Robert B. LedBetter 10905 Butler Creek Rd. Missoula, MT 59808 406-728-4856 (home) 406-243-4819 (office) robert.ledbetter@umontana.edu Education Curriculum Vitae Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance, 1993 University of North Texas, Denton, Texas Percussion Studies with Dr. Robert Schietroma and Doug Howard (Dallas Symphony Orchestra), Timpani studies with Kalman Cherry (Dallas Symphony Orchestra), Drumset studies with Ed Soph Master of Music in Percussion Performance, G.T.A., 1982 University of Akron, Akron, Ohio Percussion studies with Dr. Larry Snider Bachelor of Music Education, 1980 Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, North Carolina Percussion studies with Joy Gentile Professional Employment UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, Missoula, Montana, 1990-91, 1992-Present Professor of Music; Courses taught: Islanders Steel Band World s (Jaya Budaya Balinese Gamelan, West African Ensemble, Brazilian Ensemble, Salsa Band, Mexican Marimba Ensemble, Afro-Cuban Ensemble) Grizzly Marching Band Drumline Percussion Methods Class Percussion History and Literature History of Rock and Roll World Music Orchestration Arranging for Music Educators (Graduate course) History of Jazz Concert Band
TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY, Stephenville, Texas, 1991-92 Percussion Instructor; Courses taught: Marching Band Drumline NAVARRO COLLEGE, Corsicana, Texas, 1991-92 Percussion Instructor/Assistant Band Director; Courses taught: Marching Band & Marching Band Drumline EASTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY, Portales, New Mexico, 1988-89 Assistant Professor of Music; Courses taught: Steel Drum Band Greyhound Sound Marching Band Jazz Improvisation I & II Percussion Methods Class Orchestration Wind Ensemble Literature UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS, Denton, TX, 1984-87, 1989-90 Percussion Teaching Fellowship; Courses taught: Steel Drum Band Javanese Gamelan Percussion Methods Class JESUIT COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL, Dallas, TX, 1986-88 Assistant Band Director/Percussion Instructor; Courses taught: Marching Band & Marching Band Drumline Concert Band Jazz Band II IRVING INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, Irving, TX, 1987-88 Percussion Instructor R.D. SCHROEDER MIDDLE SCHOOL, Hollywood, SC 1983-84 Band Director and General Music Teacher
CHESTERFIELD HIGH SCHOOL, Chesterfield, SC, 1982-83 Band Director for grades 6-12 UNIVERSITY OF AKRON, Akron, OH, 1980-82 Graduate Teaching Assistant in Percussion Noteworthy Performances Hall of Fame performance with my own jazz sextet at 2016 Jazzoula. I was inducted into the Missoula Jazz & Blues Society Hall of Fame for my dedication to jazz in Montana. Performed landmark chamber work of the 20 th century, Bartok s Sonata for Two Pianos and Percussion on my Faculty Recital and the Faculty Chamber Recital in 2016 Salsa Loca, my latin-jazz sextet featured on 11 th & Grant, on Montana PBS airing in May 2014. Bratan Lake and Bangah Temple Festivals, Bali, Indonesia, performed seventeen pieces including Topeng Dance with three different gamelan ensembles Gamelan Angklung, Gong Kebyar and Gender Wayang Premier performances of David Maslanka s This Is The World We Know for 2 pianos and 2 percussion Featured timpani soloist on Michael Daugherty s Raise the Roof with the UM Symphonic Wind Ensemble in performance at the College Band Directors National Association Conference in Reno, Nevada in March, 2010 Bangah Temple Festival, Bali, Indonesia, performed in two Gamelan groups with the Bangha Gamelan Angklung and Gender Wayung groups with master musician I Made Lasmawan, June 2008 Bon Fim Festival in Salvador, Brazil, performed in the group Zimbuco; also performed with the Rio Grande Samba School in Rio De Janeiro, January, 2005 Gave Premier Performance of Jovan Zivkovic s Tales from the Center of the Earth for Solo Percussionist and Wind Ensemble in May of 2004 Member of the UM Buddy DeFranco Jazz Festival All-Star Combo, 1992-Present; Have appeared with internationally acclaimed artists such as Phil Woods, Randy Brecker, Michael Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Paquito d Rivera, Ernie Watts, Slide Hampton, Bobby Shew, Clark Terry, Eddie Daniels, Bob Berg, Dee Daniels, Pete Barbutti, Terry Gibbs, David Samuels, Arturo Sandoval, Terrence Stafford, Lee Konitz, and others Missoula Symphony Orchestra, Principal Percussion & Timpani 1990-Present Guest Artist appearances: Middle Tennessee State University, 1993 & 1995
Creative Work Arizona State University 2005 World of Percussion Solo Percussion presentation for Young Audiences, tours throughout Montana, 1996-Present Montana Chamber Orchestra, Principal Percussion String Orchestra of the Rockies, Timpanist Percussive Arts Society International Convention performed with Jeff Narell at the Anaheim convention in 1986 Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Renaissance Steel Band, Lead Soloist and Clinic presenter, Showcase Concert & Clinic, 2003 Lead Pan player, arranger for The Panhandlers Steel Band and Carribean Connection Steel Bands in Dallas, TX, 1986-92 Numerous recording dates in Dallas/Ft. Worth as a freelance percussionist Faculty Recitals at Eastern New Mexico University and The University of Montana, every year since 1988 Guest appearances on numerous Faculty Recitals since 1988 Previous orchestral experience: Roswell & Southwest Symphony Orchestras, New Mexico, 1987-88, Principal Timpani/Percussion Columbia Philharmonic Orchestra, Columbia, SC, 1983-84 Canton Symphony Orchestra, Canton, OH, 1982 Asheville Symphony Orchestra, Asheville, NC, 1975-80 Very active as a drumset artist with several bands including Eden Atwood & David Morgenroth (jazz), Salsa Loca (latin-jazz), Blue Talk & Love (70 s funk & dance music), Critical Martini (jump blues) and the Ed Norton Big Band (big band jazz) Leader of Quartet Caribe Steel Drum Quartet since 1992 Concerto Competition Winner, University of Akron, 1982 The UM Islanders Steel Band has recorded three commercial CDs A Steel Band Christmas in 2013 (for which I did all of the arrangements), Pandemonium in 2003 and Summer Songs in 1998. My percussion ensemble arrangement of Jupiter from The Planets by Gustav Holst has been performed throughout the country including a performance by the Tennessee All State Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Christopher Deane from the University of North Texas. Numerous arrangements for the UM, Islanders Steel Band, Salsa Band, Brazilian Ensemble, and UM Grizzly Marching Band Drumline.
Teaching I have brought many internationally renowned artists to UM to work with my students over the years including: World Music artists: Made Lasmawan, Balinese Master Musician Edi Gbordzi, Master Drummer from Ghana, West Africa Idrissa Gueye, Master Sabar Drummer from Senegal, Africa Abdoul Dumbia, Master Drummer from Mali, Africa Mohammed Bangoura, Master Drummer from Guinea, Africa Robert Levin, African specialist from New York City Marimba artists: Mark Ford from the University of North Texas Julie Spencer, concert artist Casey Cangelosi from James Madison University Eric Hollenbeck from Colorado State University Jazz vibraphone: David Samuels, professional artist Ed Saindon, professional artist from Berklee College of Music Gary Gibson, performing artist from Seattle Arthur Lipner, professional artist from New York Timpani: Jim Atwood, timpanist with Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestral Percussion: Gordon Peters, formerly with Chicago Symphony William Kraft, composer and formerly with LA Philharmonic Christopher Deane, University of North Texas Hand drumming: Glen Velez, professional artist Robert Chappell, Northern Illinois University Snare drum: Jeff Prosperie from West Point : The SO Percussion Group professional quartet Steel drums: Andy Narell, professional artist Gary Gibson, professional artist Liam Teague, professional artist and teacher at North Illinois University
Chris Wabich, professional artist from Los Angeles Michael Carney, from California State University-Long Beach Drumset: Steve Smith, professional artist Peter Erskine, professional artist Horacio El Negro Hernandez, professional artist Gregg Bissonette, professional artist Ed Soph, University of North Texas Steve Houghton, professional artist Will Kennedy, professional artist Chris Wabich, professional artist Brian Oppel, professional artist Afro-Cuban/Latin Percussion: Lalo Davila, Middle Tennessee State University Jesus Dias, professional artist Luis Bennetti, professional artist Noteworthy Guest Conducting, Clinics, Adjudication Adjudicator of the Timpani Competition for the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Austin, TX, 2006 Firing Up The Pans, A Guide to Starting a Steel Band Program, Clinic at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Columbus, OH, 2005 Concert Percussion Clinic, Northwest Music Educators National Convention, Spokane, WA, 1995 Percussion Clinics on various topics presented each year at the Montana Music Educators Convention, 1996-present Percussion Adjudicator for the Music Teachers National Association Solo Competition Finals, 1993 Organized and hosted Montana Percussive Arts Society the Day Of Percussion every other year, 1993-present. The events feature prominent, nationally-acclaimed artists and university students in clinics and concerts State and District Solo/Ensemble Festival Adjudicator in Montana, Texas and New Mexico, 1986-Present Guest Conductor for AA Band Festivals in Helena, Missoula, Kalispell, Libby, Great Falls, Big Timber and Dillon, 1991-Present Dissertation, An Examination of the Percussion Writing in the Chamber Works of George Crumb, 1960-1980 was presented at the All Crumb Festival at the University of Colorado, 1992.
Publications Steel Band Essentials: A Comprehensive Method for Developing a Steel Band Program (a method book for full steel band) under publication with Drop6 Media Realizations for, published by Honeyrock Publishing Steel band arrangements - Carmen Suite, Brown Skin Gal/Somebody Whisper To Me Medley, Steppin Out, Conga, New Day for You, Don t You Worry About a Thing, Morning Dance and Mister Magic published by Panyard, Inc. An Introduction to Steel Band Arranging published in Pan-Lime Magazine Peripheral Vision Exercises for mallet keyboard instruments are posted on the Percussive Arts Society s website at: http://pas.org/resources/hotlicks/ledbetter/ledbetter.cfm Brazilian Percussion An Introduction. Posted on Innovative Percussion website at: http://www.innovativepercussion.com/docs/documents/404/b_l edbetter_brazilian.pdf Research Developed a new UM Study Abroad Program to Bali, Indonesia and an accompanying course entitled The Arts and Culture of Bali. I have taken two groups of students to Bali in May/June of 2012 and again in May/June of 2016. The group was immersed in the culture of Bali living in the Bangah Village in the Central Mountains where they studied the culture and unique gamelan music with Made Lasmawan Received a $1000 University Research Grant to travel to Bali, Indonesia in June of 2008 Received a $1500 Mini-Sabbatical Grant to travel to Bali, Indonesia in June of 2008 Received a $3000 University Research Grant to travel to Ghana, West Africa in July of 2003. Received a Mini-sabbatical Grant in order to travel to Brazil in January of 2005 as part of the World Percussion Project Received four Visiting Scholar grants to bring in artists specializing in World Percussion: I Made Lasmawan, Balinese Gamelan specialist (2002 & 2004), Teague/ Chappell Steel Drum Duo (2004), Edi Gbordzi, West African drummer (2007) Received a Mini-grant from the Diversity Advisory Council to bring in Indonesian Gamelan special Jared Powell (1998)
Student Achievements Thirteen of my students have been elected from the faculty to receive the top scholarships (Presser, Paris, Strunk and Simmons scholarships) offered within the department. Seven students have won the UM Concerto/Aria Competition. Eight students have been accepted into prestigious graduate programs Four former students are teaching at the collegiate level. Memberships, Honors, Professional Affiliations Missoula Jazz & Blues Society Hall of Fame in 2016 Recipient of Letter of Appreciation from the Consulate of Indonesia in 2010 (for my work teaching and performing Balinese gamelan music at UM) Percussive Arts Society (President, Montana Chapter) Music Educators National Conference Montana Bandmasters Association Texas Bandmasters Association Teaching Fellowship, University of North Texas, 1984-87, 98-90 Graduate Teaching Assistantship, University of Akron, 1980-82 Professional Endorsements University Service Zildjian Cymbal Company, Educational Endorser Latin Percussion, Inc., Educational Endorser Innovative Percussion, Educational Endorser Vic Firth, Inc., Educational Endorser (former endorser) Coordinator for Brass/Percussion Area 1998-2002 & 2012-present Chairman, Trombone/Jazz Search Committee (2012) Chairman, Director of Bands Search Committee (2008) Chairman, Futures Planning Committee (2006) Marching Band Director Search Committee (2004) Member of UM Faculty Senate for three years (2002-2005) Member of University Research and Creative Activity Committee for three years (1998-2000) Music History Search Committee (2002) Faculty Senate Member of the Alumni Band Association Committee (1990-2007) Member of several departmental committees (Faculty Executive Committee, Faculty Evaluation, Performance, Music Technology, Curriculum, Website, Musical Instrument/Equipment,Faculty Observer of Student Evaluation Committee)