David Bruce
Percussion Faculty
David Bruce attended Florida State University with a major in Music Education. While in Tallahassee, he performed with the FSU Marching Band, Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Jazz Band, and Percussion Ensemble. He was selected to represent the United States with other members of the FSU music program at the World Trade Fair in Damascus, Syria, and Amman, Jordan. David moved to Orlando and continued his music with The Florida Symphony, and the Wings of Sound, a local group that played private events as well as performing regularly at Disney World, Sea World, Boardwalk and Baseball, Rosie O’Grady’s, and downtown Orlando street festivals. He performed one summer at Walt Disney World’s Tomorrow Land with the national vocal group Brothers and Sisters, toured North Florida cities with the legendary rock and roll group The Diamonds, and has performed on stage with multiple Grammy winner Dianne Schuur.
In 1994 David moved to Asheville and has been involved with many local organizations: The Asheville Community Band, the Smoky Mountain Brass Band, the Blue Ridge Civic Orchestra, the Land of the Sky Concert Band, and the Jubilee Summer Orchestra. He was a member of the Hendersonville Swing Band for several years as well as performing at Asheville 1st Baptist and other area churches for special services. He is a percussionist with the Asheville Lyric Opera, the Asheville Community Theater, and the Haywood Arts Regional Theater, performing shows ranging from Madam Butterfly to The Wizard of Oz. David is a member of Orange Krush Band, a special event band that plays throughout the Southeast.
In the Asheville area, David has helped to run rock band camps as well as weekly clinics for middle school percussion students and high school marching drum lines. David has taught over 100 students concert percussion and drum set. Many of his students received honors in all-county, all-district, and all-state levels. He formerly worked as the Percussion/Drum Set Instructor at Montreat College.
David believes that no matter if an individual is a student of music or just a casual listener; they feel strongly about their favorite kind of music. He believes that applying this philosophy to the instruction of basic music fundamentals is an invaluable one. What better way to understand and learn music fundamentals if one is shown how it applies to their favorite music. He feels that adapting lesson plans to the individual’s musical interest will keep their interest level high and lead to an enjoyable learning experience.