I first met Paul Rennick in the mid-1990’s during a UNT PASIC Alumni reunion.   His work with the UNT Drum Line was exceptional and I knew that he had a growing reputation in DCI.   When I came to teach at UNT Paul and I quickly became good friends sharing many percussive adventures on the stage and with the UNT Drum Line.   These include a featured evening showcase concert at PASIC; tours to France, Belgium, Poland and the Czech Republic; numerous PASIC championship performances by the UNT Drum Line; three CDs and two videos….and the list goes on.   I have often introduced Paul at events as the only individual in history who has won the DCI Fred Sanford Award for Best Percussion and performed in an evening concert at PASIC in the same year!   Quite an accomplishment!

So when the idea came to present a session at the 2017 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic that connected concert and marching percussion, there was no one else that I would have considered other than Paul.   He quickly agreed and Midwest said yes!

Our Midwest Clinic on Thursday December 21st at 1:00pm is focused on strong percussion technique and tone production, no matter if the performers are on the field or in the concert hall.   All too often we have seen poor technique that exists in the battery/front ensemble and also on the concert stage.   For many high school percussionists, they feel that the ensemble skills required on the field are different than in the concert hall.   Our goals with this clinic is to discuss and demonstrate how solid concepts of tone production and percussion technique can be universal to benefit all aspects of performance.

Here is our handout for the clinic:  2017-1127-Midwest-r3

And here is the Midwest Clinic link:  www.midwestclinic.org/2017_clinician_Mark_Ford.html

Paul and I will demonstrate on snare drum and marimba during this clinic.   We are also excited to premier our new composition – Renfro!   This is a flashy marimba and snare drum duet that we have written together.   I wrote out ideas for the marimba and then Paul composed the snare drum part.  The ink is still wet!!

I hope to stream this event if allowed by Midwest.    Check it out on my Instagram Page:  @Markfordmusic.

Many thanks to our Sponsors:  Dynasty, Bergerault, Innovative Percussion, Zildjian, Meinl, Evans and Remo!

I hope to see you in Chicago at Midwest!