Rich Holly's Percussion Place

Assorted ramblings and occasional updates in the world of percussion.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

TWO JOBS!

Well, in a period of what must surely be madness, I've agreed to serve in two positions here at Northern Illinois University for the next 6 months. Our Director of the School of Art has resigned to take a position at another school, so I've agreed to serve as the Acting Director of the School of Art until December 31, and I'll be keeping my position as Associate Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts as well. Thankfully, we have great staffs in both offices, and I know I'll be relying a great deal on all of them. The only real drawback is that I won't be able to do any teaching this fall, and who the heck knows when I'm ever going to find time to practice other than on my steering wheel while I'm driving! I'm actually looking forward to it, I enjoy new challenges and learning more about how the university works. Wish me luck!

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

My Father

I haven't written anything here for some time. Last week, on Tuesday, July 3, my father passed away. I was able to be with him for the last three days of his life.

My father bought me my first pair of drumsticks. I had seen a drummer on TV (this was pre-Beatles, so it wasn't Ringo, who influenced so many of us) and had asked him to get me a pair of sticks. I was 5 or 6 years old at the time. A few days later, on his way home after work, he stopped at a music store and got me a pair of sticks. Having no drums, I used a vinyl desk chair that had a metal frame as my snare drum (vinyl seat) and cymbal (the metal top of the chair's back). I turned two plastic trash cans upside-down , placed them next to the chair and used those for tom toms, and proceeded to play in my bedroom with that setup while listening to the radio.

After a few years, my father figured I was serious so he sprung for a snare drum for me when I was 9 years old.

My entire life has been guided by drumming and percussion - my best friends, my wife, and of course my career. I'm one very lucky guy.

So, for buying me those drum sticks and my first snare, and for putting up with the loud sounds of drumming in the house for all those years, here's to you, Dad. Rest in Peace.