136 - Eric RuckerJoining us this week is Eric Rucker.  Eric is a performer, educator, composer, and arranger based in South Florida. He is the percussion instructor at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts and Bak Middle School of the Arts, and a 2017 Percussive Arts Society International Percussion Ensemble Competition winner. He is also the founder of Mode Marimba and a MalletLab faculty member.Watch here. Listen below.0:00 Intro and Hello1:22 Malletlab camp with Drew Tucker4:44 Mode Marimba Company15:30 Ben Millesen: What other materials did you consider for the bars?17:12 Casey: What's the sound?29:15 Adam Hopper: process for selecting literature for your students?31:15 Ben: percussion ensemble literature for young groups44:45 Laurel: Competitions54:30 Connor Yeackley: Thoughts on starting serious percussion studies young?