Percussion / Drum Classes
This ensemble is vitally important to students interested in drumming. The group explores all types of percussion instruments from tyco to timpani and everything in between!
Fun and engaging for all ages and levels!
Class information is coming soon!
Hachya Franklin
Percussion/Drums Instructor
Hachya is passionate about two things: people and percussion! She is the owner of Faithfully Fit, a.unique mobile fitness studio serving the Arkansas River Valley, and a percussion instructor for the Community School of the Arts in Fort Smith, AR.
Hachya enjoys teaching private percussion lessons, creating Drums Alive programming, facilitating large drumming experiences, and certifying new Drums Alive instructors. Hachya travels as a Master Trainer and presenter for Drums Alive North America and Remo, Inc.
Coupled with her experience as a Music Therapist and Silversneakers FLEX Instructor, Hachya’s interactive teaching skills—which have been described as “contagiously enthusiastic”—are in demand especially among senior care facilities, elementary schools, and special needs programs. Hachya serves as a consultant and provides continuing education to music and PE educators as well as music and recreation therapists. Her partnership with Tivity, Inc. was instrumental in adding the Drums Alive Golden Beats format to the approved list of SilverSneakers FLEX classes. Hachya utilizes the healing properties of music, drumming, and active music-making to create group fitness experiences which are engaging, effective, & fun for all ages & abilities!
Gunner Stewart
Percussion
Gunner Stewart is a recent graduate of the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. While at UAFS, he studied and performed as a percussionist under the tutelage of professors such as Dr. Tommy Dobbs, Dr. Alexandra Zacharella, Dr. Andrew DeBoer, Mr. Don Bailey, and many other esteemed faculty members. Gunner Stewart also participated in many different ensembles while at UAFS, such as the UAFS percussion Ensemble, UAFS wind ensemble, and the Jazz Catz.
Gunner Stewart also has had lots of performance and teaching experience outside of the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith. Other ensembles outside of UAFS that Gunner has performed in include the Arkansas Intercollegiate Band in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and the Collegiate Band Directors National Association Wind Ensemble, held in Norman, Oklahoma. Gunner Stewart has also competed in several highly-esteemed solo competitions, such as the Great Plains International Marimba Competition held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the Modern Snare Drum Competition held at the Cleveland Institute of Music in Cleveland, Ohio, and the PASIC Collegiate Marimba Competition held in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Some of the schools that Gunner Stewart has taught in include Booneville High School and Junior High, Greenwood High School, Southside and Northside High School, Ramsey Junior High, and Westwood Elementary in Greenwood, Arkansas.
