Hi, I'm Spencer Perilloux
Percussionist, Educator, and Creator of the Self-Correcting Framework
I help ambitious percussionists develop the technical foundation and mental frameworks they need to perform with confidence across all keyboard percussion instruments—marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, and beyond—whether that's preparing for college auditions, ensemble performances, or simply breaking through frustrating plateaus.
Education & Experience
Master of Music
University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance
Studied with Jonathan Ovalle and Joseph Gramley, two of the most respected percussion pedagogues in the country.
Bachelor of Music
Central Michigan University
Graduated Summa Cum Laude. Developed foundational teaching methodology under Dr. Julie Davila.
Civic Youth Ensembles
Percussion Instructor, Detroit
Garden City High School
Percussion Clinician
MUIR Middle School
Private Instructor, Milford MI
My Teaching Philosophy
The Self-Correcting Framework
Teach Diagnosis, Not Just Exercises
Most percussion students know what to practice, but they don't know how to diagnose why something isn't working. I teach you to identify the root cause of technical problems so you can fix them independently, without needing a teacher to constantly correct you.
Build Mental Models, Not Just Muscle Memory
Technique isn't just physical—it's cognitive. I help you build mental frameworks (like the Anchor Intervals System and the Two-Lane Highway) that make learning new music faster and more intuitive. You'll understand the "why" behind every movement.
Focus on Transferable Skills
I don't just teach you how to play a specific piece. I teach you systems that apply to everything you'll ever play. Once you understand the principles, you can apply them to any repertoire, any audition, any performance.
Performance Experience
My teaching is informed by years of professional performance experience, including:
- Substitute percussionist with the Flint Symphony Orchestra
- Section percussionist with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra
- Performances at Round Top Festival Institute
- Chamber music collaborations with flutist Alexis Eubanks (Gillingham's Five Fantasies)
- Solo xylophone performances (Bob Becker's Girlfriends Medley)
- Timpani performances with Civic Youth Ensembles Detroit
I bring the same standards I hold for my own performance to my teaching—precision, musicality, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Student Success Stories
Results speak louder than credentials
Keyboard Instruments
Marimba, vibraphone, xylophone, and all mallet percussion
College Acceptances
Students accepted to top music programs (Northwestern, Michigan, etc.)
Students Reached
Through online courses, clinics, and private instruction
Why I Created Unlock the Keyboard
I created Unlock the Keyboard because I saw the same pattern over and over: talented students practicing hours a day but making minimal progress on mallet percussion. They had access to great teachers, but they didn't have a systematic approach to learning the keyboard.
I realized that what was missing wasn't more exercises—it was a framework. A way to think about the keyboard that made learning new music intuitive instead of overwhelming. That's when I developed the Anchor Intervals System, the Two-Lane Highway, and the Map-Making Loop.
Unlock the Keyboard is the course I wish I'd had when I was a student. It's the consolidation of everything I've learned from studying with world-class educators, performing professionally, and teaching hundreds of students. And it works.