Timothy Jones

Dr. Timothy Jones is the Coordinator of Percussion Studies and History of Rock at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He is internationally recognized for his innovative teaching, creative research, and diverse talent as a percussion and drum set performing artist.

Dr. Jones has appeared locally, regionally and nationally throughout the United States; internationally in England, Scotland, Austria, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia for lecture recitals, masterclasses, and chamber and solo performances to advance the Percussive Arts. He also boasts a long and diverse list of performing credits including the Las Vegas Philharmonic, the Amadeus Orchestra, Las Vegas Opera, Mary Wilson, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, Sarah Brightman, Josh Groban, Peter Cetera, Natalie Merchant, Don Rickles, the Irish Tenors, the Wild Celts, Mojo Risin’ and Carl Fontana among others.

His performance CD and DVD credits include Hit Man DVD/CD (David Foster), Under a Desert Sky DVD/CD (Andrea Bocelli), Songs From The Drunk Tank (Wild Celts), Leaving Las Vegas (The Killers), A Tribute to Peggy Lee (Buddy Greco), Live at the Desert Inn (Brian Evans), four UNLV Marimba Band albums, a UNLV Rebel Steel album, UNLV Marimba Band at the Amargosa Opera House DVD, and several 2018/2019 NEXTET recordings of new music. His 2016 TedX presentation The Marimba is featured in the keyboard chapter of Gary Cook’s Teaching Percussion MindTap enhanced 3rd edition (2019). And, a 2017 innovative collaboration with master marimba builder James Bailey, students, cross-discipline UNLV faculty, and the community, resulted in building a five-octave marimba from raw materials to concertized instrument in 4 months. This incredible marimba project is memorialized in the 2018 UNLV documentary film The Wood That Sings (https://vimeo.com/278826651), and abridged educational version produced for the Percussive Arts Society affiliated Rhythm Discovery Center (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0Fd66BZz1o).

Dr. Jones’ book Rock ‘n’ Roll Origins & Innovators is in its 2nd revised edition (Kendall Hunt 2020), and he has several published articles in Percussive Notes, DrumScene, PercusScene, Not So Modern Drummer, and, in November 2016, he was featured on Dame Evelyn Glennie’s BBC podcast “The History of Rhythm.” Inspiration for Dr. Jones’ work to break new ground stems from recognition of his contributions to the Arts as the 2008 College of Fine Arts “Outstanding Teacher of the Year,” and 2010 “Outstanding Alumnus of the Year.” Dr. Jones is a life member of Phi Kappa Phi, and proud to endorse Schlagkraft Mallets, Vic Firth, Sabian, Grover Pro Percussion, Remo, and Majestic Percussion.