Dave Hall

Associate Professor of Percussion, Jazz Studies
Area of Focus: Jazz Studies, Percussion

Dave Hall is an Associate Professor of Percussion and Jazz Studies and coordinator of the percussion program at the University of Nebraska. Under his direction, the University of Nebraska Percussion Ensemble was selected to perform a showcase concert at PASIC in 2019 and 2016 as winners of the Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition. Before his appointment in Lincoln he was a percussion instructor at Texas Christian University (TCU) and also taught lessons, ensembles, and courses at the University of North Texas as a teaching fellow. He regularly performs as a solo marimbist, drummer, orchestral percussionist, and steel pan artist as a result of his diverse skills as a percussionist and omnivorous musical approach. He has played snare drum for the Phantom Regiment and Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, the TCU PASIC Champion Indoor Drumline, and the Dallas Mavericks Drumline. At North Texas, he performed with nearly every major ensemble including as a vibraphonist with the acclaimed One O’Clock Lab Band. In addition to regular engagements in the United States, he has also performed abroad in Spain, Puerto Rico, Belgium, France, Italy, and at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

Dave is an active composer, published by C. Alan Publications. His works for percussion have been commissioned, performed, and recorded around the world. His music has been called “the aural equivalent of a Dali painting” (New York Concert Review). His compositions have been performed at many notable venues including the Midwest Clinic, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, The National Conference on Percussion Pedagogy, the Texas Music Educators Association (TMEA), and the Piteå Percussion Repertoire Festival in Sweden. He’s also been active as an arranger for university and high school percussion programs around the country as well as for the Army All-American Marching Band. He's regularly involved nationally and internationally as an adjudicator and clinician for concert and marching percussion. He most recently served as Music Ensemble Coordinator at the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. 

Dr. Hall has earned degrees in percussion performance from the University of North Texas (D.M.A), TCU (M.M.), and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (B.M.). Dave is endorsing artist for Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Pearl/Adams concert percussion, Remo drumheads, and is a member of the Black Swamp Percussion Educator Network. 

What do you enjoy the most about being on the faculty at the Glenn Korff School of Music?

Hall: I love teaching my students and collaborating with other talented faculty here. 

What do you want others to know about the Glenn Korff School of Music?

Hall: There is almost always a concert happening- a faculty or student recital, opera, Evenings of Dance, one of our many large or chamber ensembles, or a world class visiting guest artist or ensemble. Keep your eye on the calendar and come experience something wonderful with us.

What are you most proud of in the area you work for the Glenn Korff School of Music?

Hall: I’m very proud of my talented percussion studio- the students have breadth and depth of skill across the percussive spectrum and are intrinsically motivated, intelligent, hardworking, and pleasant to be around. I’m especially proud of our Percussion Ensemble which was a winner of both 2019 and 2016 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition. The group has been commissioning, premiering, and recording a lot of new works (like this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhdGpssKDMQ)

In the percussion area we’ve recently added a steel band (Nebraska Steel) as well as offerings in Brazilian samba and Balinese gamelan. I’m excited to continue to diversify our percussive offerings.

What do you like to do outside of the Glenn Korff School of Music?

Hall: I travel often to perform as a solo percussionist and/or to act as a clinician at universities, high schools, and percussion festivals. I compose a lot of music for percussion so I am often working on a commission or travelling to workshop one of my pieces. 

Outside of that I love exercising (biking and running especially), cooking, reading, and spending time with my wife and three small kids.