Percussion
Education
Dr. Don J. Johns received his Bachelors of Music and Music Education and his Masters of Music at the University of Maryland before going on to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance from Shenandoah Conservatory.
Performance
Don is an in-demand percussion performer and educator in the Baltimore/Washington Metropolitan area. Don is the principal timpanist of the Apollo Orchestra and performs with the Soulful Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Annapolis Symphony, Maryland Symphony, Mid-Atlantic Symphony, Bay-Atlantic Symphony, and the American Festival Pops Orchestra. Additionally, Don is a member of the Gateways Festival Orchestra and the Colour of Music Festival Orchestra. He also currently serves as president of the MD/DE chapter of the Percussive Arts Society.
Teaching
In addition to his teaching at Levine, Don is an Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Bowie State University and Percussion Director at Northwestern High School.
Teaching Philosophy
I believe music can be a conduit through which many life skills can be honed. I believe inspiring students and cultivating discipline are both necessary to position them for success.
At Levine
Don joined our percussion faculty in 2022. He loves teaching students the fundamentals while having fun and believes strongly that the work ethic, discipline, commitment, and consistency that we cultivate in our music lessons can transfer into success in any area of life.
More About Dr. Don Johns
When not playing and teaching percussion, you might find Don enjoying reading, sports, or cooking.