Percussion workshops are classes or seminars aimed at teaching or improving percussionists’ skills, which can include drumming or playing any instrument that makes a sound when struck. There are a wide range of workshops available, catering to a wide range of percussion instruments and playing styles. Percussion workshops can take place in a formal setting, such as when teaching school-aged children how to play percussion instruments, or in a more informal setting, such as when people gather to play in a drum circle without receiving formal instruction.
Techniques for playing, as well as instrument care and lessons on how to play percussion with various instruments, will be taught in more formal percussion workshops, such as those catering to percussionists in a large symphony or school band. There may be lectures by well-known professionals in the field or prominent percussionists from large symphonies. Participants may be videotaped and have their style and technique critiqued by various teachers and professional percussionists in a more comprehensive workshop.
Some percussion workshops are more for entertainment and fun, and they cater to the casual percussionist who only plays as a hobby. These workshops are usually not as in-depth, but they may include specialized instruction on basic playing styles or how to make your own percussion instrument. Large group sessions in which participants play together in a free-form environment are common in more casual workshops that emphasize playing over teaching.
Percussion workshops are frequently included as part of muscle festivals and teach specialized styles or techniques in a short amount of time. The workshops are sometimes free or are included in the festival admission fee. Many of these workshops have themes that are specific to the festival’s musical offerings.
A percussion workshop can last anywhere from a few hours to several days. Some of the more casual workshops are only a day or two long. Professional or serious workshops may last longer, similar to those held at a summer camp. Percussion workshops are often used to refer to summer camps for percussionists. The styles of percussion workshops are as diverse as the muscle types available. Jazz, symphony, and marching band percussion are all common styles.
Workshops are offered by many high schools, universities, and professional drumming schools, especially during the summer months. Workshops are frequently advertised in the advertisements for music festivals. Many workshops are also advertised on the internet and in trade publications devoted to percussion instruments.