# Program Information ## Mission Statement > *To prepare students to become well-rounded percussionists who are excellent performers, knowledgeable in the history, literature and pedagogy of their craft, and are conscientious “thinking” (creative, intuitive and problem solving) percussionists.* ## Location The UNLV Percussion Area is located in the Alta Ham Fine Arts and Beam Music Center Buildings on the northeast corner of the Main Campus along Maryland Parkway. ## Contact **Email:** [email protected] **Phone:** (702) 895-3332 (Music Office Line) _sub-units and faculty do not have phone lines_ **Mailing Address:** School of Music University of Nevada, Las Vegas Mail Stop: 5025 4505 S. Maryland Pkwy. Las Vegas, NV 89154 ## Operating Hours Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. ## Brief Program Overview ### A long road in the desert... In 1989, Dr. Dean Gronemeier began building one of the most prolific percussion programs on the West Coast and in the United States. Over 35 years, UNLV Percussion has produced more than 15 collegiate professors, one rockstar — Ronnie Vannucci Jr. of The Killers — numerous Drum and Bugle Corps greats, Blue Man Group and Cirque du Soleil musicians, and a myriad of successful percussionists enjoying fulfilling performance and professional careers. ### Day-to-Day Percussion majors take private lessons and world percussion classes; perform in Brazilian Ensemble, Marimba Band, Steel Band, and Percussion Ensemble; and play in large department ensembles including Wind Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Band, NEXTET, Marching Band, and UNLV Opera Theatre. All percussion majors perform as soloists each semester and present recitals that apply directly to their degrees. Intense pedagogy sessions, graduate-level literature, and percussion history courses build a strong foundation for future educators. Our ensembles tour and perform publicly on a regular basis. We are active in the Las Vegas corporate performance scene and in recording projects. ### Our Philosophy & Concepts Our primary focus is creating "thinking percussionists" — a simple concept UNLV Percussion has cultivated for three decades, with remarkable outcomes for its students. Experiential learning — awareness and critical assessment of music's technical, mental, and emotional challenges — is the core of our pedagogy. Through a demanding psychological approach to playing and teaching, students develop a heightened understanding of the simple yet profound concept of "what is." We encourage every percussionist to develop their own voice and identity behind their instruments, cultivated through historically and culturally informed perspectives from our faculty, Artists in Residence, and a vast array of performance opportunities.