The University of Dayton's Special Programs and Continuing Education in partnership with the Department of Music presents Middle School Percussion Camp.

Check this page periodically for updates or you may contact Jim Leslie at 937-294-4491 (email jjcleslie@juno.com).

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Grades 7 - 8 (in fall)

Instructed by Professor Jim Leslie and several guest clinicians, participants will receive professional instruction in a week-long percussion camp.

Topics covered will include drumset, snare drum, mallet instruments, timpani, preparation for high school drumline, and percussion ensemble. Participants must have a minimum of one year of percussion experience. Commuter camp only.

Camp registrations are limited so please register early to secure your reservation.

Cancellation:
Requests for refunds must be made in writing. Refund requests received two or more weeks in advance of camp start-date will be returned in full. After that time, registrations are non-refundable.

Camp Includes:

• Use of the brand new recreation center
• Camp T-Shirt
• Lunch

Contact Information:
For information or questions regarding the Middle School Percussion Camp, please contact Jim Leslie at 937-294-4491 or email him at jjcleslie@juno.com.

For questions regarding your registration, please contact the Office of Special Programs and Continuing Education: 937-229-2347. Click here to view or download a registration form.

Middle School Percussion Camp Faculty

Jim Leslie:
Jim Leslie graduated from Central Michigan University, where he was a student of Bob Hohner and a member of the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble. Jim has also studied with Jim Chapin, Joe Morello, Chuck Silverman, and John Riley. At the University of Dayton he teaches applied percussion and drumset lessons, percussion pedagogy, percussion ensemble, and instructs the Pride of Dayton Drumline. He is also director of the Beavercreek High School Percussion Ensemble and staff percussion instructor. Jim also teaches lessons at Centerville High School.

As an artist for the Muse Machine, Dayton's arts organization, Jim leads a jazz quartet that performs in local junior and high schools for thousands of students and educators. The group also brings jazz to elementary school students through jazz concerts and workshops.

As past president of the Ohio chapter of the Percussive Arts Society, Jim supervised an annual "Day of Percussion" featuring clinicians and performing ensembles in every area of percussion. Chapter activities include newsletters, a current website, and sponsorship of state percussion events.

A passion for performing keeps Jim busy several nights a week. He is a member of Dave Greer's Classic Jazz Stompers, featuring jazz of the '20s and '30s, the Dayton Jazz Orchestra, the Johnny Mack Super Big Band, and the Ed Moss Society Jazz Orchestra. The Jim Leslie Trio has performed at many local clubs and private events across the Miami Valley. As a freelance drummer, Jim has performed with the Springfield Symphony, Middletown Symphony Orchestra, Vaughn Wiester's Famous Jazz Orchestra, and the Blue Wisp Big Band, as well as many national and regional artists, such as Michael Feinstein, Frank Tiberi, Terrell Stafford, Conrad Herwig, Jim Snedero, Rich Perry, Rick Margitza, Ron Jones, and Phil DeGreg. Jim has performed in the orchestra of many locally produced musicals, including "The Wiz," "The Sound of Music," "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," "Finian's Rainbow," "Nine," "Into the Woods," South Pacific," "Cabaret," "Seussical," and the Ohio premier of Ricky Ian Gordon's "States of Independence."

Jim Leslie is an active artist/clinician for Ludwig Drums, Sabian Cymbals, and Pro-Mark sticks and mallets, giving workshops at colleges, high schools, and professional conferences. You can hear Jim playing drums and/or percussion on the following recordings.

• "The Good Life" by Jack Garrett
• "Rough Winds and Darling Buds" by Dave Greer's Classic Jazz Stompers
• "Those Sentimental Gentlemen from Dayton" by Dave Greer's Classic Jazz Stompers
• "The World Can't Do Without That Rhythm Man" by Dave Greer's Classic Jazz Stompers
• "Close Enough for Love" by Pamela Mallory
• "Live at the Blue Wasp" by Ed Moss' Society Jazz Orchestra
• "Lift Off" by the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble
• "The Gamut" by the Robert Hohner Percussion Ensemble
• "The Percussion Music of David Maslanka" by the Central Michigan University Percussion Ensemble

Jim Rupp:
Having graduated from The Ohio State University in 1979, Jim Rupp spent many years on the road playing in the great big bands of Woody Herman, Maynard Ferguson, and Glenn Miller. He is the drummer on the Woody Herman CD entitled “The Fiftieth Anniversary Tour,” which was nominated for a Grammy Award. He also plays drums on the critically acclaimed Woody Herman CD, “Legacy”, the 1999 Woody CD, “Live in London”, three recordings with guitarist Tim Cumminsky, and several CD projects with jazz organ legend, Hank Marr

Jim spent eight years with three-time Grammy Award-winning jazz singer Diane Schuur, touring worldwide. He continues to do freelance touring and recording with Diane Schuur, the Woody Herman Orchestra as well as playing at festivals worldwide. Over the years he has performed with other well-known artists and groups such as Ray Charles, Joe Lavano, Buddy DeFranco, Tony Bennett, the Smithsonian Masterworks Jazz Orchestra, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Hank Marr, Clark Terry, Joe Williams, Rosemary Clooney, and Natalie Cole.

These touring credits, plus his educational background, have prepared him well for clinics and performances at colleges and high schools around the country. He has given workshops at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention and the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference. In this capacity he is a clinician for Noble and Cooley drums, Zildjian cymbals, Pro Mark drumsticks, and Remo drumheads.

Jim is also the chair of the drum set committee for the Percussive Arts Society, and is the president of Columbus Pro Percussion, Inc., a full-line percussion specialty shop in Columbus, Ohio.

Tim Fairbanks:
Tim Fairbanks is the Percussion Director at Centerville High School (OH) where his groups are consistent National Finalists at BOA Grand National Championships and Scholastic World Finalists at the WGI World Championships. He is endorsed by Dynasty, Sabian, Remo, Rhythm Tech and is a Signature Artist with Innovative Percussion. Tim is on the WGI Board of Directors and also serves on the Percussion Advisory Board and Steering Committee. Tim is an internationally in demand clinician, designer, arranger and adjudicator.

Michael LaMattina:
Michael LaMattina currently serves as Principal Percussionist and Assistant Timpanist with the Dayton Philharmonic and performs in the percussion section of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Michael received his BM in percussion performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and his MM in performance from Cleveland State University. Past positions have included Principal Percussion with the Canton Symphony, section Percussion with the Erie Philharmonic, and Principal Timpani/Percussion with the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra of Columbus. Michael is on the adjunct faculty at Cedarville University where he teaches percussion and maintains private studios in Centerville and Bellbrook, OH.