I had the pleasure of interviewing one of my colleagues this week, Staff Sergeant Jeff Prosperie. He is a really great guy with an interesting background. I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did!

Staff Sergeant Jeff Prosperie arrived to the West Point Band as a member of the Hellcats in December of 2006. In addition to his duties as a Hellcat, he also performs with the percussion ensemble, steel band, and concert band. Jeff is a World Snare Drum Champion and is the only individual to capture the “triple crown” of solo competition (DCI, PAS, DCA). Jeff also serves as the percussion arranger/instructor for the nationally televised Army All-American High School Marching Band. Prior to his position at West Point, he served as Director of Percussion Studies at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, principal percussion with the Baton Rouge Symphony, and as the percussion designer/caption-head for the World Champion Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. He actively serves as a championship level adjudicator for DCI, USSBA, WGI and as a marching percussion committee member for PAS. Jeff earned his BMEd from LSU, his MM from The University of North Texas (UNT), and has completed all course work for the DMA at UNT. Jeff has performed, presented clinics, and adjudicated throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan as well as PASIC, TMEA, TBA, and The Mid-West Band and Orchestra Convention. Jeff’s compositions and solo performances can be seen in his book/DVD Aptitude - A Conversation in Snare Soloing published by Drop 6. This publication received the very rare rating of a perfect “10” from Modern Drummer Magazine declaring it a classic. He can also be seen as a featured artist on the recent DVD The Rudiment Project by the Percussive Arts Society as well as several performances on Youtube.com. Jeff is a performing artist endorsed by Pearl/Adams, Sabian, Innovative Percussion, and Evans.

JP:  No offense taken.  I am an unusual case in that I enlisted at the age of 39 and turned 40 during basic training.  At the time (2006), recruitment numbers were low and the Army decided to raise the enlistment age to 42.

JP: As you well know, basic training is challenging; however, a lot of really funny life long memories are made almost on a daily basis.  Being older than everyone else, and knowing that I was not going into combat after graduation really gave me a humorous perspective.  I was able to watch events unfold and recognize the head games involved.  I found it better than most reality TV shows.  One funny event was this young soldier from Atlanta was always hungry.......so he would stuff his pockets with bacon from breakfast and eat it during the day.  One time in formation the drill sergeant walked by and said "Private..what on earth is that sticking out of your pockets.  Of course his reply was "Bacon Drill Sergeant".....and you guessed right....we all did pushups for his bacon addiction. To this day, nearly every time I see a slice of bacon I have to smirk to myself.

JP:  I have had quite a career before coming to West Point which in many ways surpassed my own expectations.  I enjoy change and have moved around in careers several times.  The seven years before coming to West Point I was Professor of Percussion at The University of Louisiana, The principal percussionist for the Baton Rouge Symphony, The Acadiana Symphony, and the Natchez Opera.  During the summer I served as a World Championship level adjudicator for Drum Corps International and through out the year performed occasional clinics as a performing artist for the Pearl drum company, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Sabian Cymbals, and Evans drum heads.  Prior to the seven years just mentioned I served 6 years as the Percussion Caption Head and Arranger for The World Champion Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps while residing in Dallas Tx.  teaching, gigging and working on graduate degrees at The University of North Texas.

JP:  I am truly blessed for all the experiences I have had before coming to West Point and would not trade a single one of them; however, after getting married and starting a young family some of my priorities changed.  I had developed a very large program at UL Lafayette which included 25 percussion majors and nearly every sort of percussion ensemble you could imaging such as: Indonesian Gamelan, Japanese Taiko, African Drum and Dance, Afro Cuban, Brazilian Samba, Steel Band, Classical Ensemble, Pop Ensemble, Drumline, chamber groups, etc.  All of these ensembles plus the fact that I never learned how to say "no" to a gig left me spending very little time at home and not much energy to be the kind of father and husband I expected of my self and that my family deserved.  So, after bumping into  an old colleague of mine from the University of North Texas, SFC Rone Sparrow of the West Point Band, at the Percussive Arts Society Convention, and hearing about his family life style at West Point along with the coincidence of an opening in the Hellcats along with the Army raising it enlistment age.  I truly believed this was the answer to my prayers, took a leap of faith, and have been thankful and blessed ever since.

JP: Never in a million years did this ever cross my mind.

JP:  I can't really take credit for the creation of the Drumcats, just some of the content.  The real credit is the synergy of our team and the original ideas of Staff Sergeants Cuthbert and Calohan.  The drummers in the Hellcats work so well together, we laugh so hard together, we achieve great things together, we care deeply about one another and our families, and we are better off as individuals because of the group dynamic.  When you work and create in that sort of very rare dynamic, ideas flow so naturally that our problem is that we usually have too many ideas and activities we want to go out and experience.  The credit goes to SGM Sheffler for carefully assembling a team of individuals who compliment each other so well.

JP:  When I perform clinics or judge DCI or WGI, or teach the Army All American Marching Band, countless students and directors come and say how cool the sight is and what they have gotten out of the webpage.  I am so humbled and happy to give back to the world of rudimental percussion.  As far as plans,  like I said before.....the synergy of our group usually causes us to have more ideas than we have time.  I would expect more tutorials from the members and more commissioning projects and videos.

JP:  I perform on occasion with the Concert Band, Steel Band, and chamber percussion ensembles.  To be honest, I gigged so much (nearly every night) before I moved here that I was beginning to burn out.  I don't really miss it because I have filled my time with several hobbies I enjoy passionately, and I am now more invested in my children, wife, and physical and spiritual health and well being.

JP:   I don't know the answer to that, and that is scary.  The reason is, as I have said before, is that I truly enjoy change.  Every other job I have had I have enjoyed success and then for no reason would decide to leave after about 6 or 7 years to enjoy a new challenge.  I think now having a wife and 4 kids and laying down deeper roots than ever, and really enjoying the guys I work with in the drum section.......it is looking more and more likely that I will stay.

JP:  It is about 40% less time consuming and actually pays more.  You can't beat that, except with a stick.....and that's exactly what I do (insert rim shot/cym) .

JP:  A feeling of service and purpose.  I have performed hundreds of concerts over the years as a professional orchestral percussionist for moderately engaged audiences.  Nothing compares to playing a simple drum roll at the West Point Cemetery on a muffled drum to give the last honor to a fallen soldier and his or her family.  That is a purpose and service that I can provide with my God given talent and training that is rewarding to me.  Also, the predictable schedule and time that I can spend with my family is priceless.  My children go to a great school across the street from my house in Band Land here on post....priceless........the safety, security and convenience of living on post....awesome......the medical/dental benefits are really a huge bonus as well.  The beauty and historical significance of West Point is "jaw dropping"

JP:  My children are all interested in drumming.  They are always noodleing around on the drums and we have formed little family bands in the past.  They all play piano.  My wife is an excellent clarinetist who holds a music degree from The University of North Texas.  In fact on the last middle school band concert my 6th grade daughter performed one piece on clarinet (like her mother) and then for the second piece played in the percussion section on glockenspiel (like her father).  She is smart as a whip and has made straight A's for the past 2 1/2 years (proud bragging father alert)

JP: Thanks.......I have been inspired by you and the Q7 and love the youtube videos.  Very funny and so well played.