Chip Hancock was born in Marietta, Georgia, and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He began playing drums in the third grade, and soon realized a love for percussion that would ultimately become his life’s passion.
Chip became an accomplished drummer early on, and began to share his expertise in percussion by teaching drum lessons in Chattanooga at the young age of 15. The next year, at 16, he auditioned and was awarded a Guaranteed Musician Option for the United States Marine Corps. Upon graduation from the Armed Forces School of Music in Little Creek, Virginia, at the age of 18, he served in the USMC Band in San Diego, California, as Principal Percussion and Drum Set where he had the opportunity to perform for countless national and international dignitaries.
Following his military service, Chip returned to teaching music and founded his School of Percussive Arts in Chattanooga in 1983. Since then, his students have won over 400 percussion positions in All-County and All-State Jazz Bands, Symphonic Bands and Orchestras, Georgia District 7 Honors Band, Chattanooga Youth Symphony Orchestra, and various Honors Bands. In addition to his private instruction, Chip is the Director of Percussion at The McCallie School. He also spent four years as Director of Percussion at Ridgeland High School and Rossville MS, six years as Director of Percussion, Pep Band, and Jazz Band at The Baylor School, and 14 years as Director of Percussion at Ringgold High School and RMS. Chip was the Director of Percussion from 1987 to 2012 at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School and LMS. Chip graduated Cum Laude from The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a Bachelor of Science degree in Instrumental Music Education.
Chip is not only a successful music teacher, but also an accomplished and seasoned performer. He was principle percussion and drum set with the USMC Band San Diego, and has traveled with the Beauty and the Beast European Tour, and the Evita European Tour. From 1985 – 2012, he performed with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, as a section percussionist and principal drum set. During his musical career, Chip has been fortunate to perform with numerous local acts in San Diego, California, Atlanta, Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee, and with many musical greats to include: