Session Proposals

Dr. James (Jamie) Vilseck is an educator, performer, and composer originally from Dayton, OH. His diverse pedagogical approaches aim to connect with students at all levels. He has toured across the country as a solo performer and as a clinician at various universities, music educator conferences, the National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy, and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, and was a member of the Colts and Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps, Matrix Performing Arts. He is a founding member of Blue Door Percussion Trio, dedicated to featuring new and classic works to audience across the country. As a composer, he has composed and arranged works for percussion ensemble, steel band, solo percussion, and is active as a designer and arranger for the marching arts, with clients in Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Texas. He is currently the Assistant Professor of Percussion at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, OK, where he oversees all aspects of the percussion program. James held previous teaching appointments at Stephen F. Austin State University (TX), Angelina Colleg (TX), and Morehead State University (KY). James received degrees from Morehead State University (B.M.E.), Southern Illinois University Carbondale (M.M.), and the University of Kentucky (D.M.A.). In his free time, he loves to travel, spend time with his wife and son, and play video games while eating great food and experimenting with new recipes.

This session aims to make the establishment of a percussion ensemble accessible and affordable for most programs. Percussion ensemble serves a crucial role in the development of percussion students and fills in gaps that concert band literature is not able to cover. Directors do not need to be a percussionist themselves to begin and run a percussion ensemble and this session should help develop confidence in doing so. The session will discuss how to find appropriate and flexible literature that will adapt any program, including performances of this music aimed at middle school and early high school students. Additionally, rehearsal techniques specific to percussion ensemble will be discussed. While the session is aimed non-percussionist band directors, the session will also provide helpful strategies to those with pre-existing percussion ensembles and demonstrate ways to find newer music.

• Band - Middle School
• Band - Secondary
• Mentorship/Beginning Teachers