Columbus Percussion Project

Knight Foundation Fund Proposal

Represent a true innovation? Have the ability to be breakthrough or
transformative?
The Columbus Percussion Project represents a true innovation for the city of
Columbus, GA because it will be the first music program of its kind in this city.
Although there are percussion lessons offered around the city, the
participants of the Columbus Percussion Program will receive specialized
attention in all the areas of the percussion field, not just one. Because of
being the first program of its kind in the city, it will have the ability to be
breakthrough. However, it will also be transformative because the methods
that will be introduced could influence the way percussion classes are taught
in the city of Columbus.
Accelerate learning and the exchange of ideas?
The Columbus Percussion Project will accelerate learning in the participans
due to the development of the music and percussion skills necessary to
perform the works chosen by the applied faculty. In addition to this, students
will receive lessons in the history of percussion and percussion literature. This
will help them to contextualize themselves and their instruments in the music
environment of today.
On the other hand, the project also promotes the exchange of ideas because
of our community-like environment. Unlikely private lessons, in which the
students just interact with the professor, in the Columbus Percussion Project
the students will be able to interact with other students of their same area.
This will make the exchange of ideas process even stronger. Also, the
students will be able to strengthen ties between them and the applied
faculty, which will be formed by professional musicians in the area.
Have a champion equipped to execute the project?
Have a path toward sustainability or completion?
The Columbus Percussion Project will last one year. Once this time lapse is
achieved and all the goals from the project are reached, we will analyze the
possibility of keeping the project runing for more years towards a path of
sustainability.
Promote retention and attraction of talent?
The success of the Columbus Percussion Project depends on the retention and
attraction of talent in the percussion area. Without competent students, the

goals of the project cannot be achieved. Therefore, we will select the

students who best represents the vision of the Columbus Percussion Project
through a small audition and interview process. This process will help us find
the right talents for the program.
Enhance opportunity and economic mobility?
The purpose of the Columbus Percussion Project is not receive money. It is
more about giving, giving to the community of Columbus. Therefore, the
money needed will be just the necessary for the project to exist and to
compensate the work of the people involved. Nothing more, nothing less.
Incorporate opportunities for robust citizenship and/or engagement?
The Columbus Percussion Project promotes a strong community involvement
since we will take the talents from the community and give them back to the
community. Therefore we depend on the community to support our daily
activities in addition to our concerts agenda. The end goal of the project is to
show the outstanding talent that exist in the comunity of Columbus to the
city of Columbus and the entire country.
Result in a change that can be seen or felt in the near term?
The change and impact to the community will start with the students
attending the Columbus Percussion Project. This change will be seen and felt
after the first lesson that a student receive. The applied faculty will introduce
the concepts necessary for the students since the first day of class and they
will explain in a clear way their expectations. This will engage the students
since the first day in order to develop and reinforce the vision they already
have of music and arts. This process will be growing till the last day of class.