“Indoor Percussion: Top Secrets,” a new WGI educational series designed to cover every essential topic for indoor percussion introduces: Module 3 “Orchestrating for Indoor Percussion.” This HD video download asks several of the top designers in the activity to walk you through their tips and strategies for selecting great music and expertly orchestrating it for our unique environment.
This video is essential to watch as you are constructing the score for your show. Take notes from Andrew Markworth, John Mapes, Ian Grom, Tim Fairbanks, and Shane Gwaltney as you prepare to create your most successful program to date.
Module #3 is available for only $10.Start your download now!
“Orchestrating for Indoor Percussion” chapters:
– Designing Your Soundtrack
– Selecting Music
– The Importance of Space
– Emphasizing Variety
– Seamless Transitions and Features
– Orchestration Suggestions
– Bringing it to Life
Also available for download is indoor Percussion Top Secrets –Module 1: “Selecting a Program” and Module 2: “Storyboarding a Show”
Order the full Indoor Percussion Top Secrets Volume 1 DVD that includes all three modules here.
Learn more about the designers:
John Mapes:
John Mapes is a full-time percussion educator and visual designer involved in teaching over 20 high school and independent percussion programs in Southern California since 1997. He received his Bachelor of Arts in percussion from California State University, Long Beach, in the spring of 2000. He currently has ten years of drum corps teaching/design experience and an unprecedented 22 WGI medals since 2005.
From the fall of 2000 to the winter of 2011, John built and taught the Pacifica High School percussion program with 9 consecutive PSO WGI finals appearances and seven consecutive PSO WGI medals from 2005-2011. In the fall of 2005 he started teaching Chino Hills HS, WGI World Class finalist’s from 2008-2012 with a WGI PSW Bronze medal in 2009, Silver Medal in 2010 and Gold Medal in 2012. He started working at Los Alamitos HS in the fall of 2005 becoming the WGI A Class Bronze medalist in 2007, WGI A class gold medalist in 2009 and a WGI World class finalist in 2010/2011. He worked at Fountain Valley HS from the fall of 2006 until the winter of 2009, winning multiple percussion titles in the indoor and outdoor programs, including a two time WGI finalist in WGI Open class and an Open class medal in 2008. He started with the Pulse Percussion independent world ensemble behind the scenes in the winter of 2008 as an arranger, and within 3 short years helped take the ensemble to it’s first PIW Gold Medal in 2010 as the program coordinator, battery arranger and visual designer.
Along with fellow designer and instructor Ian Grom, John co-founded box-six.com in August of 2008, which is the exclusive seller of their original indoor percussion and marching band shows. John is an official Yamaha Artist, a member of the Vic Firth Educational team, a Remo artist and a Zildjian artist. He became a member of the WGI Advisory Board in 2007 and was voted onto WGI Percussion Steering Commitee in 2010. He is also a principle percussion arranger for JKS music.
Ian Grom:
Ian Grom is a performer, composer and educator based out of Southern California. He received his Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance from California State University, Long Beach, where he specialized in drum set, marimba and composition. He has an unprecedented 22 WGI medals since 2005.
First starting as a consultant in 2008, Ian became the full time front ensemble arranger and instructor for Chino Hills High School in the fall of 2009. The ensemble became a five time World class finalist taking the PSW Bronze in 2009, the PSW Silver medal in 2010 and the PSW Gold medal in 2012. Ian taught at Pacifica HS from 2005-2011 starting their seven consecutive PSO WGI medals. In the fall of 2005 he started building the Los Alamitos percussion program becoming the 2007 WGI PSA Bronze medalist, 2009 WGI PSA Gold medalist and 2010/2011 World class finalist. He worked at Fountain Valley HS from the fall of 2006 until the winter of 2009, winning multiple percussion titles in the indoor and outdoor programs, including a two time WGI finalist in the Open class and an Open class medal in 2008. He started with the Pulse Percussion independent world ensemble behind the scenes in the winter of 2008 as an arranger, and within 3 short years helped take the ensemble to it’s first PIW Gold Medal in 2010 as the front ensemble composer/ arranger and instructor.
Ian started writing for winds in 2006 and composes the fall productions for multiple high schools all around the nation. Ian’s use of original music, cutting edge technology, and innovative show concepts have made him one of the most sought-after composers on the national marching scene. Along with fellow designer and instructor John Mapes, he co-founded box-six.com in August of 2008, which is the exclusive seller of their original indoor percussion and marching band shows. Ian is an official Yamaha artist, a member of the Vic Firth Educational team, a Remo artist, a Zildjian artist and a WGI Percussion Advisory Board member since 2007.
Tim Fairbanks:
Tim Fairbanks has taught at Centerville HS (OH) since 1997, serving as the Marching Percussion Director until 2011 and is currently the Drill Designer for the marching band and indoor drumline, where his groups are consistent National Finalists at BOA Grand National Championships and Scholastic World Finalists at the WGI World Championships. Centerville is the 1999 Scholastic Open Champion and 2004 WGI Scholastic World Champion. Tim is the Program Coordinator and Visual Designer for Rhythm X, WGI Independent World Class Champion in 2008 and 2009 and was the Drill Designer for the Bluecoats from Canton, OH from 2009-2011.
He proudly endorses the products of Pearl/Adams, Evans/D’addario, Sabian Inc., and is a Signature Artist with Innovative Percussion. He is a designer and clinician for The Senators Drum and Bugle Corps (Eastleigh, England), and Aimachi Indoor Percussion (Nagoya, Japan). Tim is the Vice President of Percussion for WGI Sport of the Arts, serving on the WGI Board of Director’s Executive Committee, in addition to membership on the WGI Percussion Advisory Board and Steering Committee. Tim is an internationally in-demand clinician, designer, arranger and adjudicator.
Shane Gwaltney:
Shane grew up in middle Tennessee and was a charter member of Music City Mystique from 1995-99. Since his age out from Mystique, he has been an important part of Mystique’s personality. He has been instrumental in this group for 18 years thus far in his capacity as a member, Battery Arranger, Visual Designer and Program Coordinator. His innovative and trend setting musical and visual designs have become a mainstay in the WGI, BOA and the DCI arenas. He is also a proud artist and clinician for Innovative Percussion, Dynasty Drums, Evans Drum HeadsPlanet Waves, and Zildjian Cymbals. Shane has written over 100 WGI shows and over 70 marching band shows.
In 2009, Shane joined an elite group of signature artists when Innovative Percussion introduced the Shane Gwaltney signature marching snare drum stick.
Presently Shane lives in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He is the Percussion Caption Head for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, Illinois and Battery Arranger and Visual Designer for Music City Mystique from Nashville, Tennessee.
Andrew Markworth:
Andrew Markworth is a composer, arranger and consultant writing wind, front ensemble and battery percussion for marching bands, indoor drumlines and drum corps. He is the front ensemble writer for the Carolina Crown (2007-present), Crossmen (2008, 2011-present), and Rhythm X and writes the full wind and percussion books for The Company of Great Britain and many high schools including Centerville, West Bloomfield, Northmont and Timber Creek.
Andrew currently resides in Centerville, Ohio with his wife, Kara, baby daughter Natalie and Ralphie, the Westie. Previously, he was the Centerville High School Band Director from 2005-2008 before becoming a full-time writer.
