Dr. Tripp’s first career was as a professional musician. Young Art started playing drums in the 4th grade with the school bands. In high school he started playing the drum set on “gigs” with bands at weddings, fraternity parties, dances, etc. He then became a student of Stanley Leonard, the timpanist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, from whom he learned to play all the other percussion instruments (xylophone, marimba, timpani, and dozens of others).

In 1961 he was accepted to the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and started the 4 year program in 1962. His private teacher at the Conservatory was Ed Weubold, a percussionist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra began hiring Art to play when a composition required a 4th percussionist. He soon became a regular member of the CSO, performing with such well known artists as Igor Stravinsky, Isaac Stern, Leonard Rose, Jose Iturbi, Loren Hollender, and Arthur Fiedler. In 1966 the U.S. State Department sent the orchestra on a 10-week world tour, which provided additional seasoning for the youthful percussionist.

During this time Art also played two seasons as timpanist with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as a season with both the Cincinnati Summer Opera, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. He was selected by avant garde composer John Cage to work with him in performances and workshops when Cage became composer in residence at the Conservatory of Music. The association lasted 6 months.

A re-exposure to pop and jazz had begun in 1965 with a job as percussionist in Judy Garland’s band when she toured to Cincinnati. Art also loved to sit in and “jam” at various jazz clubs. He would oftentimes leave the opera orchestra pit after a performance, discard his tux for street clothes, and rush over to Babe Baker’s Jazz Club in time for the 3rd set.

Having attained his Bachelor of Music degree in 1966, in 1967 Art accepted a scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music in New York, primarily in order to finish his Master of Music degree, but also to continue his exposure to contemporary music. His teacher was the former timpanist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Fred Hinger. Mr. Hinger was then playing percussion with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and teaching a few students at the Met.