Percussion Institute

One-Week Summer Program

The MPulse Percussion Program is a one-week intensive that exposes students to fundamentals and strategies for musical and technical growth with Michigan’s expert percussion faculty. During this week, students will have lessons, classes, and projects centered around marimba, snare drum, timpani, drum set, and percussion ensemble. Additionally, we will explore non-Western musical traditions, improvisation, musical technology, and how to prepare for college auditions.

Dates: July 6 – 12, 2025
Tuition (including room & board): $1,950

Application Status: OPEN
Non-Refundable Application Fee: $75

Fill out this form through Acceptd Support if an application fee waiver code is needed due to financial need.

Priority Application Deadline: February 1, 2025*
Priority Admissions Notification: March 1, 2025

*Applications will remain open until the program is full. Rolling application submissions will be reviewed on a monthly basis. Please check the application status above to see if we are still accepting applications on a rolling basis.

Apply Now!

Faculty

Doug Perkins

Associate Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies

Doug Perkins is a percussionist, producer, and conductor declared a “percussion virtuoso” by the New York Times. He has appeared at venues of all types including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to the Alaskan Tundra. Perkins premiered over 100 works and with such composers as David Lang, Paul Lansky, John Luther Adams, Tristan Perich, Christian Wolff, Sofia Gubaidulina, and Steve Reich. He founded So Percussion, the Meehan/ Perkins Duo, and performs regularly with Ensemble Signal, among others. Perkins’ acclaimed recordings can be heard on the Bridge, Cantaloupe, Harmonia Mundi, New Focus, New World, and Nonesuch labels.

Perkins is Associate Professor of Percussion/ Director of Percussion at the University of Michigan. He previously taught at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Dartmouth College, and was Director of the Chosen Vale International Percussion Seminar and endorses Black Swamp Percussion, Pearl/ Adams, Remo, Vic Firth, and Zildjian instruments, sticks, and mallets.

Ian Antonio

Assistant Professor of Percussion, University of Michigan

Percussionist Ian Antonio’s breadth of experience – concertizing across four continents with a wide variety of chamber ensembles, orchestras, experimental rock bands, avant-garde theatre companies, and as a soloist, conductor, and educator – has led him to develop a unique sound and approach to both performing and teaching. Ian is a co-director of the Wet Ink Ensemble, a collective of composers, performers and improvisers dedicated to adventurous music-making. He is also a member of the percussion ensemble Talujon and a former founding member of the piano percussion quartet Yarn/Wire and Zs. His playing is frequently featured at prestigious venues across the globe, including Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Edinburgh International Festival, Barbican Centre, and Shanghai Symphony Hall. Ian’s recorded performances can be heard on over 50 albums released by the Nonesuch, Carrier, Kairos, Warp, Tzadik, and Unseen Worlds record labels, among many others.

Tom Sherwood

Lecturer of Winds and Percussion

Tom Sherwood joined the percussion section of the Cleveland Orchestra in September 2015. He previously served as principal percussion of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra from 1999-2015. A native of Fairfax, Virginia, his musical career began at a young age when he discovered his father’s old drum set packed away in the garage. He graduated with a bachelor of music degree in percussion performance from the University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign, where he was a student of Tom Siwe and was the youngest recipient of the Edgard Varese Memorial Scholarship. He subsequently earned a master of music degree from Temple University, studying with Alan Abel. Prior to joining the Atlanta Symphony, he was a member of the New World Symphony in Miami for three seasons. For the past 10 years, Sherwood has also been regularly performing at the Grand Teton Music Festival. He can be heard on over 25 recordings with the ASO and the New World Symphony on the Telarc, Deutsche Grammophon, RCA Red Seal, and ASO Media labels.

Program Sample Schedule

The 2024 program schedule can be found here. While schedules vary year-to-year, this will provide insight into the programming provided.

Eligibility & Audition Requirements

Eligibility

MPulse Percussion is open to students entering grades 9 (nine) through 12 (twelve) in Fall of 2025.

Audition Video

Uploaded in your online application.

Upload a video containing the following items:

One snare drum solo or etude (rudimental or solo)
One mallet solo or etude (four mallet preferred but two mallet is ok)
Optional: We invite you to upload any other video(s) that showcases your musical talents and interests. This might include drum set, timpani, an ensemble performance, and much more.

MPulse Scholarships

Application Fee Waivers

Those who qualify may reach out to the Acceptd Support team to request a waiver code to waive the $75 application fee. Please view this page on how to apply for a waiver and the documentation you will need to provide. Fill out this fee waiver form to request a code.

Merit Awards

A limited number of scholarships are available for extremely talented students based on Faculty discretion. Consideration for these scholarships is automatic for applications received by the priority application deadline.

Need-Based Awards

A limited number of need-based scholarships are available to families with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) of $120,000 or under in the previous calendar year, or with special circumstances due to the pandemic. To be considered you must upload your financial aid materials by the application deadline as part of your application. This includes:

Monthly Expenses
Previous Year’s Tax Return
Statement of Need

Watson Scholarship (For Michigan Residents Only)

In the spirit of the life of a graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School (1942) and Michigan physician, the Watson A. Young Scholarship promotes academic excellence and college aspiration among students with financial need. These need-based scholarships support middle and high school students’ participation in summer opportunities at U-M that seek to develop students’ interests and abilities in academic disciplines and expose students to the experiences and possibilities provided by higher education.

Information about the Watson Scholarship can be found at: ceo.umich.edu/youthhub
The Watson Scholarship Application opens in February.

Questions?

The MPulse Office is closed for the holidays from Dec 24 – January 2. If you have any issues with your application, please visit the Acceptd Help Desk or contact [email protected].

MPulse Summer Performing Arts Institutes
Office of Engagement & Outreach-Youth & Adult Programs
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance
Stearns Building │ 2005 Baits Drive │ Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Phone: (734) 936-2660
Email: [email protected]