In this session, Dr. Jamie Wind Whitmarsh will lead participants through a wide-ranging exploration of the compositional process for musicians of all backgrounds and experience levels. The clinic focuses on developing a healthy creative mindset, generating new material through live sketching, and organizing ideas using material sheets and formal diagrams. Dr. Whitmarsh also demonstrates how to refine and develop musical themes using the elements of music, such as rhythm, texture, and form, so composers can expand, shape, and deepen their ideas with confidence. Participants will leave with a flexible “loose curriculum” to continue their growth well after PASIC ends.

Dr. Jamie Wind Whitmarsh is a composer, percussionist, and educator based in Oklahoma City. Known for his versatility and creative voice, he has won numerous awards, including the PAS Composition Competition (2012, 2013), the MTNA Young Artist National Composition Competition (2014), and recognition from the American Prize and 48-Hour Film Project. His works span concert hall, film, and video games. Whitmarsh is chair of the PAS Composition Committee and has led educational outreach and workshops internationally, including programs in Lebanon, Egypt, and Kurdistan.

Christopher Rosas presents a highly interactive workshop introducing the frame drum, with a focus on the riq, a tambourine-like instrument central to Middle Eastern music traditions. This session combines historical background with practical instruction on technique, tone production, and rhythm. Participants will explore posture, holding positions, and core playing techniques while also learning how to use frame drums in classroom and ensemble settings. Rosas also addresses the broader educational impact of frame drums, highlighting their affordability, cultural richness, and potential to expand inclusivity in music programs. Attendees will receive digital handouts including rhythm charts, teaching strategies, and a curated list of instructional resources.

Christopher Rosas is the Director of Percussion at Tomball High School in Texas. He holds a Master of Music in Percussion Performance degree from the University of Tennessee, where he served as graduate teaching assistant, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from Texas Lutheran University. At UT, he performed with the wind ensemble and Ensemble Knox, appearing at the CBDNA and TMEA conferences. A WGI World Finalist and gold medalist with 5points Independent Percussion, Rosas was also selected for the 2021 National Intercollegiate Band.

In this engaging and practical session, Damon Grant explores limb independence and coordination through the lens of pop percussion performance. Drawing on real-world experiences from working with The Voice, American Idol, and major touring artists, Grant walks participants through grooves, patterns, and layering techniques that are essential in both live and studio settings. He explains how to adapt folkloric rhythms for pop music, create and transcribe parts, and approach music production from the perspective of a working sideman. Attendees will also gain insights into using electronics, building solo vocabulary, and managing their careers in today’s music industry.

Damon Grant is a professional percussionist, recording artist, and educator with a remarkable breadth of experience. He has recorded on Grammy-nominated albums and performed with high-profile artists including Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Marc Broussard, and Eric Hutchinson. Damon has been featured in Modern Drummer and Latin Beat, played at two Summer Olympics, and was an original cast member of Blast!, which won both Emmy and Tony Awards. In addition to his onstage work, he is known for mentoring musicians and sharing knowledge about the music business, technology, and creative collaboration.

Presented virtually, this innovative session bridges global rhythmic traditions by applying concepts from North Indian tabla drumming to rudimental snare drum pedagogy. Justin Alexander and Shawn Mativetsky demonstrate how rhythmic devices such as taal (cyclical rhythmic structures), tihai (cadential phrases), and kaida (theme and variation) can enhance sticking control, phrasing, and musicality in Western percussion training. Drawing from Mativetsky’s book Rudimentaal, the session offers a model for integrating non-Western approaches into traditional pedagogy without compromising either tradition. Attendees will learn how these concepts foster creativity, improve technique, and deepen rhythmic understanding.

Dr. Justin Alexander is Associate Professor of Percussion at Virginia University and an internationally active performer. With degrees from Florida State University, he has appeared in Belgium, Australia, Sweden, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. His teaching and performance emphasize both traditional and innovative percussion practices.

Shawn Mativetsky is one of Canada’s leading tabla performers and a pioneer in blending Indian classical music with Western percussion. He teaches at Mc- Gill University and is known for his deep commitment to cross-cultural education. Mativetsky regularly presents workshops, lectures, and performances across the globe.