Atwood and Freer lead Cloyd Duff Timpani Master Class

Pearl/Adams Artists Jim Atwood and Tom Freer taught the 30^th annual Cloyd Duff Timpani Master Class from June 13-17, 2011.  Held on the campus of the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Atwood and Freer lead a week of all things related to timpani - including technique, musicality, repertoire, mallet wrapping, head clearing, head tucking, instrument care, and audition preparation.  Founded in 1982 by the legendary Cloyd Duff, the five day class attracts aspiring timpanists from around the world, including students, teachers, amateurs, and professionals.

As part of Pearl and Adams continuing support of providing exceptional educational opportunities for aspiring percussionists, a set of four Adams Dresden Classic Timpani and a set of four Adams Generation 2 Professional Timpani were made available for use during the class.  Each day, Atwood and Freer presented lectures on the fundamental technical and musical considerations that made Duff’s approach to timpani integral to generations of timpanists.  Class participants also performed a variety of standard repertoire in a master class setting, working with either Atwood or Freer.

Pearl and Adams are proud to support this outstanding event with such a storied history.  Each year, the Cloyd Duff Timpani Master Class stimulates a group of inspiring musicians by working closely with professionals who dedicate their time to the future of their craft.  By working with musicians such as Atwood and Freer, Pearl and Adams are able to create instruments that are embraced by professionals worldwide for their sounds, excellence, and quality.