The Winter Percussion Activity was organized to provide a program for the many percussion students participating in a typical marching band during the fall season, but not having a comparable performance outlet during the winter and spring seasons. The traditional jazz band, concert band, wind ensemble, etc. does not involve the larger number of percussion students that a marching band requires.

The first units participating in the percussion activity were primarily from scholastic marching units, utilizing both a battery and pit ensemble in a setting that limited the amount of marching and showmanship. Within a few short years, the number of independent organizations participating in the competitions increased, and the performance venue was enlarged to allow for more development of the visual and theatrical potential of the activity. Soon thereafter, traditional “concert” percussion ensembles were included as an additional performance outlet for student percussionists preferring that genre.

As you can see by reviewing the classifications, the Winter Percussion Activity has expanded to include programs for young people of varying ability levels, making it accessible to more and more students.