Residency Work
Percussionist, conductor, and contemporary music specialist Andy Bliss offers comprehensive educational residencies for composers and performers who seek to expand their knowledge of, and contributions to, the solo & chamber music repertoire.
Areas of Focus
Performance & Pedagogy — ensemble performance, adjudication, clinics.
Creativity & Technology — improvisation labs, Ableton workshops, hybrid drumming.
Composition & Collaboration — coaching composers, interdisciplinary projects.
Arts Leadership & Entrepreneurship — festival building, nonprofit leadership, career design.
Keynotes & Public Talks — creativity, musicianship, sustaining an artistic life.
Residency Formats
1-Day Residency
Best for festivals, conferences, and campus visits where performance isn’t the centerpiece.
1–2 core activities (clinic, workshop, masterclass, or keynote).
Sample Options:
Clinic/masterclass for percussionists or drummers.
Improvisation or technology workshop (Ableton, hybrid setups).
Composition workshop: writing effectively for percussion.
School- or department-wide keynote on creativity/entrepreneurship.
Guest lecture for arts admin or music business students (based on Nief-Norf leadership).
✈️ Typical Travel Schedule:
Day Before → Evening arrival flight, hotel check-in.
Residency Day → Morning clinic/workshop, afternoon masterclass or keynote, optional evening session/dinner.
Following Morning → Departure flight.
2-Day Residency
Ideal for pairing teaching with rehearsals or deeper workshops.
Day 1: Rehearsals with percussion ensemble, chamber group, or mixed ensemble.
Day 2: Performance with ensemble, plus masterclass or clinic.
Options to add:
Reading/feedback session with composition students.
Guest workshop on entrepreneurship or career-building in the arts.
Evening artist talk or interdisciplinary panel (music + other departments).
✈️ Typical Travel Schedule:
Day 1 → Morning arrival flight, afternoon rehearsals, evening workshop.
Day 2 → Clinics, dress rehearsal(s) + performance.
Day 3 → Morning departure flight.
3-Day Residency
Designed for festivals, universities, or presenter series seeking wide impact across campus or community.
Rehearsals + performance with student or professional ensembles.
Clinics/masterclasses for percussion studios and drummers.
Multi-day composition workshop (reading sessions + recording).
Public keynote or interdisciplinary artist talk.
Faculty seminar on pedagogy, improvisation, or technology.
Optional community engagement: public workshops, gallery talks, collaborative installations.
✈️ Typical Travel Schedule:
Day 1 → Arrival flight, opening rehearsal, evening meet-and-greet or talk.
Day 2 → Full day of rehearsals, workshops, or composer sessions.
Day 3 → Dress rehearsal + performance, optional public talk.
Day 4 → Morning departure flight.
What People Are Saying
" Andy Bliss presented an outstanding master class for our students at George Mason University! Not only were his comments technically helpful to the students, but he pushed them to expand their own artistic ideas and explore new ways to hear their music. He was an excellent clinician, and I look forward to his return."
— John Kilkenny /// Director of Percussion - George Mason University
"Andy Bliss presented a great and informative performance while at UNCP! His level of musicality and execution was tremendous and he also presented great information about the pieces during the program. My students also had a great time working with him in lessons and learning more about the history of percussion repertoire during our studio class time. He is a performer of the highest order!"
— Dr. Tracy Wiggins /// Director of Percussion - UNC Pembroke
"Andy's visit to the University of Nebraska was inspirational to our percussion studio. Andy worked expertly with our Percussion Ensemble and our students in clinic and masterclass settings. He was exceedingly generous with his time and knowledge and even presented to music majors in our Percussion Methods course. For me personally, it was an artistically and pedagogically refreshing visit. Thanks Andy!"
— Dr. Dave Hall /// Director of Percussion - University of Nebraska
“Andy has a unique ability to share very complex music with students in a way that is both accessible and educational.”
— Dr. Jason Baker /// Director of Percussion - Mississippi State University
“Andy’s recital was absolutely splendid, and his two lectures for our Percussion Literature and Studio Classes were expertly done. Andy spent a great deal of time with individual students, and talked shop with the students in between. His passion for this music is obvious and contagious....a top-drawer artist and scholar.”
— Dr. B. Michael Williams /// Director of Percussion - Winthrop University
"Andy Bliss' residency at Tennessee Tech University changed the way my students think and made me re-evaluate my approach as an educator. His expertise as a pedagogue, scholar, and performer are of the highest quality and I would welcome him back anytime! If you ever have the chance to work with Andy Bliss or bring him into your program, I couldn't recommend it more."
— Dr. Colin Hill /// Director of Percussion - Tennessee Tech University