Farmington Winter Percussion is an extracurricular activity for students with any music background.  The goal for FWP is to serve percussionists, and those committed to improving their rhythm skills.  FWP will not be working on marching percussion during this season, and will be spending more time putting together ensembles and focusing on challenging percussionists through ensemble skills and a focus on percussion ensemble literature.  The addition of the Honors Quartet will serve as an opportunity for advanced percussionists to challenge themselves in a small group setting.

Matt Nielsen started playing percussion in a summer program when he was 10 years old, and he has never stopped. His percussive pursuits took him to Brigham Young University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Music for Media, with a Percussion emphasis. While at University, Matt expanded his musical horizons by participating in marching band, jazz big bands & combos (drum set & percussion), percussion ensemble, steel drum ensemble, Celtic folk ensemble, and the Young Ambassadors, an internationally renowned touring ensemble where he served as drummer, band leader, and arranger for 3 years. Matt and his family moved to Minnesota in 2009, where you may have seen him playing keytar, drums, or singing at Valleyfair, on and underneath the stage for various Twin Cities theatre companies and cabarets, or prowling the sidelines with area high school drumlines.