All about Quentin DeWitt, Percussion Educator - Artist

Quentin DeWitt

Percussion Educator, Artist & Clinician

Playing Marimba

Quentin DeWitt's Bio & Resume

I enjoy my continued involvement in community music making, drumming and percussion and encouraging people to make a little noise of their own. This eclectic mix of educational and professional activities provides students and clients with an excellent resource. Here are a few of my accomplishments and some of my continuing projects.

Endorsements: I have the good fortune to be an endorsed Regional Artist and Clinician for Adams Musical Instruments, Aquarian Drumheads, Pearl, Ron Vaughn Percussion and Sabian. I am also a member of the Vic Firth Educational Team and the Hudson Music Publishers TIP Program.

Private Drum Studio (since 1999): I teach private drum and percussion lessons in my studio at Keeney Bros. Music Center in Moscow, Idaho. The students range in age from 3 to adult and cover all ability levels and topics.

Performance: I am currently Principal Timpanist and Manager of the Washington-Idaho Symphony, Timpanist with the Palouse Choral Society, drummer for the Border Highlanders Pipes and Drums, and drummer with the Snake River Six (“The Oldest Jazz Band West of the Mississippi”). The Cole/DeWitt clarinet and percussion duo was formed in 2004 and we continue to work on commissions, recitals and recordings. I have also recently has the opportunity to perform in the percussion section of the Walla Walla Symphony.

Clinics: Fundamental drum and percussion techniques are vital to a musician's ability to succeed in all playing situations and are the focus of my clinic offerings to all levels of percussionists and educators. I have presented clinics on snare drum, keyboard percussion, concert percussion, drumset, marching percussion, reading music and percussion section organization and maintenance. I have given clinics in Seattle, Boise and throughout North Idaho.

Drum & Percussion Compositions: I regularly write commissioned percussion works for area teachers and their music programs. These pieces have included marching percussion arrangements, choir accompaniments and percussion ensembles. I am always open to new ideas and would love to hear any inquiries.

Summer Camps & Workshops: I am a faculty member of the University of Idaho's DancersDrummersDreamers® College (since 2006) and taught Percussion for the Lionel Hampton Youth Music Summer Camp (2001-05). I have also taught percussion sessions for grades K-6 at Moscow's Rendezvous for Kids (2004-05). In October of 2005 I taught "Drumming for Everyone" through the University of Idaho's Community Enrichment Program. I created and organized the Northwest Percussion Project which began in March 2006.

Ensemble Coaching: I am the Percussion Instructor for the University of Idaho's Vandal Marching Band. I have also worked with students at Gar-Pal Middle School & High School, Pullman High School, and Lewiston High School.

Other Activities: I have been the Lead Drum Technician for the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival since 1998 and the Gene Harris Jazz Festival since 2005. I recently became a Board Member of the University of Idaho's Auditorium Chamber Music Series.

Education: I received my education at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho studying percussion with Daniel Bukvich and receiving two degrees:

Bachelor of Music: Music Education, 2010.

Master of Music: Percussion Pedagogy, 2004. Thesis: “Idiomatic Shape and Movement: An Efficient Framework for Approaching Four-Mallet Marimba Pedagogy and Composition.”

Bachelor of Music: Percussion Performance, 1999.

Percussion@QuentinDeWitt.com