Peters, Mitchell

Mitchell Peters

Biography

Born: August 17, 1935

Died: October 28, 2017

Country: Red Wing, Minnesota, U.S.A.

Studies: Eastman School of Music;

Teachers:

Orchestra: California - The Big List of timpanists - Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra

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Mitchell Peters is former principal timpanist and percussionist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. He has composed well-known pieces for the marimba such as Yellow After the Rain and Sea Refractions; it is said that these works were composed because Peters felt that there was a lack of musically interesting material that would introduce his students to four-mallet marimba techniques. Several of his snare drum and timpani etude books are in common use as well. He began his career in the army orchestra. He later was principal percussionist of Dallas Symphony before taking the principal percussion position in the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1969. When principal timpanist William Kraft retired in 1981 to pursue his career as a composer, Peters stepped up to assume the role as timpanist, a position he occupied through the Los Angeles Philharmonic's 2005/2006 season. Peters is well known for his prodigious sightreading ability.

Peters became the applied percussion teacher at California State University Los Angeles shortly after joing the LA Philharmonic. During his tenure as timpanist, he took the position as Professor of Percussion at the University of California, Los Angeles. He continues to teach at UCLA where he gives private lessons to students and leads the UCLA Percussion Ensemble.

Books for Percussion

Snare Drum

Elementary Snare Drum Studies
Intermediate Snare Drum Studies
Advanced Snare Drum Studies
Developing Dexterity for Snare Drum
Rudimental Primer: for the Snare Drummer

Mallets

Fundamental Method for Mallets, Book 1
Fundamental Method for Mallets, Book 2
Fundamental Solos for Mallets

Timpani

Fundamental Method for Timpani
Fundamental Solos for Timpani
Intermediate Timpani Studies

Works for Percussion

Ensembles

A La Nañigo - Percussion Quintet
A La Samba - Percussion Sextet
March of the Eagles - Percussion Quintet
Piece for Percussion (Peters) - Percussion Quartet
Study in 5/8 (Peters) - Percussion Quartet

Marimba

Barcelona
Chant for Marimba
Galactica
Pastiche
Sea-Refractions
Sonata - Allegro
Starscape
Teardrops
Theme and Variations for Marimba and Piano
Three Pieces for Three Mallets
Undercurrents (Peters)
Waves
Yellow after the Rain
Zen Wanderer

Multiple Percussion

Etude No. 1 (Peters)
Etude No. 2(Peters)
Introduction and Waltz
Passacaglie and Trio
Pertual Motion (Peters)
Rondo for Four Tom-toms

Snare Drum

Etudes for Snare Drum (Peters)
Hard Times for Snare Drum
Odd Meter Rudimental Etudes

Timpani

Primal Mood
Rondino
Scherzo (Peters)
Storm
Tribal Serenade