DEPARTMENT THAT BEATS ALL EXPECTATIONS!

The Department of Percussion Instruments at HAMU in Prague was established in the year 2000. With its opening, the department created the opportunity to set up somewhat different priorities than, for example, Brno's JAMU, and thus introduce a unique programme for the study of percussion instruments where greater emphasis is placed on multi-percussion. In this regard, studies at AMU have joined the European elite.

Instruction devotes considerable space to the marimba, the vibraphone, and to melodic instruments in general.

In light of the very broad range of percussion instruments and the differing demands of various techniques, a significant level of specialisation is required based on the manner of application to achieve top quality. The department therefore allows for individual students to have their own focus.

The objective of instruction is to produce soloists and chamber players, which is the same as for other instruments. In practice this means that graduates will be capable of solo recitals, performing in chamber ensembles composed of percussion instruments from duos to sextets, and to collaborate with chamber ensembles of the highest quality (Agon, Dama-Dama, Mondschein), and naturally also with ensembles formed within AMU.
At the same time the goal is to produce soloists in symphony orchestras, both in the field of multi-percussion, and as excellent timpani players or players on melodic percussion instruments.