PMC’s ‘Win Chad Smith’ Event

Chad Smith, drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, took on a different role on November 16: educator. Smith, in collaboration with the Percussion Marketing Council’s (PMC) “Percussion In The Schools” program, appeared at Peters Township High School in McMurray, Pa., for an assembly that aimed to promote an appreciation for music and music making in all students. A hands-on master class for specially selected middle and high school percussion students in the district preceded the general assembly.

This PMC program, announced during the January 2010 NAMM show, solicited music stores to nominate a school district indicating why their district should host the Chad Smith Percussion in The Schools educational presentation. Out of hundreds of nominated schools, Peters Township High School was chosen to host Chad Smith because of its strong instrumental music program. The nomination was submitted by Vincent Nemeth, owner and founder of U-ROCK Music Center in McMurray, Pa. Nemeth noted Peters Township High School’s commitment to the arts, citing the marching band of more than 200 students and an extraordinary music program under the direction of high school music director Milton Barney.