Percussionists aren’t always rock stars, but that doesn’t mean they can’t play the drums just as fast as any rock band drummer.

Greg Power, senior percussionist with WSU’s School of Music, said playing fast songs is one of his favorite parts of performing.

“I like to play fast music,” he said. “I will get a lot of eye rolls from the music department for that, but it’s true.”

Power said he loves fast music because he still gets excited about performances, even eight years after he started practicing percussion in seventh grade.

“I always wanted to play drum set, and there was a jazz band in seventh grade,” Power said. “I tend to rush things sometimes because I get excited. When I’m performing you can tell I enjoy it, and I think it makes for a better event.”

Dr. David Jarvis, a WSU professor of music and Power’s studio teacher, said Power also has strong technical skills that allow him to play so quickly.

“He’s a great technical player,” Jarvis said. “He’s a very good musical student and an excellent percussionist.”

For Power, music is a family affair in a lot of ways. He said it allows him more opportunities to show his parents and his brother what he has been working on, both inside and outside of his major.

Power said he started playing music so early because of his parents.

“My mom played the flute and my dad played the piano. And actually, my twin brother is in the music program too, and he plays trombone,” he said.

He is especially looking forward to his recital today, a performance necessary to satisfy the requirements of the music performance major.

“I just like playing music and performing, and I felt like if I was going to major in music I’d want to continue to play it and perform for myself,” Power said.

He began with the cello earlier in his elementary school career. He played both instruments throughout high school, but realized once he got to college that he could not major in performance of both.

“I didn’t think I was good enough at cello to pursue it, and I didn’t have time to practice both,” Power said. “I still play cello in the orchestra. I can bring out the melodic side with the cello, and I guess you could say the more visceral side with percussion.”

However, Power said that his experience with both instruments has made him a stronger performer.

Jarvis agreed with Powers, saying that it’s exciting to work with a student who can play multiple instruments, and play them well.

Power is also heavily involved in ensembles; percussion studio, marching band, and indoor percussion, as well as orchestra.

“The cool thing is that I’ll be playing one piece, in one style. And then it’ll be something different. It’ll be rudimental snare, and then it’ll be concert snare, and then a fast paced marimba style. Each piece will be intriguing and interesting,” he said.

Power said that for much of his time at WSU he has worked with Jarvis, who had a hand in selecting the music for his performance. Both Jarvis’s knowledge of percussion repertoire and Power’s unique talent is what Jarvis said guided his selection of pieces.

“He’s doing a multiple percussion piece called ‘Inspiration Diabolique,’” Jarvis said. “One of the reasons I chose it is because he happens to have a lot of technicality, so it’s perfect for a person like him.”

Though Power has been a successful student during his time here, he said he is still unsure about what is in store for him after graduation.

“There are a lot of different things I’d want to get into,” Power said. “I am a little nervous to graduate, but I do have one year left. I have thought about working in a recording studio with a label.”

Power said he would also like to teach private lessons to help aspiring musicians the way his teachers helped him early on in his career.

“I really enjoy that one-on-one interaction and seeing someone learn something new,” he said. “They have those epiphanies I had when I was learning. It’s cool to see that growth, just like my teachers did for me.”

Regardless of his occupation, Power said one thing is certain – he will most likely leave Pullman.

“I’ll possibly go to grad school and just keep practicing. I’m also considering moving over to Seattle because it’s a huge music area,” Power said.

Power’s performance will take place at 8 p.m. this evening in Kimbrough Concert Hall. Admission is free.