Percussion Education Reads 10/19/25

Rest Takes Hard Work by Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
Rest is crucial for our productivity and well-being, yet it remains undervalued in today’s work-centric society. To achieve a healthier balance, we need to intentionally cultivate routines that incorporate both work and rest, and develop the skills to prioritize and fully benefit from periods of rejuvenation.

Books I’ve Read by Derek Sivers
Derek Sivers is best known for founding CD Baby, an online platform for independent musicians. This is a list of the books he has read, along with notes for each. I always love reading about books, and this is a great list.

Inventing Your Own Exercises with Design Thinking by Michael Compitello
If you are not following Michael’s Substack, you are missing out. His posts are thoughtful, detailed, and a must for any percussionist. Michael is currently an Associate Professor of Percussion at Arizona State University. Check out his website, follow him on Substack, and let me know your favorite post.

Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC)
The Percussive Arts Society is the world’s largest percussion organization, and every November, it hosts PASIC in Indianapolis. This year, we will help them celebrate PASIC’s 50th anniversary. Hope to see you all there!

Photo by Vladislav Klapin on Unsplash

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Dave Gerhart

Dr. Dave Gerhart, Artist Relations Partner for the Yamaha Corporation and freelance percussionist 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, M.M. in Percussion Performance and Instrumental Conducting and a B.M. in Music Education from California State University, Long Beach.

Latest posts by Dave Gerhart (see all)

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