Paul Buyer is Director of Percussion and Professor of Music at Clemson University where he also served as Acting Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Affairs for the College of Arts and Humanities. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from the University of Arizona and his Bachelor of Science degree from Ball State University.

Featured in SUCCESS Magazine’s Achiever’s Series, Dr. Buyer is a sought-after keynote speaker, clinician, and the author of World Music: Diversity in Styles, Instruments, and Culture (Spring 2024), Drumline Gold: Innovative Systems for Marching Percussion ExcellenceWorking Toward Excellence: 8 Values for Achieving Uncommon Success in Work and Life, Marching Bands and Drumlines: Secrets of Success from the Best of the Best, and co-author of The Art of Vibraphone Playing: An Essential Method for Study and Performance.

He is a contributing author to the second edition of Teaching Percussion by Gary Cook, and his articles have appeared in American Music TeacherTeaching Music, Yamaha Educator Suite, Jazz Education Network, Percussive Notes, Rhythm! Scene, and The PAS Educators’ Companion. He has been interviewed on Our Culture to the World, The Global Bandroom, Rudimental MindsetThe Marching Roundtable, The Washington Tattoo, Pete’s Percussion Podcast, Sabian Insights, Neil Grover’s Discussions in Percussion, and Domenico Zarro’s blog, The Percussion Student among others.

Dr. Buyer is a former member of the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps and placed 2nd in DCI Keyboard Individuals in 1990. In 1992, he was a percussion staff member with the Dutch Boy Drum and Bugle Corps. Dr. Buyer serves as a clinician/endorser for Yamaha Percussion, Vic-Firth Drumsticks, Remo Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, Grover Pro Percussion, and is an Educational Artist for Balter Mallets. He was the recipient of the 2019 PAS Outstanding Service Award, served as PAS Second Vice President from 2015-2018, and currently serves as Co-Editorial Director for Percussive Notes, the official PAS journal.