A-State Percussion Faculty
Making A-State a Destination for Total Growth
Dr. Brian Graiser
Instructor of Percussion and Percussion Coordinator
Dr. Brian Graiser is a contemporary percussionist, composer, and teacher, and became Arkansas State University's Instructor of Percussion and Percussion Coordinator in 2022. As A-State's percussion professor, Dr. Graiser teaches Applied Percussion and Percussion Techniques, directs the Arkansas State University Percussion Ensemble and Red Wolf Percussion Group, and oversees the A-State Drumline. Prior to joining A-State, Dr. Graiser was the full-time Lecturer of Percussion and Marching Percussion Director at Sam Houston State University from 2016-2022.
While his musical exploits are diverse, he is best known as an advocate for the vibraphone, highlighted by his DMA Project "Concerto No. 1 [Lulu]: Creating the World's First Concerto for the Four-Octave Vibraphone," numerous compositions and commissions for the instrument, and his service as founder and current President of The Vibraphone Project (www.thevibraphoneproject.org) 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Dr. Graiser regularly tours with his wife, Dr. Alaina Graiser (also on faculty at A-State), as the REFLECT harp+percussion duo and is currently producing a harp/percussion transcription of Debussy’s complete La Mer, although the duo’s most important project is raising their two sons William and Jonathan.
Originally from Marietta, Georgia, Dr. Graiser's performances and clinics have taken him up and down the U.S., Canada, Panama, France, Italy, China, and Australia, with recent highlights including research presentations at Dél-Alföldi Ütőhangszeres Szakmai Nap és Konferenciasolo (University of Szeged, Hungary) and the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC), and solo/chamber performances at the APERIO—Music of the Americas Festival, PASIC, the Festival Alfredo Saint Malo (Panama), the American Harp Society Summer Institute, and the 2022 Winter Vibe Fest at the Center for Mallet Percussion Research at Kutztown University. Upcoming engagements include a festival performance in Connecticut, a solo tour in Spring 2024, and the world premiere performance of his quartet "Listen" by the Matchstick Percussion Quartet in September.
Dr. Graiser earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in percussion performance (with a composition cognate) at the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music, with prior degrees in performance and composition from the University of Toronto and the University of Georgia.His former percussion and composition teachers include Allen Otte, Rusty Burge, Jim Culley, Russell Hartenberger, Beverly Johnston, John Rudolph, Tony McCutchen, Arvin Scott, Ellen Harrison, Stuart Saunders Smith, Michael Colgrass, Christos Hatzis, Chic Ball, and Adrian Childs. He is an endorser of Black Swamp Percussion, Dream Cymbals and Gongs, and Salyers Percussion, and is the proud owner of a DeMorrow Instruments four-octave vibraphone. His compositions are available through Alfonce Productions, Keyboard Percussion Publications, Media Press Inc., Smith Publications, and self-publication.
Jarrett Robinett
Adjunct Instructor of Percussion
Jarrett Robinett has recently joined the Arkansas State University Department of Music as an Adjunct Instructor of Percussion, where he currently teaches Applied Percussion lessons and is also involved with the faculty jazz ensemble and A-State Drumline. Mr. Robinett's activities at A-State continue a career of over thirty years performing and recording with wind bands, orchestras, chamber music groups, jazz bands, percussion ensembles, rock and blues bands, ceremonial marching bands, and as a solo percussionist. During his long performance career, he has appeared on stage with an array of notable musicians, conductors and composers, including Marvin Stamm, Karel Husa, Frederick Fennell, Jack Stamp, and the legendary Ray Charles.
Prior to joining A-State, Mr. Robinett served for twenty years as a percussionist with the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America and the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band until his retirement in 2021. During his military career, he performed with the USAF Concert Bands, Jazz Ensembles, Ceremonial Bands, Brass Quintets, Chamber Ensembles, Commercial/Rock/Pop bands, and as a solo ceremonial drummer for military events. As a bandsman he has performed on television, radio and the internet for millions of people in broadcast audiences and at live concert events across 29 American states. Mr. Robinett has performed for U.S. Presidents, Vice Presidents, foreign dignitaries, Federal and State Political Representatives, Chiefs of Staff for the Armed Services and foreign military leaders during public and official military events. From 2002-2005 he was a founding member of the Air Force Band Chamber Percussion Duo Resonant Elements that performed public recitals and taught clinics at numerous PAS Days of Percussion throughout the Midwestern United States.
During his assignment with the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America, Mr. Robinett was awarded Air Force certifications as an Audio Engineer and as a Percussionist for the band program. Following this achievement, he continued to both perform on stage and work off-stage for the Concert Band, stage bands and at various special concert events. Additionally, he programmed lighting shows, automated lighting effects and incorporated synchronized videos into numerous concerts across the Great Plains. These experiences led to him being named as the Producer/Director for the 32nd and 33rd annual Holiday Concert Programs for the United States Air Force Heartland of America Band. He oversaw the musical and visual design as well as the live performance elements of this popular concert series.
Mr. Robinett has been a faculty member of the ASU Band Camp, the Dixie Band Camp, and the Corning Public School District. He performed frequently with the Pine Bluff Symphony, the Fort Smith Symphony, the Conway Symphony and the Northeast Arkansas Symphony (now the Delta Symphony Orchestra). Mr. Robinett graduated from Arkansas State University with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree in 1999. His primary percussion instructors were Sherri Dees, Craig Collison, and Dr. Thomas Burritt. Mr. Robinett is endorsed by Salyers Percussion drumsticks and mallets as well as by Sabian cymbals. He is an alumni member of Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity and a member of the Percussive Arts Society.
Keith W. Hammer III
Adjunct Instructor of Percussion
Hailed at the Aspen Music Festival as a player of "ultimate refinement," orchestral percussionist Keith Hammer has recently joined the Arkansas State University Department of Music as an Adjunct Instructor of Percussion, where he currently teaches applied percussion lessons and masterclasses. Mr. Hammer is a tenured percussionist with Orchestra Iowa, with whom he has performed since 2019, and served as Timpani Fellow with The Orchestra Now from 2020-2023. Previous engagements include serving as the timpanist for the Brazosport Symphony Orchestra, playing as an extra percussionist with the West Point Band and the Houston Symphony, and over a decade of performances as a timpanist and percussionist with the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band.
In addition to winning the Orchestra Iowa Section Percussion audition in 2019, Mr. Hammer's achievements and accolades include a Percussion Fellowship at the 2019 Spoleto Festival USA, winning the 2019 Substitute/Extra Percussion auditions for the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet, the New Horizons Percussion Fellowship at the 2018 Aspen Music Festival, and winning the 2017 Aspen Music Festival Solo Percussion Competition. Mr. Hammer's teaching experience prior to his appointment at A-State includes teaching Orchestral Excerpt classes and a Timpani Functionality masterclass at Bard College (NY), serving as P.A.L.S. Teaching Fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and School (CO), and presenting a Masterclass on Artistic Thinking at the Tom Mackey Teaching Studio (IA).
Mr. Hammer earned his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Percussion Performance at Rice University, where he studied with Matthew Strauss. In 2023 he received an additional Master of Music degree in Curatorial, Critical and Performance Studies at Bard College.
Student Leadership
Leading the Pack
In addition to the leadership of the percussion faculty, the student leaders of the A-State Drumline and Percussion Studio play a vital role in the overall program's ongoing pursuit of excellence, community, and integrity. Take a look below to learn more about the team.
