Red Hot Chili Peppers Star Goes Back To High School

That's exactly what happened on November 16, 2010 as a part of the Percussion Marketing Council's (PMC) "Percussion in the Schools" program. The PMC solicited music stores across the county to nominate a school district with an outstanding music department and a strong foundation in arts education.

From hundreds of nominations, Peters Township High School was chosen to host the Chad Smith Percussion in The Schools day based on a submission from U-ROCK Music Center founder Vincent Nemeth of McMurray, PA. Nemeth noted the school's excellent instrumental music program led by music director Milton Barney.

"With over 200 students in the marching band alone, this is an extremely arts oriented school, with a lot of emphasis on the development of creative talents," Nemeth stated in his nomination submission.

The school was treated to both a general assembly and a master class for specially selected music students. Percussion author and educator Zig Waljer was also there to introduce students to an array of world percussion instruments, and Smith's love of music inspired the students as he beat out enthusiastic grooves on everything from the drum set to the marching percussion scattered about the band room.