Dr. Jonathan Latta will be joined by the University of the Pacific Percussion Studio to provide insights into successful organization of a concert percussion section. Live demonstrations of percussion parts in the wind band literature will support discussions on how to prepare your percussion performers for artistic and effective contributions to your ensemble. The session will highlight aspects of section organizational practices, instrument set-up and placement, balance and blend within the section and the ensemble, and effective strategies for part preparations. Audience participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the characteristics of a thriving percussion section, one that will contribute in artistic ways to the culture of success within your large ensemble.
Target Audience
Middle School/High School Band and Symphonic Orchestra Directors
Additional Notes
Clinician Info
Jonathan R Latta
University of the Pacific
Jonathan Latta is a performer, teacher, conductor and collaborative artist. He has an active career as a percussionist having performed with the Stockton Symphony, Modesto Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. Outside of California, Latta served as principal timpani for the San Juan Symphony for six years, and recently served as principal percussion for the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra in Durango, CO. He has been seen as a regular music director, conductor and percussionist at Stockton Civic Theatre since 2021.
Before his move to California in 2014, Latta was director of percussion studies for six years at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO, teaching applied percussion, percussion ensemble, non-western music, orchestration and jazz. He also served as chair of the University Pedagogy Committee for the Percussive Arts Society (PAS) for six years and was a member of the PAS Education Committee.