Discussions in Percussion

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A podcast hosted by Damon Grant and Marcos Torres, two NYC based percussionists interviewing other musicians who have the view from behind. Guests will be mostly other percussion players and anyone else who hits, scratches, and shakes things for a living.

Damon Grant


    • May 27, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 29m AVG DURATION
    • 362 EPISODES

    4.9 from 65 ratings Listeners of Discussions in Percussion that love the show mention: marcos, afro, damon, musicians, artists, sound, world, guys, highly recommend, great, joe connors, percussionists.


    Ivy Insights

    The Discussions in Percussion podcast is a fantastic resource for percussionists and musicians alike. Hosted by Damon Grant and Marcos Torres, this podcast features interviews with a wide variety of guests from all corners of the percussion world, including educators, performers, composers, manufacturers, and more. The hosts bring a laid-back vibe to the show, creating an enjoyable and informative listening experience. Whether you're a seasoned percussionist or just have a general interest in the percussion world, this podcast is definitely worth checking out.

    One of the best aspects of The Discussions in Percussion podcast is the wide range of guests that are featured. Damon and Marcos do an excellent job of scheduling guests from different areas of percussion, ensuring that there is something for everyone. From college educators to pop music performers to world percussion artists, they cover it all. This allows listeners to gain insights into various aspects of the percussion world and discover new perspectives on their craft.

    Another great aspect of this podcast is the hosts themselves. Damon and Marcos are not only talented musicians but also amazing educators. Their knowledge and insight into the world of percussion shines through in each episode. They provide up-to-date music news, product reviews, and engage in interesting discussions about practice routines and techniques. They also have a knack for making their guests feel comfortable, resulting in engaging conversations that reveal valuable nuggets of information.

    In terms of downsides, one could argue that The Discussions in Percussion podcast may not be as appealing to those who have no interest in percussion or music in general. While the hosts do make an effort to cater to all musicians by providing valuable insights across different genres and styles of music, some episodes may be more niche-specific than others.

    In conclusion, The Discussions in Percussion podcast is a must-listen for any musician interested in expanding their knowledge about the world of percussion. Whether you're a professional drummer looking for practice tips or someone curious about different styles of music, this podcast offers a wealth of information and entertainment. Damon and Marcos are not only talented musicians but also engaging hosts, making each episode a joy to listen to. With their laid-back vibe and the diverse range of guests they feature, The Discussions in Percussion podcast is sure to keep you coming back for more.



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    Latest episodes from Discussions in Percussion

    #438 Mike Dolbear: Drummer, Educator, Motivator and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 58:54


    Damon gets to talk to Mike about drumming, education, work/family balance, the 2012 Olympics, finances, the Young Drummer of the Year Competition and much more! There are also segments like gig alerts, music news and others. 

    #437 Ben Hilzinger: Drummer, Podcaster, Songwriter, Educator and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 77:21


    Damon gets to talk to Ben about his travels, his book and podcast, imposter syndrome, mental health, iconic recordings and much more. There's also segments like gig alerts, educational spotlights, music news and others. 

    #436 Chien Chien Lu: Percussionist, Educator, Composer and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 63:34


    Damon gets to talk to Chien Chien about her travels, the Ju Percussion group, improvisation, her new album, visas, frames and much more! There's also segments like gig alerts, music news and others. 

    #435 Joe Porter: Percussionist, Educator, Content Creator and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 68:06


    Damon gets to talk to Joe about Canada, teaching, Polynesian drumming, endorsements, content creation and more. There's also segments like gig alerts, music news and others. 

    #434 Bendji Allonce: Percussionist, Producer, and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 70:53


    Damon gets to talk to Bendji about his upbringing, Canada, Haiti, and the USA. His upbringing, national cereal day, his sample pack, and more! There's also segments like gig alerts, music news and others. 

    #433 Pei-Ching Wu: Percussionist, Educator, Author & More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 68:11


    Damon gets to talk to Pei-Ching about her upbringing, the Ju Percussion Group, playing with six mallets, her radio show and much more! There's also segments like gig alerts, music news and others. 

    #432 Davey Chegwidden: Percussionist, Producer, Songwriter and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 64:42


    Damon gets to talk to Davey about film scores, Colorado, video games, Los Angeles, composers, Hip Hop and more! There's also segments like gig alerts and music news among others. 

    #431 Les Cleveland: Drummer, Composer, Educator, and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 75:52


    Damon gets to talk to Les about his upbringing, his family, various gigs, school, how to succeed on the bandstand and much more! There's also segments like gig alerts, educational spotlights, music news and others. 

    #430 Clayton Craddock: Drummer, Podcaster, Educator and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 122:31


    Damon gets to talk to Clayton about his upbringing, hip hop, broadway, family, drumline, Ed Greene, Lake Tahoe and more! There's also other segments like gig alerts, educational spotlights and music news. 

    #429 Amanda Duncan: Percussionist, Educator, and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 78:43


    Damon gets to talk to Amanda about her upbringing, steel pan, Pan Rocks, handbells, teaching, Tennis, and much more! There's also segments like gig alerts, educational spotlights, music news and others. 

    #428 Quintin Mallette: Percussionist, Educator, Researcher and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 76:16


    Damon gets to talk to Quintin about his performing, teaching philosophies, new music research, coffee, black orchestral musicians and much more! There are also segments like gig alerts, educational spotlights, music news and others. 

    #427 Brian Griffin: Drummer, Composer, Session Musician and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 68:34


    Damon gets to talk to Brian about Connecticut, his new album, cruises, Rio, photography, and so much more! There's also segments like music news, gig alerts, and others. 

    #426 Andy P. Smith: Drummer, Percussionist, Educator, Author, Mentor and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 103:43


    Damon gets to talk to Andy about writing, charts, tuning/fixing drums, new music, PAS, his trio and much more! There's also other segments like music news, and educational spotlights. 

    #425 Marc Anthony Percussion Section: Eric Velez, Jessie Caraballo, Marcos Lopez & Alberto Reyes!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 62:31


    Damon gets to talk to Eric, Jessie, Marcos and Alberto about influences, touring, orchestration, staying sane and much more! There's also other segments too!

    #424 Trevor Lawrence Jr.: Drummer, Composer, Inventor and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 75:21


    Damon gets to talk to Trevor about the wildfires, PASIC, endorsements, passive income, groove and so much more! There's other segments like gig alerts, educational spotlights, and music news. 

    #423 Iúri Oliveira: Percussionist, Solo Artist, Composer, Educator and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 65:16


    Damon gets to talk to Iúri about his new album, release show, synesthesia, tour dates, foley and more. There's also segments like gig alerts, music news and others. 

    #422 Ladies Roundtable 2: Kassandra Kocoshis, Jacquelene Acevedo, Mona Tavakoli, Lilliana De Los Reyes, Kristen Klehr & Nikki Campbell

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 76:36


    Damon welcomes back Kassandra, Jacquelene, Mona, Lilliana, Kristen and Nikki. They talk about the wildfires, Kassandra's new 501-C-3, Altadena history, albums, keeping sanity, and more! There's other segments like gig alerts, and music news too!

    #421 Joe Bergamini: Drummer, Educator, Author and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 88:06


    Damon gets to talk to Joe about his new Billy Cobham book, hearing protection, Dom Famularo, Hudson Music, The Percussive Arts Society and more! There's other segments too, including gig alerts and music news. 

    #420 Quinton "Q" Robinson: Drummer for Hamilton, Avery Sunshine, Bobby Brown and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 95:13


    Damon gets to talk to Q about theater, Miami, sneakers, being well rounded, Abelton, PASIC and much more! There's also segments like gig alerts, music news and ways to help fire relief among others. 

    #419 Bruce Becker: Drummer, Educator, Author and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2025 86:38


    Damon gets to talk to Bruce about his upbringing, teaching, Freddie Gruber, concepts and much more. There are also segments like gig alerts, music news, and ways to assist with the wildfire relief among others. 

    Dr. Lamon Lawhorn: Drummer, Percussionist, Educator and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 102:48


    Damon gets to talk to Lamon about the Percussive Arts Society, gospel drumming history, teaching, Texas and much more. There's also segments like gig alerts, educational spotlights, music news and others. 

    #417 Kevin Ricard: Percussionist, Composer, Bandleader and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2024 92:49


    Damon gets to talk to Kevin about his new album, his upbringing and musical history, music business, R&B percussionists, multiple income streams, logistics and much more! There's also segments like gig alerts, music news and others!

    #416 Ivan Trevino: Percussionist, Composer, Educator and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2024 62:13


    Damon gets to talk to Ivan about education, his compositions, his upbringing, Texas, songwriting and much more! There's also segments like gig alerts, educational spotlights, music news and others. 

    #415 Jerrod "J-Rod" Sullivan: Drummer for Janet Jackson, Jeffrey Osborne, The 4 Korners and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 77:27


    Damon gets to talk to "J-Rod" about his upbringing, balancing different gigs, tuning, Janet Jackson, church, his own band and more. There's also segments like music news, gig alerts and others. 

    #414 Charley Poole: Drummer, Educator, Adjudicator and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 68:00


    Damon gets to talk to Charley about his upbringing, some rudimental drumming history, Boston College, DCI, teaching, and much more. There's also segments like gig alerts, educational spotlights, music news and others. 

    #413 Kristen Klehr: Percussionist, Vocalist, Educator and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 70:37


    Damon gets to talk to Kristen after PASIC about her life adventures, job at SFCM, The Den Collective, Scrap Arts, and much more. There's also segments like gig alerts, music news and others. 

    #412 Chris Coleman: Drummer for Prince, Chaka Khan, Beck, New Kids on the Block & More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 82:17


    Damon gets to talk to Chris about Prince, his family, church, other jobs, and much more. There's also segments like music news, gig alerts and others. 

    #411 Michael Eagle: Drummer, Entrepreneur, Keynote Speaker Educator, and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 76:03


    Damon gets to talk to Michael about his musical adventures, as well as some rudimental drumming history, the start and development of his company Rhythm Monster and more. There's also segments like music news and others.

    #410 Maurizio Ravalico: Percussionist, Composer, Educator and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 77:56


    Damon gets to talk to Maurizio about his new album, his educational course, his travels and some of his gigs among other things. There's also other segments like music news.

    #409 Steve Hass: Drummer, Producer, Educator and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 71:09


    Damon gets to talk to Steve about his Greek roots, NYC, phone numbers, Berklee, the Drum Squad, gigs, diners and much more! There's also other segments including music news. 

    #408 Ernesto Marichales: Percussionist, Drummer, Producer and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 66:03


    Damon gets to talk to Ernesto about his upcoming tour, his upbringing, being ambidextrous, Venezuela and its music, communications and mass media and more! There's other segments too!

    #407 Lalo Davila: Percussionist, Educator, Author and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 80:54


    Damon gets to talk to Lalo about Folkloric rhythms, teaching, passive income, getting gigs, his books, fishing and much more! There's also segments like gig alerts, music news and others!

    #406 Dr. Elizabeth DeLamater: Percussionist, Educator, Researcher and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 74:12


    Damon gets to talk to Elizabeth about Steel Pans, her upbringing, The Percussive Arts Society, Diversity Alliance, PASIC, education, cheese curds and more! There's segments like gig alerts, music news and others. 

    #405 Dr. Matthew Lau: Percussionist, Educator, Knitter and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 81:44


    Damon gets to talk to Matthew about his upbringing, his upcoming PASIC adventures, knitting, his new mallets and so much more. There's also segments like gig alerts, music news and others. 

    #404 Mark Wessels: Educator, Author, and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 81:54


    Damon gets to talk to Mark about his books, marketing, Vic Firth, notation software, drum corps and much more! There's also segments like gig alerts, music news and others.

    #403 Andrew Beall: Drummer, Percussionist, Composer, Orchestrator and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 82:08


    Damon gets to talk to Andrew about The Percussion People, Drum Corps, Cordis, composing, contracting, orchestrating, Ohio, Jeopardy and much more! There's also other segments!

    #402 Dr. Lynn Vartan: Percussionist, Educator, Podcaster and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 67:31


    Damon gets to talk to Lynn about her forthcoming PASIC clinic, looping, potatoes, the Bodhran, various projects and other life adventures. There's also segments like gig alerts, music news and others. 

    #401 Mark Schulman: Drummer, Public Speaker, Author, Producer and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 59:57


    Damon gets to talk to Mark about recording, hearing loss and protection, public speaking and other life adventures. There's also segments like gig alerts, educational spotlight, music news and others.

    #400 Marcos Torres, Marcos Lopez, Camilo Molina & Paulo Stagnaro: Roundtable!

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 90:14


    Damon gets to talk to Marcos Torres, Marcos Lopez, Camilo Molina, and Paulo Stagnaro about the huge loss of Johnny "Dandy" Rodriguez, some different albums, education and more! There's also segments including gig alerts, educational spotlight, music news and others. 

    #399 Dimitri Fantini: Drummer, Educator, Producer and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 69:27


    Damon gets to talk to Dimitri about his educational products and courses, PASIC, musical and life adventures, spices, samples and more! There's also segments like gig alerts, an educational spotlight, music news and others.

    #398 Drew Tucker: Percussionist, Educator, Social Entrepreneur and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 98:52


    Damon gets to talk to Drew about drum corps, his musical adventures, Michel Camilo, his band, graphic design and more! There's also segments like gig alerts and music news and others. 

    #397 Sean Statser: Percussionist, Educator, Author, Administrator & More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 68:52


    Damon gets to talk to Sean about the upcoming gig they're playing together, working at NYU, The Percussion People, other ensembles and musical adventures and more. There's also segments including gig alerts, music news, and others.

    #396 Camellia "Cami" Akhamie Kies: Percussionist, Drummer, Songwriter, Educator & More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 60:12


    Damon gets to talk to Cami about the upcoming Women Who Drum Festival, her travel and musical adventures, hybrid kits, the Navy and much more. There's also segments like gig alerts, educational spotlights, music news and others. 

    #395 Maria Finkelmeier: Percussionist, Educator, Composer and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 58:11


    Damon gets to talk to Maria about MF Dynamics, Club Dynamo, her musical adventures, entrepreneurship and the arts, family-work balance and more. There are also segments like music news, gig alerts and others.

    #394 Chris Hanning: Drummer, Educator, Recording Artist and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 83:54


    Damon gets to talk to Chris about PASIC, Westchester University, NFL music, and other musical adventures. There's other segements like gig alerts, music news and more!

    #393 Jonathan Haas: Percussionist, Educator, Author and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2024 83:47


    Damon gets to talk to Jonathan about his upbringing, musical adventures, teaching, Frank Zappa, and much more. There are other segments including gig alerts and music news.

    #392 Dennis J. Arcano: Drummer, Educator, Music Contractor and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2024 75:55


    Damon gets to talk to Dennis about growing up in Fairfield County CT, subbing, playing on Broadway, programming drums and much more! There's also segments like music news, iconic recording and others. 

    #391 Stefon Harris: Vibraphonist, Educator, Developer and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 62:38


    Damon gets to talk to Stefon about his new teaching gig, new album, his app, empathy, A.I. and more! There are also segments like gig alerts, music news and others. 

    #390 Mariana Ramierez: Percussionist for Six on Broadway and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 65:58


    Damon gets to talk to Mariana about Mexico, her family, musical adventures, starting her percussion ensemble, food and much more! There are also other segments like music news.

    #389 Brian Prokop: Drummer, Educator, Session Musician and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2024 72:28


    Damon gets to talk to Brian about his musical adventures, the teaching studio he built, home recording, New Jersey and much more. There are also segments like gig alerts music news and others. 

    #388 Pete Antunes: Drummer for Tower of Power, Macy Gray, Matthew Morrison and More!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 81:28


    Damon gets to talk to Pete about drum corps, his musical family, his new gig and other musical adventures. There are segments like gig alerts, music news and others as well.

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