PanTropic!
Student and Adult Ensembles
PanTropic Percussion Studio is a steel pan student group that plays music from the Caribbean, Reggae, Classic Rock and Pop Music. Participants learn to play the lead "Low C" pan. Students can also participate by playing the marimba, vibes, bass (using a MalletKat), congas and drum set. Space is limited to 5 steel pans, marimba, vibes, 1 conga/percussion player and 1 Drum set.
We have three levels of participation.
Beginner- no experience necessary ages 12 and up.
Teen- Participants have a music background. This group is generally made up of students who are in their school band or orchestra and play a wind, percussion, piano or guitar.
Adult- No experience necessary.
PanDemic, formerly named Pulse Percussion, has played at country fairs, malls and minor league baseball stadiums. Often the group has guest performers who are professional percussionists. Past guests were Broadway percussionists and Grammy nominated jazz artists. We are located in the Hillsborough, NJ and service the Somerset, Union and Middlesex counties.
Youth Orchestra Of Central Jersey
We provide the YOCJ with serious percussionists who are interested in advancing their classical percussion skills. Students will participate in a large ensemble (Orchestra or Wind Ensemble and a percussion ensemble).
The Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey brings together some of the finest young musicians in our region to participate and excel in a nurturing and challenging musical environment. Over 200 elementary through high school students, all of whom take private lessons and participate in their schools’ music programs, make up its fourteen performance groups. There are three levels for strings: String Preparatory Orchestra, Pro Arte Orchestra, and the advanced Symphonic Orchestra. There is a Wind Symphony and many small ensembles for brass, percussion, saxophone, flute, and woodwind students. Rehearsals take place on Tuesday evenings from October through May at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North. Auditions for new students are held in January, June and September.
YOCJ.ORG
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Snare Drum: short etude; sight-reading
Two Timpani: short etude; sight-reading; demonstrate tuning
Mallet Instrument: short etude; sight-reading
Sight reading; including knowledge of note names, sharps and flats
Recommended audition material can consist of excerpts from:
New Jersey Region audition
Orchestral experts
Classical etudes from Modern Studies and Etudes for the Total Percussionist
Snare Drum- Portraits In Rhythm, Podemski
Keyboard Percussion- Classical sonatas from Corelli, Handel, etc.
Modern from School for Xylophone, Marimba, and Vibraphone
Timpani- Etudes from Modern Method for Timpani, Exercises, Etudes and Solos for the Timpani by Raynor Carroll
Students are welcome to audition on 2 out of 3 of the percussion instruments required.
Students auditioning on all three components of percussion will receive stronger consideration for acceptance.
Holiday Percussion
Holiday Percussion
Holiday Percussion is the largest mass inter generational percussion ensemble in New Jersey and possible the country! We feature percussionists performing Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa music on marimba, bells, xylophone, vibraphone, drums, timpani and more! Last year we've had over 45 participants come from over 15 different towns throughout New Jersey. They came from as far south as Glassboro, NJ and as far north as Basking Ridge. Participants ranged in age from 10 years old to 55. We also have several local professionals join us as well. It is a fun event for all ages!
Dates coming soon!
