High School

Academy

Training Tomorrow’s Top Percussionists — Today!

  • 5 Core Spots

    A premier training studio of 5 Core Spots for the nation’s most dedicated high school percussionists.

  • Lessons

    Take 1-on-1 Lessons with me as we work through a curriculum to get you dialed in for college!

  • Studio Class

    Monthly Studio Classes to help coach you on performing under pressure.

  • College Counseling

    Students and parents receive individualized College Counseling Support tailored to their post-high school plans.

  • Webinars

    A series of Webinars detailing percussion fundamentals, practice basics, audition strategies, and college preparation for music majors.

  • Master Classes

    Learn directly from world-class percussionists through exclusive live Master Classes—focused on performance, technique, and audition preparation.

  • Core Tuition

    $7,000 secures your place in a studio built for transformation. For five students each year, this is where serious turns into extraordinary. Payment plans available.

Meet the Team

  • LA Phil - Principal Percussion

    Matt Howard is the youngest Principal Percussionist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic; the same orchestra he grew up watching as a Los Angeles native. Before joining the LA Phil, he was a resident of Miami, FL where he was a Percussion Fellow with the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas. He has performed with such groups as the San Francisco Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Santa Barbara Symphony, and Boston Ballet. He also has been a member in the National Repertory Orchestra, Verbier Festival Orchestra, and Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra.

    Matt attended the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music earning a Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance. For his Master in Percussion Performance, he studied at the New England Conservatory in Boston. Immediately after graduating in 2015, he was offered the fellowship with the New World Symphony.

    Matt also runs the Matt Howard Percussion Academy, where he maintains a teaching studio of professional percussion students. Additionally, he regularly teaches private lessons and master classes at top music colleges and conservatories around the world.


  • College Counselor

    Kelly Hedgspeth Howard has spent nearly 15 years as an expert in the selective college admission field and has strong experience working with high school students and their families. She holds a Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan and a Masters of Education in Mind, Brain, and Education from Harvard University. She has spent 10 years working at private, college prep schools across the US (Ohio, Virginia, and California) as a College Counselor. In addition to her role in College Counseling, she also has experience at private high schools as a Grade Level Dean, Residential Life Faculty Member, Private Music Instructor, and Athletic Coach. Additionally, she has worked on the college side as an Assistant Director of Admission at Centre College (a College That Changes Lives) and as a Seasonal Application Reader for Boston University. In these positions, she has read over a thousand undergraduate applications and has also served on scholarship review committees for premiere academic scholars and talent-based performing arts programs. Kelly truly loves collaborating with students and families and utilizing her expertise to help them navigate the exciting transition from high school to college! 

How To Apply!

Fill out the Interest Form and Schedule Interview

Fill out the Interest Form and schedule a Zoom interview with Matt Howard and our admissions team to learn more about this program.

Submit Your Application and Audition Recording

Submit a short application and audition videos to share your musical background, goals, and potential. We’re looking for commitment, not perfection.

Receive Your Decision and Secure Your Spot

We’ll review your application and notify you of your acceptance. If invited, you’ll receive enrollment details and next steps to join the Academy.

Audition Requirements for 2025-2026 Enrollment

Designed to showcase your preparation, musicality, and potential

Audition Repertoire:

Snare Drum:

  • Any Snare Drum Etude from Mitchell Peters Intermediate or Advanced Studies

  • One excerpt of choice

Marimba:

  • Any Two or Four Mallet solo of choice

Timpani:

  • Any Timpani Etude from Mitchell Peters Intermediate Timpani Studies

Short Introduction Video (1-2 minutes):

  • Why are you pursuing training in this academy, and what would it mean to be one of the 5 accepted into this program?

Recording Guidelines:

  • State your name and piece you will be performing before each recording

  • Record both video and audio

  • Place the camera at a clear angle showing your hands and the instrument

  • Each piece can be recorded separately

  • Upload video to the Application Form and submit by August 15, 2025

FAQs

  • Only 5 core students are accepted each year to ensure individualized attention, mentorship, and elite training.

    • Biweekly private lessons with Matt Howard

    • Monthly studio classes

    • Monthly college counseling sessions (led by an elite college admissions counselor specializing in the arts)

    • Live guest artist masterclasses

    • Webinars on audition strategy, practice systems, and performance psychology

  • Tuition for the full 9-month program is $7,000. Payment plans are available. This includes all training, classes, masterclasses, and college prep services.

  • The Academy is entirely online, designed for serious students across the country. All sessions are live via Zoom, with recordings available for key events. For families that live in the Los Angeles area, arrangements can be made for live lessons.

  • Core students study directly with Matt Howard, principal percussionist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Guest faculty and masterclass artists may also provide enrichment.

  • Yes! We accept students from 9th–12th grade, with the majority in 10th–12th. We tailor our guidance based on your year and goals.

  • Perfect — we specialize in helping students navigate college admissions, pre-screening, audition prep, and scholarship strategy in real time.

  • That’s okay. This program helps you clarify your path — whether that’s music performance, education, or another college route with a strong music foundation.

  • Students receive monthly private college counseling with a college counselor with expertise in highly selective admissions. This includes personalized school lists, essay planning, application strategy, pre-screen guidance, and scholarship coaching.

  • Yes. We include parents in key strategy sessions and help you understand timelines, financial aid options, and decision-making moments. You’ll always know what’s coming next.

Interest Form