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Percussive Arts Society
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      We have nearly 6,000 members, with over 40 chapters located across the United States and an additional 28 chapters abroad.

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      COMPETITIONS

      • Scholarships
      • Composition Contest
      • Individual & Ensemble
      • Concert Chamber Percussion Ensemble Competition (CCPEC)
      • International Percussion Ensemble Competition (IPEC)
      • Percussion Ensemble Competitions & Festivals (PECAF)
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      PAS members pose near percussion instruments at PASIC.

      AT PAS, our mission is to inspire, educate, and support percussionists and drummers throughout the world.

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Percussive Arts Society
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Oral History Project

The Oral History Project links viewers to individual interviews with these leaders in the music industry—some who have passed on and many others who are still with us. Listen to Remo Belli (interview class of 2001) or Vic Firth (interview class of 2003) talk about his life and his profession. Hear them share stories and anecdotes about making music or starting a successful business. It’s living history.

The Oral History Project began when the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) celebrated its centennial in 2001. “The NAMM Board approved the idea of establishing the oral history program to create an archive to celebrate those people who came before us, either instrument makers or company leaders or pioneers in retailing,” states Dan Del Fiorentino, Music Historian for NAMM and curator of NAMM’S Oral History Project.

Click on the photos below to begin a video interview.

Mike Balter

Mike Balter

John H. Beck

John H. Beck

Remo Belli

Remo Belli

Louie Bellson

Louie Bellson

Rob Birenbaum

Rob Birenbaum

Hal Blaine

Hal Blaine

Pat Brown

Pat Brown

Gary Burton

Gary Burton

Billy Cobham

Billy Cobham

Jim Coffin

Jim Coffin

Martin Cohen

Martin Cohen

Jack DeJohnette

Jack DeJohnette

Lennie Dimuzio

Lennie Dimuzio

Sandy Feldstein

Sandy Feldstein

Vic Firth

Vic Firth

George Gaber

George Gaber

Fred Gretsch

Fred Gretsch

Terry Gibbs

Terry Gibbs

Neil Grover

Neil Grover

Mickey Hart

Mickey Hart

Roy Haynes

Roy Haynes

William Kraft

William Kraft

Morris Lang

Morris Lang

Stanley Leonard

Stanley Leonard

William F. Ludwig II

William F. Ludwig II

LLoyd McCausland

LLoyd McCausland

Airto Moreira

Airto Moreira

Joe Morello

Joe Morello

Earl Palmer

Earl Palmer

Gordon Peters

Gordon Peters

Grodon Powell

Grodon Powell

Bernard Purdie

Bernard Purdie

Emil Richards

Emil Richards

Michael Rosen

Michael Rosen

Jim Rupp

Jim Rupp

Pancho Sanchez

Pancho Sanchez

Dick Schory

Dick Schory

Gilberto Serna

Gilberto Serna

Ed Shaughnessy

Ed Shaughnessy

Thomas Siwe

Thomas Siwe

Ed Soph

Ed Soph

Ed Thigpen

Ed Thigpen

Michael Udow

Michael Udow

Armand Zildjian

Armand Zildjian

Robert Zildjian

Robert Zildjian

Percussive Arts Society
127 E. Michigan St. #600
Indianapolis, IN 46204
T: (317) 974-4488
F: (317) 974-4499
E: percarts@pas.org

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Percussive Arts Society
127 E. Michigan St. #600
Indianapolis, IN 46204
T: (317) 974-4488
F: (317) 974-4499
E: percarts@pas.org

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Rhythm! Discovery Center
Temporarily Closed while
establishing new location.
See our collection online!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

#PASIC50

#DRUMSETMAGAZINE

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Join Our Newsletter

Join
Renew
Donate
Advertise
Our Team
Search Resources
FAQ

Copyright Percussive Arts Society 2025. Privacy Policy

Percussive Arts Society
127 E. Michigan St. #600
Indianapolis, IN 46204
T: (317) 974-4488
F: (317) 974-4499
E: percarts@pas.org

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Twitter

Rhythm! Discovery Center

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

PASIC

DrumFest

DRUMSET Magazine

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Join Our Newsletter

Join
Renew
Donate
Advertise
Our Team
Search Resources
FAQ

Copyright Percussive Arts Society 2024. Privacy Policy

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  • HOME
  • MEMBERSHIP
    • JOIN
      • Individual Membership
      • Group Membership
      • Studio Membership
      • Corporate Membership
      • Library Subscription
      • Renew
    • RECOGNITION
      • Awards
      • Hall of Fame
      • In Memoriam
  • GET INVOLVED
    • PARTICIPATE
      • Chapters
      • Committees
      • Diversity Alliance
      • Leadership Academy
    • COMPETE
      • Scholarships
      • Composition Contest
      • Individual & Ensemble
      • Concert Chamber Percussion Ensemble Competition (CCPEC)
      • International Percussion Ensemble Competition (IPEC)
      • Percussion Ensemble Competitions & Festivals (PECAF)
    • EXPERIENCE
      • PASIC
      • DrumFest
      • Rhythm! Discovery Center
      • Percussion Ensemble Competitions & Festivals (PECAF)
    • SUPPORT
      • Shop
      • Volunteer
      • Donate
      • Individual Donors
      • Foundations
      • Corporate Members
      • Strategic Partners
      • Museum Donations
  • PROGRAMS
    • PUBLICATIONS
      • Percussive Notes – April 2025
      • Percussive Notes TOC Archive
      • Percussive Notes Online Research Edition
      • Percussive Notes Research Edition
      • DRUMSET Magazine
      • PAS Blog
      • Reviews & Submissions
      • Advertise
    • EXPERIENCES
      • PASIC®
      • Drumfest
      • Rhythm! Discovery Center
      • PAS Percussion Ensemble Competitions & Festivals
    • COMPETITIONS
      • Scholarships
      • Composition Contest
      • Individual & Ensemble
      • Concert Chamber Percussion Ensemble Competition (CCPEC)
      • International Percussion Ensemble Competition (IPEC)
      • Percussion Ensemble Competitions & Festivals (PECAF)
  • RESOURCES
    • SPECIALTIES
      • Drumset
      • Keyboard Percussion
      • Interactive Drumming
      • Health & Wellness
      • Marching & Rudimental Drumming
      • Symphonic
      • Technology
      • World
    • TYPE
      • Articles
      • Audio
      • Cylinder Recording
      • Reviews
      • Rudiments
      • Thesis/Dissertations
      • Videos
      • Online Collections Database
      • Composers Database
    • CAREER DEVELOPMENT
      • Career Development Articles
      • Leadership Academy
      • Job Board
  • ABOUT
    • About PAS
    • PAS Blog
    • History
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Board of Advisors
    • Work With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Shop
    • Logos & Brand Guidelines
    • SUPPORT
      • Shop
      • Volunteer
      • Donate
      • Individual Donors
      • Foundations
      • Corporate Members
      • Strategic Partners
      • Museum Donations
    • RECOGNITION
      • Awards
      • Hall of Fame
      • In Memoriam