Orchestral percussion students have the full gamut of percussion instruments to learn. Mallet percussion, timpani and snare drum are the main focus for orchestral percussion students. A full set of percussion instruments is available for tuition and practicing, and a wealth of repertoire, built up over the last three decades ensures that all aspects of percussion playing can be covered. In addition there are hire instruments available for students to practice at home. The percussion ensembles deal with group playing and developing listening skills, but also provide students with the opportunity to learn techniques for the many other percussion instruments they may play in wind bands or other ensemble settings.1st Term Percussion Concert 2017
This concert featured a variety of player combinations from duets all the way up to seven performers in one group. Some of the pieces utilised different types of drums, some used mallet instruments exclusively and others used combinations, along with some smaller percussion. The UCT Percussion Ensemble performed two pieces, one of which featured the traditional Indian drum, the Mridangam played by Lilavan Gangen. This was also the first time past Beau Soleil student, Olivia Stanton performed at Beau Soleil as a full time UCT percussion student. Head of UCT Percussion Studies, Frank Mallows, performed two mallet duets with David West at the end of this concert. One of the pieces was a Max Leith arrangement of Rimsky-Korsakov’s Flight of the Bumblebee, which had the performers sometimes playing on the wrong side of the instrument!
The theme for this 2016 edition of the Drum Kit Exposé was ‘Defining Moments’ and I paid tribute to a couple drummers (Steve Gadd & Dave Weckl) that influenced me at some pivotal moments in my career as a musician and educator. In addition to this I selected other drummers that have always played Yamaha drums to highlight the influence music and musicians have in choices other make because of their performances. The drummers for this show were Adrian Fowler, Devin Jones, Jarryd West and David West. As with the previous edition, we used live musicians for some of the performance: Alex Mayers on Bass Guitar, Claire de Kock on Saxophone, Jeandre Hector on Guitar and Francois Botha on Keyboards. 
Richard Schram, winner of the Yamaha DTX400 Electronic Drum kit.
The theme for the 2015 Drum Kit Exposé was ‘Evolution’ and we explored some major features of the development of the drum kit and styles being performed through each decade from the 1920s through to current times. The drummers performing this year were Shannon Devy, Devin Jones, Jarryd West and David West. We also had other musicians joining us; David Watkyns on Trumpet, Ryan Kierman on Trombone, Francis Brand on Clarinet, Alex Mayers on Bass Guitar and Joshua Buchalter on Guitar. Some of the different styles covered included Dixieland Swing, Big Band Swing, Bebop, Rock ‘n Roll Shuffle, Mowtown, Funk, Rock, Indie Rock and Pop. 
This annual event is a performance based workshop that features elements related to the drum kit. It takes place in the third term each year, straight after the end of term percussion concert.
