About Daniel Ornowski
Daniel Ornowski is a music educator and percussionist currently residing in the greater Buffalo, NY region. He can be heard performing regularly with local orchestras, wind ensembles and musical pit orchestras. After completing a Bachelors in Music Education at the State University of New York at Fredonia, Daniel spent two years at The University of Tennessee. While there he worked closely with the band department, writing, arranging and coaching the Pride Of The Southland Marching Band’s Drumline and conducting the Lady Vol’s Basketball pep band. Daniel now teaches elementary band and in his free time is a sought after clinician. He has recently performed as a guest artist at the College of Southern Idaho and has given clinics at Canisius College and The State University of New York at Fredonia.
About Percussion Ed-iquette
In a given week I work with music students in primary school, secondary school and at a University level. I have even worked with a non-profit organization that had me teaching music to parents, grandparents and their children / grandchildren all in a group setting. Having the unique opportunity to work with students of such a wide range of ability and maturity has been eye opening and fun to say the least.
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Through this experience I have come to realize that no matter the age or ability there are certain exercises and techniques that seem to best aid in the physical development of a successful and dedicated percussion student (the intellectual development is a different story). Many of the teaching techniques in the “Percussion ED-iquette” video’s will not only help beginners achieve new feats, but will help experienced students refine and take their playing to the next level.
Percussion, of all secondaries, can be intimidating as there are many instruments to learn and teach, (mainly; snare drum, mallets, timpani, and all the auxiliary instruments) not to mention the many genera that a percussionist should be exposed to as they develop and begin drum set studies. Band directors and music education majors alike, know how important it is to be confident in our secondaries. Rather than going out and taking private lessons to improve your secondaries (which IS probably a good idea, if you can dedicate the time.) I decided to bring percussion teaching tips and suggestions to you through educational video’s. My other intention is to provide your students with decent recordings, of common repertoire from the NYSSMA manual.
I cannot claim to be the originator of most of the exercises, techniques and concepts I present. Though, I can tell you that I’ve been fortunate to have had some unbelievable teachers from whom I stole many of these ideas. I just simply present them in my own way and focus on the ones that seem to be most effective and efficient in solving the majority of our technical deficiencies (even I practice many of these technique building exercises on a daily basis to keep up my chops). These concepts and exercises have been past down through generations of percussionist simply because they work. Please don’t hesitate to ask about anything percussion related, after all this is for you and your students. Enjoy!
~Dan Ornowski