Tycoon Percussion Launches Intern Program

Following the successful "graduation" of their first-ever intern, Western Illinois University Music Business major Tony Lapsansky, this past summer, Tycoon Percussion has announced plans to continue the program by establishing a series of four-month intern positions beginning in January, 2010. The Tycoon intern program is intended to provide advanced college students with hands-on experience in the business side of the music business — covering the important parts of today's business world, including sales, marketing, artist relations, research and development, finance, warehouse/inventory management, website management, and more. "I would not be where I am today if I had not had been given the opportunity to do an internship at P.A.S. (Percussive Arts Society) in 1993," states David Kelley, current Vice President of Tycoon Percussion who studied, played and taught drums before joining the sales and marketing departments of major companies such as Yamaha, Sabian and MARS Music. "Working as an intern allowed me to develop a network of contacts and gave me a variety of career choices within the percussion industry." Like Kelley, many of today's leading drum industry executives began their careers as musicians and entrepreneurs and most had to make the transition without a business background or formal education in the field. As the drum business has expanded in size and sophistication over the last few decades, the growing availability of college degrees in Music Business has given music students a higher level of training and a wider range of career options. Internship positions have also improved the talent pool by bridging the gap between classroom training and on-the-job training in real-world situations with experienced mentors and advisors. "During these challenging economic times many companies unfortunately cut back on these kinds of programs," comments Lapsansky. "Tycoon Percussion views these internship opportunities as a smart and important investment towards creating well-rounded, better-trained business people for the percussion industry. From an intern's perspective, I can say that the position provided an experience that definitely helped me develop my skills and refine my goals." Tycoon Percussion is currently accepting applications for its 2010 intern positions. The program is open to upper-level undergrads and post-graduate students. Interested applicants are invited to send their resumés along with a letter listing their background, qualifications and career goals to mailto:internship@tycoonpercussion.com. Perspective interns will be contacted and interviewed by phone or in person at the PAS International Convention (PASIC) in Indianapolis, Indiana from November 11-14, 2009.