JOHN W. PARKS IV, Assistant Professor of Percussion, joined the faculty of Florida State University in 2003. He earned the Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance and Literature degree from the Eastman School of Music. He holds two Master's degrees from Northwestern University, one each in Percussion Performance and Jazz Pedagogy, and a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Furman University. Dr. Parks has studied with Patricia Dash and Al Payson of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, John Beck and Jim Tiller of the Rochester Philharmonic, Paul Wertico, formerly of the Pat Metheny Group, Michael Burritt, and John Beckford. Parks is an artist/clinician for the Avedis Zildjian Company, Pearl/Adams, Innovative Percussion, Grover Pro Percussion, and Paragon Percussion.

Dr. Parks has performed with diverse performing organizations ranging from the Eastman Wind Ensemble on their 2000 Tour of Japan and Taiwan and the Schlossfestspiele Orchestra of Heidelberg to the Kansas City, Alabama, Key West and Tallahassee Symphony Orchestras. He has appeared as a performer/clinician on National Public Radio, the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Percussive Arts Society International conventions, NACWPI, and state MENC conventions, in addition to appearances at PAS Days of Percussion and guest artist residencies across the United States. He is an active scholar as well, having published articles in Percussive Notes and the Zildjian Educator. Dr. Parks' new compact disc, Dusk: Percussion Music from the Heartland, consisting of new commissioned percussion ensemble and solo works, was recently released.