Metro Chattanooga's premier percussion lesson studio since 1983. https://schoolofpercussivearts.com/2020/02/12/chips-bio/
All concepts on this site is Artistic and Intellectual Property of
Chip Hancock, Chattanooga, TN © ® ™ 2012 by Chip Hancock
The School of Percussive Arts: A Legacy of Percussion Excellence
Our Mission and Philosophy
The School of Percussive Arts is dedicated to its students and their passion for music. My primary goal is to offer students versatile, effective, and successful instruction supported by a comprehensive percussion curriculum. Students work diligently to master the fundamentals of music, drumming, and music reading skills. Success is fostered by establishing goals and learning the steps required to achieve them. This emphasis on objectives and aspirations not only empowers students in their musical studies but also benefits them in many other facets of life. Our History
I founded the School of Percussive Arts (SOPA) in August 1983, after returning to Chattanooga, Tennessee, from my tenure with the USMC Band in San Diego, California. Recognizing a significant need in Chattanooga for a comprehensive percussion instructor—one who could teach snare drum, drum set, timpani, marching percussion, keyboard instruments, symphonic percussion, and auxiliary percussion—I established SOPA to fill this gap. While many teaching facilities require several instructors to cover all these areas, my extensive experience enables me to provide instruction across the entire spectrum of percussion. During my time with the USMC Band, I performed in more than 1,000 appearances throughout the West Coast, gaining invaluable experience in a variety of genres on both drum set and all percussion instruments. This foundation of versatility in musical situations, styles, and venues was further strengthened by over 28 years of experience playing in the percussion section and on drum set for the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. I am committed to sharing this wealth of knowledge and experience with all my SOPA students. Our Impact and Instruction
Since 1983, SOPA has been recognized as the premier source for percussion education in the Chattanooga area. Through private lessons, group lessons, clinics, workshops, percussion ensembles, and year-round instruction in numerous high schools and middle schools, I have had the privilege of working with thousands of drummers. The combination of my teaching methods and the dedication and practice of my students has resulted in outstanding success among drummers in the Chattanooga area—and this number continues to grow each year. Why Choose SOPA? SOPA is a one-stop destination for percussion studies. I take great pride in my extensive teaching and performance background with all percussion instruments, as well as earning a Bachelor of Science Degree Cum Laude with a Concentration in Instrumental Music Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. There is no need for multiple teachers to cover all areas of percussion study; I provide qualified, expert instruction at a reasonable price. SOPA focuses exclusively on percussion, ensuring that 100% of the attention and instruction is dedicated to percussion and the unique needs of each percussion student.
