Teaching Staff
Matt Savage
Matt Savage, graduate of the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, New York and The University of Southern California, has taught at every level of public education from elementary to the college level. Along with teaching in public education, Matt also has over thirty five years of playing, teaching and arranging experience in the marching percussion field. This experience includes playing snare drum with the legendary Bayonne Bridgemen and serving as the percussion director and arranger for the Anaheim Velvet Knights and the Canton Bluecoats. His virtuosic snare drum performances can be heard on Row-Loff Publications Rudimental Cookbook and Just Deserts.
At the collegiate level, Matt has served as percussion instructor for the USC Trojan Marching Band and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he has also in the past, served as Assistant Director of University Bands.
Matt has been heavily involved with the WGI indoor percussion activity as an adjudicator and has served on the WGI Percussion Steering Committee. His publication “Savage Rudimental Workshop”, is a state of the art rudiment development book with 2 CD accompaniment published by Alfred Music and used world wide.
He is the founder and director of the Matt Savage Marching Percussion Camp that takes place every summer in the Carolinas. (www.drumcamp.net)
Along with being a marching percussion specialist, Matt is a Remo hand drum artist and drum circle facilitator leading drum circles for a variety of both local and national events with his company Rhythm Alive (www.rhythmalive.com)
He is a proud clinician and endorser for the Yamaha Corporation, Remo Inc, Zildjian Cymbals, and Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets.
Alan Keown
Alan Keown is a noted percussionist and teacher in the Pacific Northwest. As a performer he has worked with the Smothers Brothers, Suzanne Sommers, Sharri Lewis, the Britt Festival orchestra and numerous symphony orchestras including the renowned Oregon Bach Festival Orchestra. As a drum set artist he has performed in concerts and nightclubs throughout the Northwest, as well as recording studio dates for albums, jingles, and video projects.
He is a frequent consultant to high school and college band programs, and has been involved with Ted Turner's Goodwill Games as well as the competitive tour sponsored by Drum Corps International.
Alan is a clinician for Yamaha Drums, Zildjian, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, and Remo as well as the marching percussion specialist for various Oregon High Schools. He is also the founder of the Alan Keown Marching Percussion Camp, currently held in Oregon. Mr. Keown publishes marching band music with Matrix Publishing Company and concert percussion literature with Alfred Publishing. Alan is also a publisher of concert percussion music with Tapspace Publications and indoor drumline shows with Marching Show Concepts.
Amy Savage
Amy Savage is active in the development of contemporary concert and marching percussion ensembles as a consultant, instructor, composer, and arranger. Currently, Amy serves as Founder and Director of the Northwood High School Indoor Percussion Theatre and is a percussion director/arranger for Northwood and Apex High Schools in North Carolina. Amy served as Director of Marching Percussion at Duke University and Co-founder of the Rhythm Alive Percussion Group. In the summer, Amy teaches at the Matt Savage and Alan Keown Marching Percussion Camps. She was guest artist-in residence at the Anglo- American School of Moscow, Russia. Amy has been a clinician and adjudicator with the Yamaha Sounds of Summer Camps, Atlantic Indoor Association (AIA), Carolina Winter Ensemble Association (CWEA), and Rocky Mountain Percussion Association (RMPA).
As a member of the World Champion Cadets, Amy was awarded the DCI Individual's Championship in ensemble percussion. During this time, she received her bachelor's degree in music education from Miami University in Oxford, OH. Her extensive teaching and arranging experience with several Drum and Bugle Corps includes Encorps, Jersey Surf, Cadets (formerly Garfield Cadets), Bluecoats, Glassmen, Poynton Commodores (England), and Starriders (Germany). Amy is published with Jalen Publishing and Row-Loff Productions. She is a Yamaha Performing Artist, Vic Firth Artist, and a proud Educational Clinician/Endorser for Zildjian Cymbals and Remo Incorporated.
Patricia Islas
Patricia Islas is a performer, composer, educator, clinician, and adjudicator based out of Plano, Texas. She has worked with artists such as Gregg Bissonette and Imogen Heap and has performed with Grammy-nominated artists Ignacio Berroa, Horacio Hernandez, and Poovalur Sriji. As a composer, Patricia has written solos, ensembles, the popular keyboard method book Momentum, and beginner percussion method book Player's Guide. She has been commissioned for original works performed for the PASIC Invited Percussion Ensemble (High School), and Midwest Invited Percussion Ensemble concerts.
Together with her husband Doug Bush in collaborative duo Team Islas, she has written, arranged, and taught for numerous award-winning high school band programs including champions of the HEB Drumline Contest, Plano Drumline Contest, North Texas Drumline Contest, Lewisville Drumline Contest, Lone Star Drumline Contest, PASIC Drumline Contest and medalist for Texas State UIL and BOA marching bands. They have also served as percussion teachers and arrangers for World and Open Class Drum and Bugle corps.
Patricia holds a bachelor's degree in music performance from the University of North Texas. She has studied percussion under Mark Ford, Dr. Robert Schietroma, Christopher Deane, Paul and Sandi Rennick, She-e Wu and Leigh Howard Stevens. Having an interest in a variety of musical styles, Patricia performed with the Indoor Drumline, South Indian, Gamelan, Contemporary, and Classical Percussion ensembles while at North Texas. In 2002 Mrs. Islas received the award for the Best Individual Keyboard Soloist at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention and was a winner of the UNT Concerto Competition in 2004. Patricia Islas proudly endorses Mapex/Majestic Percussion, Pro-Mark Sticks and Mallets, Remo Drum Heads, Sabian Cymbals, Beetle Percussion, and Lot Riot Apparel.
This appearance of Mapex Marching Artist Patricia Islas has been made possible, in part, through an educational grant from Mapex Marching percussion, Majestic Percussion and the KHS America Academic Alliance. Patricia performs on Majestic and Mapex Marching Percussion.
Ryan Hall
Ryan Hall is a dynamic professional in the field of education, design, production, music, and clinical instruction. Currently holding the position of Associate Director of Bands and Percussion Director at Clover High School in Clover, South Carolina, Ryan demonstrates a proven track record of excellence in leadership and achievement. Under Ryan's direction, the Clover High School Indoor Drumline has secured an impressive array of victories, including four championship titles. Notable accolades include clinching the CWEA 2018 PSA Championship, the 2022 WGI PSA World Championship, and the CWEA 2023 PSO Championship, culminating in the prestigious 2023 WGI PSO World Championship. Clover made scholastic history 3 years in a row with medals at the WGI World Championships, bringing home the Percussion Scholastic Concert World Silver medal in 2024.
In addition to his role at Clover High School, Ryan serves as the esteemed program coordinator for Dobyns-Bennett Indoor Percussion in Kingsport, Tennessee, and the program coordinator for Civitas Independent in 2025. He has also orchestrated the battery music for Boise State University since 2016. His prior experience as a Graduate Assistant for the Blue Thunder Marching Band at Boise State University further underscores his dedication to advancing musical education and performance. Ryan's academic background includes a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Western Carolina University, where he distinguished himself as a multi-talented contributor to various ensembles and bands. Notable achievements during his tenure include receiving accolades such as the Pride of the Mountains Rookie of the Year, Sophomore of the Year, and MVP of the Year in 2014, as well as serving as the Western Carolina Drum Line Snare Captain.
Drawing from a rich performance history, Ryan's marching career commenced at Freedom High School in Morganton, North Carolina, followed by notable stints with Carolina Gold, Wake Forest Independent, Phantom Regiment, and Carolina Crown, where he played a pivotal role in securing the 2013 World Championship title with Crown Drums.
Ryan's commitment to mentorship extends beyond traditional education settings, as evidenced by his tenure on the percussion staff of various high schools in North Carolina, as well as his role as Front Ensemble Technician for the Columbians Drum and Bugle Corps. Notably, Ryan is endorsed by leading industry brands including Vic Firth, Pearl/Adams, and Remo Drumheads.
Throughout his career, Ryan has honed his craft under the tutelage of esteemed mentors such as Thom Hannum, Shane Gwaltney, Dr. John Baldwin and Dr. Mario Gaetano, among others. His dedication to continuous learning and professional development underscores his commitment to excellence in every facet of his work. Residing in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife Kaitlyn and their two German Shepherds, Mila and Raven, Ryan embodies a passion for music and education that is both infectious and inspiring. With a proven track record of success and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Ryan Hall stands as a preeminent figure in the field of music education and performance.