Senior percussion student has experience of a lifetime

When senior music performance major Trevor Saint packed his bags for the Eastern Seaboard this past summer he knew that he was packing for two intensive percussion seminars that he wouldn’t soon forget.

First up was the Stuart Saunders Smith Coaching Intensive, a three-day seminar that allows any and all percussion students interested in the American songwriter, editor and poet Stuart Saunders Smith’s work and with approval from Smith to come to his home in Baltimore for lessons.

Smith is best known for his diverse style from piece to piece. While in Baltimore, Saint played a duet with Smith’s wife, Sylvia, with homemade or “found” instruments. He also received private lessons from Smith on how to play the song “Thaw” on his glockenspiel.

Following the Smith Coaching Intensive, Saint traveled to Boston to the Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice (or SICPP). SICPP is an intensive performance seminar on music of the 20th century for advanced pianists, percussionists and instrumentalists. Six full days of master classes, lessons, rehearsals and concerts brings an intense experience to students.

SCIPP gave Saint professional coaching that will help him progress throughout his percussion career in school and while playing on a professional level. “Being able to interact with professional performers and composers on a personal level has increased both the physical and cerebral elements in my playing,” Saint said.

What made the experience even more special was the fact that he was the only undergraduate accepted into the SICPP seminar. All the other participants were either graduates or professional performers, making it a very highly regarded event.

“The only thing I can say is that I couldn’t be more proud of him and his achievements,” Tobie Wilkinson, a lecturer of music percussion at UW-Whitewater said. “He is by far the hardest working student I have ever had, he is not afraid of a challenge.”

For Saint, the education and experience he obtained at the seminar is something that he can take with him for the rest of his life. “I believe it is imperative for all students to take advantage of summer programs and to realize that education and learning do not, and must not cease once finals have concluded.”