by Lauren Vogel Weiss

Dr. Dennis George Rogers, who taught percussion at the college level in Missouri for almost 45 years, died on February 25, 2025 at age 77.

 “The percussion world lost a great man,” stated Julie Davila, PAS Immediate Past President and a former student of Rogers. “Many of us have people who come into your life and change your trajectory. Dennis Rogers truly inspired a young Julie and provided a community that fostered hard work and encouraged an entrepreneurial mindset.”

Dennis Rogers was born on November 28, 1947 in Independence, Missouri, and graduated from Raytown High School in 1965. His family founded and operated Rogers Music Studio in the Kansas City suburb. Dennis attended the University of Missouri–Kansas City where he received multiple degrees, starting with a Bachelor and Master of Music in percussion performance, and finally a Doctor of Philosophy in Education, Curriculum, and Instruction. He also held three levels of Orff-Schulwerk certification.

His first teaching job was at his alma mater, the UMKC Conservatory of Music, where he taught from 1971 until 1978. Rogers then went on to become the Professor of Percussion at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, where he taught for 38 years before retiring in 2016. During his time at MWSU, he received multiple awards, including the Jesse Lee Myers Excellence in Teaching (2002), Regents Distinguished Professor (2005), and Alumni Association Distinguished Faculty (2007).

In addition to being an active performer and clinician, Dr. Rogers published five books, along with numerous solo and ensemble pieces for percussion as well as drumset.

Jim Wagy, a Kansas City-based drummer, remembered his former teacher on social media: “Where would we be without our teachers? Dennis valued education and devoted most of his life to teaching, decade after decade. Dennis never stopped producing great players, teachers, and performers.”

Davila added, “The thing I loved about Dennis was his passion and enthusiasm for percussion, life, and teaching. Some of my favorite quotes of his are: ‘Maintain an attitude of gratitude,’ ‘Grow where you are planted,’ and ‘The truth is neither mean nor nice, it’s just the truth.’ Dennis had a profound influence and left a lasting legacy in the percussion community throughout the Missouri/Kansas Midwest region. Through his dedication, he taught thousands of students and inspired countless individuals, nurturing a deep love for music and percussion. Dennis’s ‘family tree’ of students is immense and his legacy will carry on for generations.”