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UCM Percussion
UCM Percussion is dedicated to excellence, from the many areas of percussion to music in general.
At UCM, you will develop your artistic voice and teaching approaches through the study of percussion at the undergraduate and graduate levels within Western classical, Jazz and commercial, marching, small ensemble, large ensemble, and music technology practices. You can also engage in the many offerings of composition and instrument building. Learn about musical practices from around the world from our internationally renowned guest artists that frequently visit campus.
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UCM Percussion Events Calendar
Text "Music" to (660) 248-0496 for more information about UCM Music
Media
Percussion Studio
Marching Percussion
Feature Media
Faculty
Alex Smith
Media
Instrument Craft
Scholarly Publications
"Saving the Songwood: Global Consumption, Sustainability, and Value." Ecomusicology Review 8 (2021). https://ecomusicology.info/smith21/.
“Reconnecting the Music-Making Experience Through Musician Efforts in Instrument Craft.” International Journal of Music Education (2018). http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0255761418771993.
“Crafting New Musical Possibilities: A New Educational Area for Academic Music?” Perspectives of New Music 54 (2017). https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7757/persnewmusi.54.2.0219?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents.
“Reconnecting the Actors of the Music-Making Experience: Supporting Small-Scale Local Craftsmanship in the Academic Percussion Community.” Ecomusicology Review 4 (2016). https://web.archive.org/web/20170217045314/http://www.ecomusicology.info:80/reconnecting-the-music-making-experience-supporting-small-scale-local-craftsmanship-in-the-academic-percussion-community.
“New Musical Contexts for More Sustainably Made Marimbas.” Percussve Notes Online Research Edition 1 (2016). http://www.pas.org/publications/percussive-notes-online-research-edition.
“More Than a Marimba Bar.” UCLA Echo Blog (April 27, 2015). http://www.echo.ucla.edu/more-than-a-marimba-bar/.
Lorena Navarro
Media
Ian McClaflin
Media
Prospective Students
Percussion Studio
Marching Percussion
2026 UCM Marching Percussion information will be available in January 2026. Feel free to download the 2025 audition packet in the meantime, which will be very similar in 2026.
Click here for more information about 2025 Marching Percussion
Student and Alumni News
CURRENT STUDENTS
Cory Schmitz-Hoepker
First Place, MOPOAS Collegiate Undergraduate Marimba Competition (2025)
Tony Lewis
First Place, MOPAS Collegiate Drumset Cover Competition (2025)
MOXsonic acceptance and performance (2025)
Grant Harmon
Third Place, MOPAS Collegiate Undergraduate Marimba Competition (2025)
Brody Washam
First Place, MOPAS Drumset Cover Competition (2023 and 2024)
MOXsonic acceptance and performance (2024)
Mark Williams
First Place, MOPAS Collegiate Undergraduate Marimba Competition (2023)
Third Place, MOPAS Drumset Cover Competition (2023)
ALUMNI
Nicklas Bohannon, Composition Graduate Assistant
Truman State University
Alex Braud, Band Graduate Assistant
Lamar University
Joey Carter, Band Graduate Assistant
University of Central Missouri
Kirstin Clark, K-5 Music Teacher
Highland Elementary, Colorado
James Doyle, Freelance Percussion
Seattle, WA
Sarah Fortner, Band Director
Sweet Springs High School, MO
Carol Helble, Percussion Specialist (Retired)
Lebanon High School, MO
Kolby Koczanowski, Music Therapy
Music Therapy Author and Composer
Chad Lippincott, Associate Band Director
Central High School, MO
Nathan Long, Director of Bands
Oak Grove High School, MO
Jim Lower, Drum Set
Jim Lower Jazz Orchestra
Ian McClaflin, DMA
University of Southern Mississippi
Cade McGinness, Tenorline
Rumble Drumline
Andy Reyes, Percussion Specialist
Raymore-Peculiar High School
Mat Thornton, Music Ministry
Platte City, MO
Adam Twenter, Director of Bands
Pleasant Hill High School, MO
Whitney Wagner, Distinguished Military Graduate
University of Central Missouri
Michael Walling, Percussion Graduate Assistant
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Michael Walling, Percussion Specialist
Blue Springs South High School
Everett Wimberly, Audio Engineer
Kansas City, MO
Josh Williams, Audio Engineer/Sound Designer
Hallmark, Inc., Kansas City, MO
Will Wise, Audio Visual Professional
Texas
Concert Programs/Upcoming Events
Caden LeBlanc Master's Recital; Wednesday, May 7 @ 7:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
Arthur Lipner Guest Artist Concert; Friday, April 25 @ 7:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
Kevin Jones Guest Artist Concert; Thursday, April 24 @ 7:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
Raymond Houts Senior Recital; Wednesday, April 16 @ 7:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
Dr. Ian McClaflin Percussion Faculty Recital; Monday, April 7 @ 7:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
Josh Martley Senior Recital; Saturday, April 5 @ 1:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
UCM Percussion Studio Concert; Thursday, March 27 @ 7:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
Lauren Channel Senior Recital; Sunday, December 1 @ 1:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
Tommy Blackburn Senior Recital; Monday, November 11 @ 7:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
UCM Percussion Studio Concert; Tuesday, November 5, 2024 @ 7:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
Tijan Dorwana Guest Artist Concert; Thursday, April 4 @ 7:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
Without Borders Guest Artist Concert; Tuesday, March 12 @ 7:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
Jerome Balsab Guest Artist Concert; Thursday, November 16 @ 7:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
Andy Reyes Senior Recital; Monday, November 13 @ 7:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
UCM Percussion Studio Concert; Thursday, November 2, 2023 @ 7:00pm in Hart Recital Hall
Contact
Alex Smith
Director of UCM Percussion; Associate Professor
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