Percussive Arts Society
Percussive Arts Society Logo
Founded:	1961
Websites:	PASIC, PAS

The Percussive Arts Society (PAS) is an international music service organization promoting percussion

Percussion instrument

A percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...

 education, research,
performance and appreciation.

Established in 1961 as a non-profit, music service organization,
PAS is the world's largest percussion organization
and is a central source for information and networking
for percussionists and drummer

Drummer

A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...

s of all ages.
With over 9,000 members (as of 2007), PAS has chapters located in each of the United States (including Puerto Rico), and 23 chapters in 19 other countries.

PAS publishes two bi-monthly publications,
Percussive Notes and Percussion News,
and a website that contains publication archives,
research databases, a conference center, museum tour and other features.
PAS is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...

, and includes the
Percussive Arts Museum and Library,
which contains rare and unusual percussion instruments and scores. The Percussive Arts Society also hosts the annual PASIC convention in a different city each year. PASIC 2008 was in Austin, Texas

Austin, Texas

Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...

. PASIC 2009 will be in Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...

. The convention features four days of clinics, concerts, competitions and mock auditions, and other percussion events. Past conventions such as the 2003 and 2004 conventions were held in Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville, Kentucky

Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...

 and Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee

Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...

. The 2003 convention included performances from Omar Hakim, giving a drum set clinic, and Jeff Queen with a marching snare drum clinic. Highlights from the 2004 convention included drum set clinics by JoJo Mayer and Morgan Rose

Morgan Rose

Morgan Jay Rose is an American drummer, record producer and founding member of the Atlanta-based alternative metal band Sevendust. He is also responsible for much of the background "screaming" vocals.-Career:...

 of Sevendust

Sevendust

Sevendust is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1994 by bassist Vince Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and guitarist Clint Lowery joined the group...

. Before the Morgan Rose clinic began a pair of Vater Morgan Rose signature sticks sat in each of the first few rows of the audience. The clinic consisted of playing multiple tracks from the then record "Seasons" with a behind the back drum and foot pedal camera. The audience heard the band through the speakers as Morgan played over it but the vocals were taken out. Following the performance a Q and A session followed with an autograph session.

The Percussive Arts Society is well known among percussionists for the
PAS International Drum Rudiments, a set of basic drum beats
and exercises that is used by percussion educators. These rudiments
can be found in most percussion music books and a copy is available for free
download from the PAS web site.

Percussive Arts Society Museum & Library

The Society's museum and library had opened in Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...

in 2009. The museum features a collection of drums and other percussive instruments from around the world and from different eras. The library's collections include instruments, artifacts, scores, recorded music and reference materials.

External links

• Official PAS website
• Percussive Arts Museum and Library (hosted by PAS)
• Official PASIC website
• Percussion Society for Europe (hosted by Percussion Creativ e.V.)
• Official PAS page on Myspace
• Official New Jersey Chapter of PAS page on Myspace