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The Battalion
Page 3 • Monday, December 1, 2003
The beat of a different drummer
Percussion Studio takes its passion for a beat out of the band and on to the streets
By Jessica Lenchner
THE BATTALION
Hj® When Jordan Tayce joined his school’s marching band in eighth
f" 1 ;rade, he never imagined that one day he would be playing on coffee
tots, trash cans, office equipment and drainage pipes.
Many students like Tayce, a senior animal science major, come to
iexas A&M after being involved with band in high school but without
n outlet aside from the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band to express them-
ielves musically on campus.
Percussion Studio, which was formed in the spring of 1999 as
Tamudrums, is a student-led ensemble that allows Aggies to keep music
in their lives and perform with traditional instruments, such as the
ms, as well as unconventional instruments such as kitchen utensils.
wanted to continue my musical experiences, but it’s hard here
cause you have to be in the Corps of Cadets to be in the band,”
’ercussion Studio President John Schreiner said.
Schreiner, a senior biomedical sciences major who has been a
mmer since sixth grade, heard about Percussion Studio at registra-
on in 1999 from one of the founders of Tamudrums and quickly
ined because he wanted to keep playing drums.
What began as a love of playing has evolved into a love of per-
|orming for Schreiner.
“I really like performing,” Schreiner said. “I used to get nervous,
iut I really enjoy it now. I’ve learned a lot about how to put on a show
make it entertainment and not just play something.”
Tf Percussion Studio performs about six times each semester at Fish
amc ®W' am p^ pj rst yell, basketball games and the MSC Town Hall Variety
Show, where it claimed first place twice and second place two other
imes.
Percussion Studio will also hold its own semester show, where it
days about 15 different pieces, on Dec. 6 at Rudder Auditorium.
The show will include two pieces inspired by the Blue Man Group,
vhich makes a visual and musical show, with an octave of PVC pipe
: | ind a drumbone. A drumbone is a trombone made of pipe that makes
lifferent pitches when people beat on it.
“It’s fun to get in front of the audience and have a good time on
tage,” Tayce said.
Percussion Studio has been influenced by everything from Kodo
Irummers in Japan, to stomp, among many others, Schreiner said.
The routine called “Potheads” is always a fan favorite, Tayce said.
Potheads” features two members of the group dressed in armor made
Df cooking utensils who play on each other.
Other routines Percussion Studio has performed are “Starbucks
’offee,” where members play on objects such as coffee pots and chess
lets, and the Chili’s “Baby Back Ribs” song.
Tayce said his persona/ favorite was performing a piece called
Cingular” at the Variety Show last year. “Cingular” includes six trash
t fle fl™®, a drum set, five-gallon water jugs and a drainage pipe used as a
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|P Beato III • THE BATTALION
Percussion Studio opened for comic Martin Short and Mark Curry, star of the sitcom "Hangin' With Mr. Cooper," at First Yell in Reed Arena in 2002.
“Being in the group really stretches your creativity,” Tayce said. “You
play pieces you never thought you’d play, do things you never thought
you’d do and play on everything from PVC pipes to jock straps.”
Tayce said the student members of Percussion Studio are in charge
of everything. They are the ones who choose which pieces to play,
direct the shows and perform the routines.
Members practice each ensemble for at least two hours a week and
sometimes up to eight hours at Bryan High School, Schreiner said.
“Without Bryan High School, we wouldn’t exist,” Schreiner said.
“We are thankful for the use of their instruments and facilities and for
their support. A&M won’t let us use their equipment, and we can’t
afford to buy it ourselves.”
Tayce said Percussion Studio holds tryouts each semester in which
potential members must read music, demonstrate their music skills and
creativity and prepare a piece on whatever they want, whether it be
drums or kitchen utensils.
“If you’re interested and have a musical background, then definite
ly give it a try and see what happens at tryouts,” Tayce said.
Percussion Studio members use their musical talents outside the
group as well as when they are performing together.
Schreiner is graduating from A&M in December but plans to
continue his musical career with his band Adamo, which has
recently finished a CD and is touring Texas.
Alicia Stephenson, a junior kinesiology major and historian-
elect of Percussion Studio, toured the United States last summer
with the Drum Corps, a professional marching band of percus
sion, brass and a color guard that travels between performances
and stays in a different state every night.
“We played in rinky-dink high school stadiums as well as
places like the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, the Citrus Bowl in
Orlando and the Alamodome in San Antonio,” Stephenson said.
Stephenson said some of the things she loves about Percussion
Studio are going to rehearsal, being around her closest friends and
having fun with them.
“A great thing about music is that you don’t have to do it as a
profession to continue it,” Stephenson said. “I always want to
have music as a hobby and in my life. I think I’d go crazy with
out it.”
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VERIZON WIRELESS PRESENTS A
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DATE: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3. 2003
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Friday Dec. 5th - Doors open 7:30 p.m.
Get tickets day of show at Rudder Box
Office starting at 3:00 p.m.
(Students Only, must show valid TAMU ID)
For more information visit townhall.tamu.edu