About tom
“To teach is to learn twice…” Joseph Joubert
"In a live performance, it's a collaboration with the audience; you ride the ebb and flow of the crowd's energy."
Jon Batiste
My home city of Oswego, New York, was instrumental in providing me opportunities in many areas, most significantly, imagining music as a career. In looking back on my ‘musical roots,' the first inspiration was likely my attraction to the popular music of the mid to late-1960’s as well as the musical path paved by my brothers, John and David. By this time, they were already rehearsing and performing locally in a 5-piece band. This was my first “close to home” glimpse into the possibility of pursuing a career in music. Fast forward… Early on, as I developed basic drum set skills, I began performing locally with a few groups. Soon after, I attended college for two years where I was able to meet other musicians while taking a few music courses. After this 2-year college stint I began performing full time, as well beginning my first formal drum set lessons with a big band drummer. He inspired me to learn about the wide world of music theory and to explore and listen to any and all music genres. After two years performing, I returned to academia and began teaching privately and performing in parallel. Over time, a cohesive and fluid teaching method came about, some of which was based on skillsets passed on to me from other teachers. At the same time my performance foundation continued to expand. During this period, I received the Concerto Award for percussion performance and premiered several solo percussion works. Following graduation with a degree in music, I continued on to graduate school to continue my focus on percussion performance. After my first semester, I was fortunate to receive an adjunct teaching position at a college in Salinas, California. As part of my graduate percussion performance degree I performed the West Coast premier of John Beck's "Concerto for Drum Set and Percussion Ensemble" and German composer Martin Redel's "Musik Fur Klavier und Schlaginstrumente." Following graduate school, I moved to New York City, where I remained active in teaching and performance from 1979-2005. Outside of my private teaching studio, I have held teaching positions at Hartnell College, Salinas, California; Drummers Collective (aka thecollective), NYC; Master classes at Montgomery College, Rockville, Maryland; SUNY ESF, Syracuse, NY; Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY; SUNY Oswego, Oswego, NY; and Hamilton College, Clinton, NY. In addition to teaching and performing in New York, I also developed the necessary skills as a recording engineer, eventually creating a music production recording studio (TomTom Recording). From 1985-2005 I produced, engineered and performed on scores of full length albums (see Discography page), specializing in recording singer/songwriters living in the Tri-state area. Here too, my teaching background and performance listening skills guided me in what can be a fun, creative and emotionally dynamic environment. During this time, I was able to consult and attend mastering sessions with Greg Calbi, Ted Jensen and Bob Ludwig.
From 1985-2005 at TomTom Recording, I was fortunate to have recorded and/or performed with scores of singer/songwriters and instrumentalists, including violinist Shankar; composer John Cage; drummers Ginger Baker, Brian Blake, Graham Hawthorne, Shawn Pelton, percussionist Michael Pugliese, Bernard Purdie, Max Roach and Marvin “Smitty” Smith; guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli; pianists Franni Burke, Rusty Cloud, Paul Greenwood, Barry Levitt, Andy Monroe, Louis St. Louis and Spyro Gyra's founding member, Jeremy Wall; songwriters & vocalists Walter Egan, Steven Keene, Art Garfunkel and son James; contemporary folk duo Minus Ted, Carmin Turco; vocalists Dottie Burman, Claire Cloud, Cindy Coffin, Laura Hyman, Carol Mennie, solo artist, Catherine Russell and jazz vocalist Andrea Wolper; guitarists Gene Casey, John "J.J." Jackson, Dom Minasi, Jeff Mironov, Richie Naso, Oz Noy, John Putnam, Marc Shulman, Kim Starner and Dan Wray; bassists Paul Binotto, Steve Count, Mark Egan, Tony Garnier, Rob Glick, Gary Haase, Mark Lupone and a host of other performers.
While in New York City and Central New York State (CNY), I performed in a variety of musical settings, including premier showcase clubs, colleges, dance clubs, Irish pubs, bars, arts and public schools and everyplace in between. Live performances include a variety of talented singer/songwriters and instrumentalists such as the fabulous songwriter & singer, Dee Archer, Steven Keene, Grant King, Jim McGloin, Carrie Mills, Minus Ted, and Carmin Turco; trumpeter Joe Wilder, saxophonist/pianist Monk Rowe; guitarists, John Amato, John Hutson, John McCurry, Richie Naso, John Putnam, Marc Ribot, Tony Sarno Kim Starner and Dan Wray; bassists Steve Count, Kevin Jenkins, Jamie Lamm, Mark Lupone, Bob Sherwood, and Jay Ward; Keyboardists Jim Abbott, Rusty Cloud, Claire Cooper, Joe Hudson, Greg 'Atticus' Husted, George Kobryn and Tommy Mandel; the "Do Good" Big Band, the cello and percussion duo "Cellovision" featuring Dawn Avery, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, Richie Havens, the graceful and kind Odetta. I have also shared the stage with Joe Cocker, The Stray Cats, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mtumbe, the singer/songwriter Paul Rodgers of the English group, Bad Company and composers Lou Harrison and Terry Riley. In addition, I have toured both nationally and internationally as a percussionist with the Manhattan Ballet Company, the Mimi Garrard Dance Company, and the David Parker Dancers. As a percussionist, I have performed on advertising jingles for the J. Walter Thompson ad agency and Fearless Music. I also appeared as a musician in the CBS movie “Svengali” starring Jodi Foster and Peter O’Toole. After leaving New York, I moved to CNY where I continued to perform and teach while spending my time in CNY and the state of Vermont. In the end...
A performer should know his/her audience and offer them the best of their inspiration and musical ability for all to enjoy. So, too, with teaching. A teacher is given an important responsibility, to offer the ‘student’ every possibility of developing their skills and finding their passion within a fun, creative and safe space. Not only in their study of music, but in the collaborative environment of making music with others. The influence of hundreds of students and audiences remains a permanent, wonderful, and important part of who I am today.
“To teach is to learn twice…” Joseph Joubert
"In a live performance, it's a collaboration with the audience; you ride the ebb and flow of the crowd's energy."
Jon Batiste
My home city of Oswego, New York, was instrumental in providing me opportunities in many areas, most significantly, imagining music as a career. In looking back on my ‘musical roots,' the first inspiration was likely my attraction to the popular music of the mid to late-1960’s as well as the musical path paved by my brothers, John and David. By this time, they were already rehearsing and performing locally in a 5-piece band. This was my first “close to home” glimpse into the possibility of pursuing a career in music. Fast forward… Early on, as I developed basic drum set skills, I began performing locally with a few groups. Soon after, I attended college for two years where I was able to meet other musicians while taking a few music courses. After this 2-year college stint I began performing full time, as well beginning my first formal drum set lessons with a big band drummer. He inspired me to learn about the wide world of music theory and to explore and listen to any and all music genres. After two years performing, I returned to academia and began teaching privately and performing in parallel. Over time, a cohesive and fluid teaching method came about, some of which was based on skillsets passed on to me from other teachers. At the same time my performance foundation continued to expand. During this period, I received the Concerto Award for percussion performance and premiered several solo percussion works. Following graduation with a degree in music, I continued on to graduate school to continue my focus on percussion performance. After my first semester, I was fortunate to receive an adjunct teaching position at a college in Salinas, California. As part of my graduate percussion performance degree I performed the West Coast premier of John Beck's "Concerto for Drum Set and Percussion Ensemble" and German composer Martin Redel's "Musik Fur Klavier und Schlaginstrumente." Following graduate school, I moved to New York City, where I remained active in teaching and performance from 1979-2005. Outside of my private teaching studio, I have held teaching positions at Hartnell College, Salinas, California; Drummers Collective (aka thecollective), NYC; Master classes at Montgomery College, Rockville, Maryland; SUNY ESF, Syracuse, NY; Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY; SUNY Oswego, Oswego, NY; and Hamilton College, Clinton, NY. In addition to teaching and performing in New York, I also developed the necessary skills as a recording engineer, eventually creating a music production recording studio (TomTom Recording). From 1985-2005 I produced, engineered and performed on scores of full length albums (see Discography page), specializing in recording singer/songwriters living in the Tri-state area. Here too, my teaching background and performance listening skills guided me in what can be a fun, creative and emotionally dynamic environment. During this time, I was able to consult and attend mastering sessions with Greg Calbi, Ted Jensen and Bob Ludwig.
From 1985-2005 at TomTom Recording, I was fortunate to have recorded and/or performed with scores of singer/songwriters and instrumentalists, including violinist Shankar; composer John Cage; drummers Ginger Baker, Brian Blake, Graham Hawthorne, Shawn Pelton, percussionist Michael Pugliese, Bernard Purdie, Max Roach and Marvin “Smitty” Smith; guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli; pianists Franni Burke, Rusty Cloud, Paul Greenwood, Barry Levitt, Andy Monroe, Louis St. Louis and Spyro Gyra's founding member, Jeremy Wall; songwriters & vocalists Walter Egan, Steven Keene, Art Garfunkel and son James; contemporary folk duo Minus Ted, Carmin Turco; vocalists Dottie Burman, Claire Cloud, Cindy Coffin, Laura Hyman, Carol Mennie, solo artist, Catherine Russell and jazz vocalist Andrea Wolper; guitarists Gene Casey, John "J.J." Jackson, Dom Minasi, Jeff Mironov, Richie Naso, Oz Noy, John Putnam, Marc Shulman, Kim Starner and Dan Wray; bassists Paul Binotto, Steve Count, Mark Egan, Tony Garnier, Rob Glick, Gary Haase, Mark Lupone and a host of other performers.
While in New York City and Central New York State (CNY), I performed in a variety of musical settings, including premier showcase clubs, colleges, dance clubs, Irish pubs, bars, arts and public schools and everyplace in between. Live performances include a variety of talented singer/songwriters and instrumentalists such as the fabulous songwriter & singer, Dee Archer, Steven Keene, Grant King, Jim McGloin, Carrie Mills, Minus Ted, and Carmin Turco; trumpeter Joe Wilder, saxophonist/pianist Monk Rowe; guitarists, John Amato, John Hutson, John McCurry, Richie Naso, John Putnam, Marc Ribot, Tony Sarno Kim Starner and Dan Wray; bassists Steve Count, Kevin Jenkins, Jamie Lamm, Mark Lupone, Bob Sherwood, and Jay Ward; Keyboardists Jim Abbott, Rusty Cloud, Claire Cooper, Joe Hudson, Greg 'Atticus' Husted, George Kobryn and Tommy Mandel; the "Do Good" Big Band, the cello and percussion duo "Cellovision" featuring Dawn Avery, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, Richie Havens, the graceful and kind Odetta. I have also shared the stage with Joe Cocker, The Stray Cats, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Mtumbe, the singer/songwriter Paul Rodgers of the English group, Bad Company and composers Lou Harrison and Terry Riley. In addition, I have toured both nationally and internationally as a percussionist with the Manhattan Ballet Company, the Mimi Garrard Dance Company, and the David Parker Dancers. As a percussionist, I have performed on advertising jingles for the J. Walter Thompson ad agency and Fearless Music. I also appeared as a musician in the CBS movie “Svengali” starring Jodi Foster and Peter O’Toole. After leaving New York, I moved to CNY where I continued to perform and teach while spending my time in CNY and the state of Vermont. In the end...
A performer should know his/her audience and offer them the best of their inspiration and musical ability for all to enjoy. So, too, with teaching. A teacher is given an important responsibility, to offer the ‘student’ every possibility of developing their skills and finding their passion within a fun, creative and safe space. Not only in their study of music, but in the collaborative environment of making music with others. The influence of hundreds of students and audiences remains a permanent, wonderful, and important part of who I am today.