Here you can learn about the MTSU Percussion studio, as well as its instructors/professors.

About the Studio

(coming soon!)

Instructor Bios

 Lalo Davila - Director of Percussion Studies
 

Lalo Davila is currently Director of Percussion Studies at Middle Tennessee State University. Lalo received his Bachelor of Music degree from Corpus Christi State University and a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas.

Originally from Corpus Christi, Lalo has extensive experience both as an educator and performer. Lalo was named Nashville¹s Top Five 1998 Percussionist of the Year Award. Lalo spent three years (1984-1986) performing and instructing with University of North Texas Percussive Arts Society Championship Drum Line and has served as an instructor for the Phantom Regiment and the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps. Lalo has toured with many artists including the "Take 6" Summer 1996 tour of Japan. Other performances include; the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, the Nashville Symphony, Six Pence and None The Richer, Clay Walker, Vickie Carr, Sherry Lewis, The Panhandlers Steel Band and Max Carl and the Big Dance.  Mr. Davila has recently performed percussion and lead vocals for the American Bible Society CD project and can also be heard on Kirk Whalum's Grammy-nominated CD.  Currently, Lalo performs with several Latin groups including "Orkesta Eme Pe"

Known as an outstanding clinician and adjudicator, Lalo has conducted clinics throughout the United States, Mexico, Cuba, and Japan. Lalo is the author of  'Contemporary Rudimental Studies and Solos' and 'Play at First Sight'. Lalo is an active clinician/performer for the Pearl Corporation, Row-Loff Productions, Avedis Zildjian Co., Innovative Percussion, and EVANS Drumheads.

Andy Smith - Adjunct Professor of Percussion

Andy Smith is a freelance performer and educator based in Nashville, TN. He is Adjunct Percussion Instructor at Middle Tennessee State University and Percussion Arranger and Instructor for the MTSU Band of Blue Drumline, the 2001 and 2004 PASIC College Drumline Champions. Smith was Percussion Instructor for the John Overton High School band program (1999 – 2005), which has been successful as WGI and SCGC medalists.

Smith performs on drumset with Lalo Davila (NAMM, BOA and PASIC), Mambo Blue (original Caribbean Jazz music), and Rafael Vasquez, among others. He records and performs with various artists in Nashville. He has presented clinics on drumset, Latin, world, orchestral, and marching percussion for audiences of all ages throughout the United States. He is the percussion instructor for the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts Summer Program, and director of Steel de Boro, an elementary steel drum band.

Smith studied at Berklee College of Music, received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and received his Master of Arts degree from Middle Tennessee State University. He traveled to Ghana West Africa with the West Virginia University Summer Program directed by Dr. Paschal Younge and performs with Music City Samba founded and directed by Dann Sherril. He has performed with the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps, the Canadian Brass, and was a member of the percussion staff for the 1997 Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. Smith is Vice President of the Tennessee Chapter of PAS and proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, Evans drumheads, and Pearl Corporation.

German Baratto - Adjunct Professor of Percussion

German Baratto finished his Bachelor in Arts at the University of Puerto Rico and did additional studies at the Puerto Rico Conservatory and Berklee School of Music. After that he attended Middle Tennessee State University where he earned his Master in Arts in Jazz Studies and Percussion under the direction of Mr. Lalo Davila. While in school German played with well known artists such as Jim McNeely, Eddie Daniels and Jeff Coffin. Currently German works as an adjunct Professor at Middle Tennessee State University and is the Percussion Coordinator for the Oakland High School Marching Band. Recently one of German’s articles “Afro-Cuban Facility Exercises for Drumset” was published by the Percussive Notes Journal. You can see German playing around the Nashville area with country artists like Diona Devin, with his own jazz septet Jazzet and with Afinke Salsa Orchestra. German proudly endorses Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets.