Percussive Arts Society: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Percussive Arts Society (PAS) is an international music service organization promoting percussion education, research, performance and appreciation.

Established in 1961 as a non-profit, music service organization, PAS is the world's largest percussion organization and is a central source for information and networking for percussionists and drummers of all ages. With approximately 7,000 members (as of 2004), PAS has chapters located across the United States and Canada, and in 15 other countries.

PAS publishes two bi-monthly publications, Percussive Notes and Percussion News, and a website that contains publication archives, research databases, a conference center, museum tour and other features. PAS is headquartered in Lawton, Oklahoma, and includes the Percussive Arts Museum and Library, which contains rare and unusual percussion instruments and scores.

The Percussive Arts Society is well known among percussionists for the PAS International Drum Rudiments, a set of basic drum beats and exercises that is used by percussion educators. These rudiments can be found in most percussion music books and a copy is available for free download from the PAS web site.