists: All Paths Lead to World. A panel made-up of first generation exploring percussionists who were trained in the Western classical tradition but then were exposed to and became highly proficient in a non-Western musical form. Potential panelists proposed: Glen Velez, Bob Becker, Phil Faini, Al O' Connor, Emil Richards, etc. Discussion topics: how did they first become exposed to this music? How did they pursue it? How did they go about teaching/performing/spreading it here in the US? In which ways did it impact their careers? How did it impact their perceptions of music, culture, life, etc?

Committee briefly discussed the creation of a clinic/performance honoring the career and impact of John Bergamo. Performing artists (friends and students of John' s) would be invited to perform a piece and relate to the audience how John impacted their lives. It was noted that this could give an opportunity for a few of that year' s panelists to perform. Chris Sampson agreed to forward a proposal by Dec. 17^th.

All Paths Lead Outward was approved for nomination. Chris Sampson agreed to forward a proposal by Dec. 17^th (specific panel members do not need to be finalized until August of 2008).

3. Status report by Ken Dalluge regarding his findings and recommendations for a PAS World Percussion Teacher Training Seminar. Committee voiced its' appreciation for Ken' s hard work and ultimate decision not to pursue the WPTTS at this time.

4. Proposal: The creation of a High School/Collegiate World Percussion Ensemble Showcase Performance category for PASIC. After considerable discussion that took-up most of the committee' s agenda for Thursday and Saturday, the committee voted approval for the proposal. The proposal was forwarded to the PAS Executive via Vice President Lisa Rogers on Nov. 19^th, 2007.

5. Clarification of committee votes from PASIC 2006.

6. Reminder about nomination of future non-U.S. based ensembles and soloists for PASIC/status of committee grant applications for bringing these artists to PASIC.

7. Other business.

   
   

The committee was given notice that the President Elect of PAS, Steve Houghton, has made it clear that he feels the focus of his term will be the expansion of PAS beyond academia and into the community. Furthermore, he feels that the World Committee should be a key factor in that outreach effort. The Committee was advised that next year' s meeting will focus upon ideas to support this strategy.

The committee was informed that issues listed in the agenda, but not addressed at PASIC will be forwarded to them for e-mail voting.