Dr. Sean Millman

Equal parts performer, scholar, arranger, and coach, Sean Millman is a New York-trained drummer-percussionist and deliberate practice scholar. Dr. Millman earned his Ph.D. in Percussion Performance from NYU Steinhardt, and is currently the adjunct instructor of percussion for Missouri Southern State University. His primary research interest is the unified application of findings from the expert performance, motor learning, and sport psychology discourses into an actionable process of research-backed improvement for performing musicians.

Sean’s commercial performance experience includes cruise work as drummer and bandleader with Holland America Line, theatre playing at the New London Barn Playhouse, Weathervane Theatre, and Off-Off Broadway houses across New York City, and theme park work and corporate engagements. As soloist and chamber musician, Sean is a member of the Ephemera duo alongside NYC-based flutist Hannah Donnelly, and an active commission and consortium member of new music for solo percussion, especially alongside multimedia integrations.

Dr. Millman has given research presentations virtually or in person for PASIC, the national conference of NACWPI, and CMS Pacific Northwest, and is a frequent clinician for college music programs.

Sean has been published in Percussive Notes, Rhythm! Scene, and Allegro, is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, Percussive Arts Society, American Musicological Society, College Music Society, and the National Association of College Wind and Percussion Instructors, and currently serves as chair of the PAS Scholarly Research Committee and coordinator of the PAS Thesis and Dissertation Repository.

Dr. Millman endorses Vic Firth, Zildjian, and Black Swamp. Learn more at millmanpercussion.com.