Newsflash—we’re just as obsessed with the best classical music artist of our era as you are. That’s why we’ve put our heads together at Classical Post (in a totally selfless effort, right?) to dig in and get the dirt on what our absolute favorite classical music artists love, do on a daily basis, and can’t get enough of. 

That pursuit of getting to know the best of the best classical musicians on a deeper level led us to ask the question—are they really just like us? And what tells us more about a person’s behavior than a peek into what their day-to-day routines look like? Thus, our new section Artist Routines was born.

Today, we’re talking daily routines with David Skidmore of Third Coast Percussion. David, an ensemble member and the executive director of Third Coast Percussion, is an accomplished chamber musician who’s performed at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center Festival, EMPAC, the Kimmel Center, and more. Though David has performed as a soloist all over the world, is a composer, and has taught for four years on the percussion faculty at Peabody Conservatory, his focus on the ensemble is unwavering. 

Third Coast Percussion, a Grammy-winning, artist-run quartet is composed of classically trained percussionists all hailing from Chicago. The ensemble, which has been together for over ten years, is well-known for its energetic performances, extraordinary depth, and exhilarating stage presence. David is, of course, a vital piece to that puzzle. 

 Wondering what makes this percussionist tick? Let’s get to know David just a little bit better as he guides us first-hand through his routines, his habits, and his day-to-day quirks. 

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE BEST PART OF THE DAY—THE MORNING. WHAT’S YOUR EVERYDAY MORNING ROUTINE? 

When I’m not on tour, I wake up around 6:30 AM; make breakfast for myself, my wife, and my daughter; and help them both get ready to leave by about 7:45 AM. Then, I usually have about two hours to work on my own before rehearsals start at 10 AM. I might write some music, listen to some music, practice (never as often as I would like), or just catch up on phone calls and emails. Once 10 AM hits, the day is out of my hands—so, I like having a couple of hours to myself before things get really nuts. 

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A PERFORMANCE THE “DAY OF”? 

Third Coast Percussion always needs to load in and set up way earlier than most classical ensembles. So, we’re typically starting our days at 10 AM and working until everything is set and ready to go—including musical rehearsal, sound, lights, video, (and) whatever production needs we have for that evening’s concerts. Then, if that’s all done in time, my very favorite thing is to go back to the hotel and read until I fall asleep. Then, I get myself dressed and ready for the show. 

I’m basically like a smartphone—if I’m able to power down in the middle of the day, even for a few minutes, it always makes things run smoother during a show. I also have some warm-up exercises I play through in the dressing room before we go on stage, just to warm up my hands. 

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