PercussionEducation.com has been an idea that I have been thinking about for a long time. I wanted to create a place where I could bring together articles that I have written along with new short video content. I also wanted to feature video performances like I used to do on my former website, Dr. Dave’s Percussion Videos. So here it is and I am glad you found the site. Enjoy!
Dr. Dave Gerhart, Artist Relations Partner for the Yamaha Corporation of America, is a nationally recognized performer, composer, and educator. Dr. Gerhart, originally from Fairfield, California, holds a D.M.A. from the University of Southern California in Percussion Performance with a secondary emphasis in Music Education, Ethnomusicology, and Music Industry & Technology. He received a M.M. in Percussion Performance and Instrumental Conducting and a B.M. in Music Education from California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Gerhart has been featured on CDs with the Robin Cox Ensemble, Steven Hartke, and Gabriela Ortiz.
As a freelance musician, Dave has performed under Gustavo Dudamel, Zubin Mehta, Carl St. Clair, Enrique Diemecke, Mehli Mehta, and has performed with Yo-Yo Ma, Bobby McFerrin, Michael Kamen, Liam Teague, Yefim Bronfman, Ray Holman, Robert Greenidge and the Blue Man Group. His principle teachers include Dr. Michael Carney, Erik Forrester, Brad Dutz, and Raynor Carroll, principal percussionist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. His steel drum ensemble, the Island Hoppin’ Steel Drum Band, performs throughout Southern California.
Dave serves on the Board of Advisors and as Vice President, Southern California, for the Percussive Arts Society. An advocate of using technology in the classroom, Dr. Gerhart was featured in Technology and Its Use by Percussion Educators in the 21st Century (Published in Percussive Notes – January 2012) by Tracy Wiggins and part of the case study Using Technology to Enhance Performance Pedagogy in the Postsecondary Brass Studio by Adam Snider. In 2010, Dave co-founded DrumChattr.com and currently curates percussion related content for PercussionEducation.com.
Dr. Gerhart has presented at numerous conferences including The Midwest Clinic, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Florida Music Education Association, California All-State Music Education Conference, Ohio Music Education Association and NAfME Northwest Conference. His presentation “Be Marketable! Combining Performance and Entrepreneurship” has been presented at universities across the United States, including the Eastman School of Music, University of Kentucky, Texas Christian University, University of Texas at San Antonio, Northern Illinois University, University of Montana, Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, California State University at Fresno, and University of Central Florida.
Dave’s compositions and arrangements for triangle, timpani, percussion ensemble and steel drum orchestra are published by Bachovich Music Publications, Boxfish Music Publishing and Living Sounds Publications.
Updated March 1, 2024
