Training sessions aim to develop one's skills and knowledge on a particular topic, usually to benefit one's job performance (Hubbard, 2004, p. 124). Preparation is inevitably one of the first phases of training sessions. According to Polonsky and Waller (2004) “effective presentations, whether academic or business, require preparation” (p. 432). This phase can be divided into three subcategories: formation, storm and norming. Yeung (2000) defines forming as when the team comes together and storming as discussion increases among group members (p.18). Finally, the phase in which the group begins to develop and build its project is called standardization (Yeung, 2000, p. 18). This article will focus on the preparation phase as a whole, from the recent percussion training session led by James Gilmore, Tik Man Mok (“Henry”), Nguyen Duc Danh (“Daniel”) and myself, Courtney VanGent. Overall the training session was considered satisfactory; I found that the main strengths were in the area of ​​preparation and including regular meetings and that there were no conflicts between group members. Although the training was successful, evaluation forms completed by participants suggested that some trainers did not have adequate knowledge of the topic and that the group should have spent more time practicing. Recommendations will also be provided so that future training sessions can be considered effective. Before looking at the weaknesses of the training session, it is important to highlight the strengths that I felt were centered around the meetings and the lack of conflict within the group. West (2004) strongly believes that “interaction and meetings are vital to team functioning… half of paper… from http://search.proquest.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/ docview /234918164?accountid=14543Beagrie, S. (2007). How to… speak confidently in public. Personnel Today, 31. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/docview /229900111?accountid=14543Marquart, M., & Sorden, A. (2007). Put Down the Script .libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/docview/227021399?accountid=14543 Presentation skills , England: SAGE Publications Ltd. doi: http://dx.doi.org.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/10.4135/9781849209595.n4Messmer, M. (2002). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.libraryproxy.griffith.edu.au/docview/232339370?accountid=14543