Education

Newsletter #11

3.23.26
- RMPA State Announcements
- Show Recap, Mike Nevin
- End of Season Rehearsal Strategies

Newsletter #10

3.16.26
- Important RMPA Announcements
- Starting and Stopping, Mike Nevin
- Specific Rehearsal Strategies

Newsletter #9

3.10.26
- Show Recap, Ward Durrett
- Mixing, Austen Jankowski
- Scott Johnson and Ryan Lee Interviews

Newsletter #8

3.4.26
- The Stretch Run, Scott Wilson
- Thoughts and Observations, Mike Nevin
- And More!

Newsletter #7

2.23.26
- Utilizing Critique, Shilo Stroman
- Show Flow, Lauren Maxwell
- Musical Balance, Mike Nevin

Newsletter #6

2.18.26
- World Percussion, Dustin Arndt
- Reading a Recap
- And More!

Newsletter #5

2.10.26
- Staging Your Concert Endemble, Kathy Marvin
- Utilizing Critique, Shilo Stroman
- Battery and Non-Competitive Ensembles, Mike Nevin

Newsletter #4

1.30.26
- First Show Prep, Shilo Stroman
- Critique, Ward Durrett
- Planning for Weather, Colin Spear
- Physical Well-Being and Auxiliary Percussion, Mike Nevin

Newsletter #3

1.16.26
- Ensemble Culture, Lauren Maxwell
- Visual Pointers, Charles Craig
- Interview with Ryan Lee
- Electronic Tips, Neal Titus
- Hand Drum Technique, Mike Nevin

1.1.26
- Judge Sheet Breakdown, Mike Nevin
- A conversation with Scott Johnson
- Effective Rehearsals, Tim Jackson
- Show Design and Concepet, Tim Jackson
- Electronic Tips, Neal Titus
- Hand Drum Technique, Mike Nevin

Newsletter #1

12.13.25
- Basics and Exercises, Mike Nevin
- Ensemble Administration, Colin Spear
- Rhythm Section, Shilo Stroman
- Creating Effect, Dave Marvin

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About

Who We Are Address Contacts Master Agreement Handbook

Mission Statement

The Rocky Mountain Percussion Association commits to providing a competitive performance outlet supporting music education in the rocky mountain region; enriching the lives of young performers through an inclusive and supportive environment where young performers develop their skills, confidence, and passion.

Our Story

The Rocky Mountain Percussion Association is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit Colorado based youth organization, that was started in 1991 by a group of percussion instructors, judges and educators who were concerned about the level of percussion training and performance, primarily at the high school level. Steve Yates, Joe Bartko and Ralph Hardimon were the founders of the RMPA and along with Charles Craig formed what is now one of the nation’s premier percussion organizations of its kind. Our main focus is student motivation, educational training, and achievement through the percussion activity.

The association is the governing body of the indoor percussion activity in the Rocky Mountain region and sponsors a series of indoor percussion events, educational clinics and competitions during the winter and spring months.

These programs provide a motivational tool that can help turn non-percussionists and a typical drum section into a cohesive and entertaining percussion ensemble. The nation’s top percussion judges adjudicate all of our competitions.

Since the first event was held in 1993, the RMPA has provided competition and training for over 15,000 students, and has become one of the premier percussion organizations of its kind in the country and serves as a national model by which other organizations are administered and managed.

Winter Percussion

The Winter Percussion Activity was organized to provide a program for the many percussion students participating in a typical marching band during the fall season, but not having a comparable performance outlet during the winter and spring seasons. The traditional jazz band, concert band, wind ensemble, etc. does not involve the larger number of percussion students that a marching band requires.

The first units participating in the percussion activity were primarily from scholastic marching units, utilizing both a battery and pit ensemble in a setting that limited the amount of marching and showmanship. Within a few short years, the number of independent organizations participating in the competitions increased, and the performance venue was enlarged to allow for more development of the visual and theatrical potential of the activity. Soon thereafter, traditional “concert” percussion ensembles were included as an additional performance outlet for student percussionists preferring that genre.

The Rocky Mountain Percussion Association operates under the rules and guidelines of Winter Guard International.

PO Box 184

Broomfield, CO 80038

2025-2026 Board of Directors

President - Colin Spear ~ colin@rmpa.org
Vice President - Scott Wilson ~ scott@rmpa.org
Treasurer - Lori Nonies ~ lori@rmpa.org
Secretary - Lynn Collins ~ lynn@rmpa.org
Marketing Director - Dylan Kroha ~ dylan@rmpa.org
Director of Education and Development - Tanner Homa ~ tanner@rmpa.org
Director of Education and Development - Julian Davidson ~ julian@rmpa.org

2025-2026 Support Team

Financial Secretary - Erin Moore ~ erin@affinity.cpa

Founding Members (circa 1991)

Steve Yates
Ralph Hardimon
Joe Bartko
Charles Craig

Coming Soon...

2026 RMPA Member Handbook This document will be a must-read for all directors, instructors, and performers.

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