John H. Beck (born February 16, 1933) is professor emeritus of percussion at the Eastman School of Music and was principal timpanist for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra from 1962 to 2002.
[2] Aiming to be a jazz drummer in the footstep of artists like Gene Krupa, Beck began studying at Eastman under William Street in 1951.
Notable students of Beck include drummer Steve Gadd, vibraphonist Joe Locke, and marimbist Leigh Howard Stevens.
With Beck as the host, the organization had the first annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) at Eastman in 1976.
[3] Alongside his role as a teacher and performer, Beck has authored articles for the Grove Dictionary of American Music, World Book Encyclopedia, and The Instrumentalist, among others.