Walk in the park inspires musician
Special to The Clinton Courier
Percussionist Paul Heindl visited the Clinton Lions Club Park with his children shortly after it opened in 2020 and was inspired to compose an original percussion piece to be played in the park.
Heindl, who is the Hinds Community College percussion instructor, said, “I was happy that the park designers decided to include durable, accessible percussion instruments. I immediately checked the tuner on my phone to see if the two melodic instruments (vibraphone and tubular chimes) were in tune, and they were. My idea was to compose a percussion ensemble piece that included the djembes, or African hand drums, the vibraphone and tubular chimes there in the park with some additional modern electronic percussion instruments.”
When Heindl, who is contributing his original composition to the project, presented his concept to the Arts Council of Clinton board of directors, the board endorsed his idea and voted to support the effort with a $1,000 donation toward the cost of production. Plans call for Blue Sky Studios to record and edit the video and audio.
“We just finished two recordings with them at Hinds at the end of last semester, and they did a great job,” says Heindl. The videos can be seen on the Hinds Percussion Studio page on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. 
“After we record, we will present the video on YouTube and social media to celebrate the new park, the community, and arts in general in the Clinton area,” reports Heindl. The performers will be a combined ensemble from Hinds Community College and Mississippi College and will include about six percussionists.
When it was realized that additional funds would be required to record and edit the production, a Go-Fund-Me was set up to solicit donations from supporters of the arts who might be interested.
In addition to teaching at Hinds, Heindl is an adjunct professor at Mississippi College and offers private instruction. He received bachelor and Master of Music Performance degrees from the University of Mississippi, where he was active in university instrumental ensembles. He is an active clinician, adjudicator and performer and has played with the Corinth, Meridian and Mississippi Symphony Orchestras as well as the Mississippi Wind Symphony. He also accompanies musicals regularly at high schools, colleges and at New Stage Theatre in Jackson. He currently plays drum set for Countrywoods Baptist Church in Byram.
He and his wife Adriana are the parents of Annelise, Kali, Haddie, Esli and Ashlyn.
