Studying at Bard with members of Sō Percussion
Eric Cha-Beach and Jason Treuting, co-directors
Admission Info: Bard Admissions
Since 2011, members of Sō Percussion have conducted an intensive and elite undergraduate double-degree program in percussion performance at the Bard College Conservatory of Music. Currently, Eric Cha-Beach and Jason Treuting are directors of the program. Our course of study places emphasis on chamber music as a tool for creating thoughtful, well-rounded musicians.
Students will have opportunities to explore music outside of the western tradition, most notably Gamelan, and to work closely with the John Cage Trust. All of this exists within the framework of a 5-year double-degree program at one of the finest liberal arts institutions in the world, where the student chooses another discipline to pair a Bachelor of Arts with the Bachelor of Music degree.
Study with members of Sō Percussion and roster:
- In the first 2 years, students will master fundamental skills.
- During the last 3 years, students and faculty will collaborate on a course of study geared toward the student’s interests.
- Throughout the 5 years, students will study 1-3 times each semester with a teacher from our excellent roster, covering topics to be determined by their primary teacher and the roster teacher.
All percussion majors study and perform chamber music together as part of Bard’s resident student percussion ensemble.
Students will perform in public frequently, programming full recitals in at least 2 out of their last 3 years.
All percussion students perform in the Bard Conservatory Orchestra, which meets twice a week.
Core music curriculum includes four semesters of music theory and two semesters of music history.
The other part of each student’s life at Bard will be spent in the world-renowned college of liberal arts and sciences. Students and parents can explore Bard’s innovate liberal arts program here: http://inside.bard.edu/