North Smithfield High School. I sat down with Mr.

 
Plouffe to learn more. In regards to the rationale behind 
the class, Plouffe said, “Percussionists thrive in their 
own environment, and me being a percussionist, it lends 
itself really well to being able to instruct the percussion 
class separate from the band yet still being able to keep it 
cohesive.” 
 

By ​Zach Malian
November 5, 2019, 9:20 a.m.

P​ ercussion dates back to the beginning of time. From 

banging rocks and sticks together to eventually shaping 
them to create different pitches and sounds, the 
evolution of music was sparked. It wasn’t until the turn 
of the twentieth century that European composers began 
writing more prominent roles for percussion. As pieces 
 
became increasingly more difficult for percussionists, 
studying classical percussion developed a more valuable  (Percussion ensemble students left to right: Gabriel Yattaw, Quinn 
role in music education. Likewise, this past year band  Parent, Noah Dagesse, and Chris Durand warming up on practice 
pads before class) 
director at North Smithfield High School, Mr. Kevin 
Plouffe, has created the percussion ensemble class to  Previously, the percussionists were included as part of 
further the training of students’ percussion skills and  the Symphonic and Concert Band classes. When asked 
techniques.   how this has affected both classes, Mr. Plouffe 
responded, “I think there is a little more pressure on 
The percussion ensemble class was made in an effort to 
both to understand the final product, to have a concept 
spend more time working with the percussion section of 
for what it might sound like and build anticipation. It has 
the band and to introduce new musical opportunities to 
some negative drawbacks that we need to be able to find 
some time to rehearse together but the positive aspects 
outweigh the negative in that the band can rehearse 
without any time set aside for the percussionists only 
and vice versa. The percussionists are able to play for the 
whole class without having to sit down and count 
measures and just wait for their turn.” Although this has 
been a big change for the band, the percussionists 
continue to participate in the band despite their limited 
rehearsals outside of the school day. 

When asked if there are any events planned for the NSHS 
Percussion Ensemble, Plouffe responded: “We will be 
going to the percussion ensemble festival (RIPAS 
Percussion Festival at URI) for what seems to be the first 
(Percussionist, Quinn Parent playing the Glockenspiel) 
time! This is a big step forward so I am hoping we can 
represent ourselves well.”  It seems Plouffe agrees. He concluded, “It has been a lot 
Currently, the percussion ensemble class is comprised of  of fun and I am hoping the students are getting some 
nine students, eager to learn, with various levels of  rewards from being in percussion class and we are 
experience on the vast range of percussion instruments.  looking for the percussion program to grow reasonably, 
it’s been great!” Percussion is often overlooked as just 
As a member of the percussion ensemble myself, I 
believe the small atmosphere of the ensemble has  striking, shaking and scraping, but with the newly 
drastically improved the overall sound of our band  formed percussion ensemble, students have a more 
program.   individualized study of their instrument filled with the 
same enthusiasm, motivation, and passion that I have 
  for percussion every afternoon.