Art, Expression, and Drums
In medicine, percussion is defined as the technique of tapping the surface of a body part to learn about and better understand what is inside.
In musical terms, there is not much difference. Percussion instruments are particularly adept at allowing users to physically create rhythm and melody and to use the vibrations of the instrument to express themselves, create emotion, and explore their own depths.
It’s also just a lot of fun.
Grinnell’s Percussion, Marimba, and Steel Pan ensembles provides the opportunity for musicians from a wide range of backgrounds and skill levels to participate as a community and use the instruments as a source of expression, art, exploration, and community.
“Simply put, we cannot live without art,” says Percussion and Steel Pan Ensemble Director Stacey Ramirez, an applied music associate. “It allows us to take all accumulated knowledge and skill in our lives and use it to create emotion. We want to share our art with the community. It gives us joy and you can also hear our struggles and triumphs in the music.”
The ensembles are open to all musicians, from beginners to advanced, who can read music. The Steel Pan Ensemble even has a few limited spots in the “engine room” that do not require the ability to read music.
“It is open to anyone who can sight-read music and has performed, in high school for instance,” says Ramirez. “We have had oboe and horn players in the steel band, and they are at square one learning the pan notes just like the percussionists.”
“It’s a lot of fun to play music on some unconventional instruments like boomwhackers and drumheads (without the drum),” adds Qingshuo Du ’25. “It is very challenging though.”
In concerts given each fall and spring semester, the Percussion Ensemble performs a wide range of musical selections, from chamber works to world music to popular music and new works for percussion. The Steel Pan Ensemble focuses on the instrument widely associated with Calypso music and Carnival celebrations taking place in the Caribbean. The Marimba Ensemble performs baroque, classical, and contemporary music that represents the golden age of the marimba and xylophone bands from the Roaring Twenties.
Besides the use of percussion instruments, the common factor in each group is the camaraderie and community that participating in an ensemble can provide.
“I enjoy the Percussion Ensemble because it allows me to play a variety of percussion instruments with a fun and friendly group of peers,” says Rachel Rudacille ’26.
Adds Marissa Goffmann ’24, “Percussion Ensemble has been the highlight of my week many times throughout the semester. It’s a great place to just jam out and be surrounded by others who enjoy music as much as I do.”