RNCM PERCUSSION DAYS (RNCM News, March 2002)On Sunday 3rd February 2002, the RNCM Percussion Department celebrated the tenth anniversary of its annual Percussion Day. The event was inaugurated in 1993 as a one-day festival of percussion which would hopefully be of interest to percussionists of all ages and abilities. In this it has been resoundingly successful, growing from an initial attendance of 180 in 1993 to over 400 at the most recent one. It is the only regular event of its kind in Britain and as such, attracts percussionists from all parts of the country, Ireland, Scotland and occasionally Europe.
This year's event was highlighted by the appearance of Keiko Abe from Japan, probably the world's best known and most popular marimba player. She presented a masterclass in the morning and performed a concert of her own compositions in the evening, several of which included RNCM percussionists. Both sessions were fascinating explorations of her writing, spanning a period of some thirty years, and the concert included two works which were being performed for the first time in the UK. Her direct and highly effective teaching style, with its emphasis on musical line and sound, was much appreciated by the audience which filled the Brown Shipley Concert Hall.
The ten Percussion Days have seen some 70 masterclasses and concerts, given by RNCM staff tutors and artists from the UK, Europe, the United States and around the world. A very broad range of percussion instruments and styles has been covered in these sessions. Most of the orchestral instruments have been examined in detail (timpani, tuned percussion, snare drum, cymbals, tambourine, bass drum) and world percussion sessions have included djembe, gamelan, tabla, bodhran and African drumming. Drumkit is featured in every Percussion Day and Latin percussion is often included. Ed Thigpen, for many years Oscar Petersen's drummer, gave a masterclass in 1997 and Birger Sulsbruck from Denmark, the renowned Latin percussion player and teacher, has appeared in concert twice with the RNCM Big Band. The popular solo percussion instruments, marimba and vibraphone, have appeared regularly. As well as Keiko Abe, marimba soloists have included Nebojsa Zivkovic (Germany), Robert van Sice (US) and Eric Sammut (France). On vibraphone, we have had Victor Mendoza (US), Ney Rosauro (Brazil) and Arthur Lipner (US). Percussion ensemble has featured in many Percussion Days, with participants from school, college and professional levels.Over the ten years, 21 companies have supported the Percussion Days with sponsorship, this being a vital part of the financial equation. It enables the admission prices to be kept low and there is always a substantial discount for early and party bookings. Two of the companies have carried the relationship further and very generously donated instruments for the use of the RNCM students - cymbals from Sabian; a five-octave marimba, vibraphone and xylophone from Yamaha. Many more companies have exhibited their products at Percussion Days and their support is also much appreciated.
For the first time this year, "drop in" clinics were added to the usual programmes of six one-hour sessions plus an evening concert. Dave Hassell (drumkit and Latin) and Liz Gilliver (tuned percussion), both RNCM tutors, held open sessions on their specialist subjects. Members of the percussion public were invited to drop in to ask for advice on their playing or just to ask Dave or Liz a question. This was judged a success and is likely to continue in future years.
The Percussive Arts Society (the international percussion organisation based in the United States) recognised the tenth anniversary with a letter of appreciation from their president, James Campbell. This was delivered in person by Ian Turnbull, a member of the PAS Board.
Percussion Days are important events for the RNCM percussionists, who find out about new repertoire and techniques from around the world. Many of the artists have returned at other times to teach and perform at the RNCM. Percussion has accelerated towards centre stage in the last half century and it is a vital part of the curriculum for the students to broaden their percussion knowledge on an international front.
But above all, these events are designed to be both educational and entertaining for the percussionists from outside College who attend for a host of different reasons, not least to meet up with their percussion friends. Long may their support continue and the RNCM Percussion Day go from strength to strength!
Ian Wright
Director of Percussion Studies, RNCM