Jim Royle Drum Studio's Advanced Percussion Ensemble Jim Royle is a well recognized percussion instructor known for his high standards of teaching and is the current president of the Percussive Arts Society Connecticut Chapter. Jim's studio is actually an academy of percussion with a faculty of five and operates on two semesters per school year, each ending with a recital where the students perform solo pieces as well as ensemble works. The studio, which is a private teaching practice rather than a high school, has students from several towns in the Fairfield County (CT) area and these students can juggle their personal schedules to practice only one evening per week. Nevertheless, their excellence has been well documented as they have been asked to perform at several Percussive Arts Society Chapter Days in nearby states, at many percussion festivals at area colleges in Connecticut and New York, the Connecticut Special Olympics, and for functions at churches and municipalities. The group has also performed in Disneyland and Disney World, the latter with guest artist Dave Samuels who is a jazz vibraphonist living in Fairfield. The ensemble has participated in Bands Of America since 1999.