Volta Percussion

In June 2025, we met up in New Orleans for an in person live session. No one has heard this recording before today. We discuss how teachers discuss effectiveness with their students and more.  Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation for Per...

This week we just have an open discussion on New Year, New Me. How can students make the best of the new year. Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators, Designers, and Performers.  Find us at https://www.instagram.co...

This week we finish our 3 part series on Advocacy.  How do we advocate for as teachers and designers? Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators, Designers, and Performers.  Find us at https://www.instagram.com/voltape...

This week we continue part two of our 3 part series on Advocacy.  How do we advocate for ourselves? Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercus... Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators, Designers...

This week we start part one of a 3 part series on Advocacy.  How do we advocate for our programs? Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercus... Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators, Designers,...

We want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holiday weekend! Tune in next week for a brand new episode Part 1 of our 3 part Advocacy series. See you there!  Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercus... Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ry...

This week we discussed education versus competition with education. Should we make sacrifices and if so, why? Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercus... Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators,...

This week we discussed teaching versus cleaning, our preferences, and how we approach each differently. Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercus... Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators, Desig...

This week we discussed critique and judges tapes.  Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercus... Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators, Designers, and Performers.  Find us at https://www.instagr...

This week we discussed how to close the skill gap between your older/more experienced players and your younger/less experienced players.  Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercus... Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversati...

We're Back!    It's been almost two years since our last sit down and boy has there been some stuff in our lives. This two part series welcome's back the Volta crew, just to catch us back up to where we are currently before we jump back into some of what we all love to talk about, changing the conversation with percussion education.  Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom...

We're Back!   It's been almost two years since our last sit down and boy has there been some stuff in our lives. This two part series welcome's back the Volta crew, just to catch us back up to where we are currently before we jump back into some of what we all love to talk about, changing the conversation with percussion education.  Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom...

This week we discussed Random Thoughts Part II.   Anything and everything, nothing is off the table. And this week, we got even deeper... Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/ Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversa...

This week we discussed Timelining a Season.   How to set up a program from top to bottom including a production schedule. Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/ Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation for Percuss...

This week we discussed Specialization.   Is it worth it and why? Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/ Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators, Designers, and Performers.  Find us at htt...

This week we discussed Random Thoughts.   Anything and everything, nothing is off the table.  Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/ Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators, Designers, an...

This week we discussed Does Overteaching Exist?   Do we let our students discover (learn) or do we just teach too much? Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/ Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation for Percussio...

This week we discussed Critique.   What information should we take from judges, what's time critical and general discussion.  Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/ Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation fo...

This week we discussed Preparation. Do we prepare our students enough for all of it and how do we coach the person vs coaching the performer? Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/ Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conv...

This week we discussed how to Re-Engage. Setting students up for success amidst the massive changes that have happened in the last year.  Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/ Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversa...

This week we discussed how to reach your audience and does the message actually get where it's going? Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/ Hosted by:  Robert Dickens Jr.  Elanders L. Frazier John Gaal Ryan Reed Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators,...

This week we discussed how to determine when to punt (change directions) or when to push through (stay the course). Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/ Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators, Designers, and Performers.  Find us at https://www.instagram.co...

This week we discussed why going from "good" to "great" sometimes seems impossible within that relationship when accomplishing something new.  Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/ Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators, Designers, and P...

This week  was all about listener appreciation and answering some questions from some of our listeners. Thanks for Listening!  Sincerely, from the bottom of our hearts.  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/ Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators, Designers, and Performers.  Find us at https://www.instagram.com/voltapercu...

This week we discussed working with Band Directors that are Percussionists and those that are not. Thanks for Listening!  Email us! voltapercussion@gmail.com Catch us here as well!  https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/ Changing the Conversation for Percussion Educators, Designers, and Performers.  Find us at https://www.instagram.com/voltapercussion/