Tom McGrathEducator & Percussionist
Thank you for stopping by for a visit and to hear, see and read my story in music...
Early on and as a late bloomer to a potential career in music, it became immediately apparent that I had a joyful and passionate connection to performing music. In short, it made me happy. Over the many years I have been lucky to perform music within a variety of musical settings; from theatrical stages, small bars, showcase studios to Arts & Education venues and premier music clubs. Along the way, I have met many wonderful people and have seen many beautiful places. As a percussionist I have performed the music of John Cage, Lou Harrison, and other noted composers at the Bang on a Can, and A Day of Percussion music festivals in New York City where I lived for many years. During this time, I conducted the percussion ensemble for the "One World Percussion" concert held at New York's World Trade Center, featuring the music of Wendy Chambers. In time, my performance platform expanded while traveling nationally and internationally with dance companies and other ensembles as did performing both live and/or in the recording studio with numerous singers, songwriters and instrumentalist. I crossed paths with many genres of music such as, contemporary folk to the pop music songbook, music of different cultures as well as jazz and contemporary percussion . All of this to say that these experiences will remain with me for a long time (see About Tom).
Creating original music has also been a focus in my life. Excerpts of audio from my two original music releases: “Ten Shades of Blue" and “Pictures at the Family House," can be found on the Audio & Video page.
Lastly, teaching entered my life early on. 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. Students have "taught me" many things which will last a lifetime.
Early on and as a late bloomer to a potential career in music, it became immediately apparent that I had a joyful and passionate connection to performing music. In short, it made me happy. Over the many years I have been lucky to perform music within a variety of musical settings; from theatrical stages, small bars, showcase studios to Arts & Education venues and premier music clubs. Along the way, I have met many wonderful people and have seen many beautiful places. As a percussionist I have performed the music of John Cage, Lou Harrison, and other noted composers at the Bang on a Can, and A Day of Percussion music festivals in New York City where I lived for many years. During this time, I conducted the percussion ensemble for the "One World Percussion" concert held at New York's World Trade Center, featuring the music of Wendy Chambers. In time, my performance platform expanded while traveling nationally and internationally with dance companies and other ensembles as did performing both live and/or in the recording studio with numerous singers, songwriters and instrumentalist. I crossed paths with many genres of music such as, contemporary folk to the pop music songbook, music of different cultures as well as jazz and contemporary percussion . All of this to say that these experiences will remain with me for a long time (see About Tom).
Creating original music has also been a focus in my life. Excerpts of audio from my two original music releases: “Ten Shades of Blue" and “Pictures at the Family House," can be found on the Audio & Video page.
Lastly, teaching entered my life early on. 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. Students have "taught me" many things which will last a lifetime.
tom tom
Recording Studio
From 1985 to 2005, I owned, engineered and produced at Tom Tom Recording Studio in New York. I was fortunate to have collaborated and recorded with such artists as violinist L. Shankar; composer John Cage; drummers Ginger Baker, Brian Blake, Graham Hawthorne, Shawn Pelton, percussionist Michael Pugliese, Bernard Purdie, Max Roach, Marvin “Smitty” Smith and Howie Wyeth; guitarist/vocalist John Pizzarelli; pianists Franni Burke, Rusty Cloud, Paul Greenwood, Barry Levitt, Brian Mitchell, Andy Monroe, Louis St. Louis and Jeremy Wall; songwriters/vocalists Dottie Burman, Gene Casey, Claire and Rusty Cloud, Walter Egan, Art Garfunkel and son James, Steven Keene, folk duo Minus Ted, and Carmin Turco; cellist, composer and vocalist Dawn Avery; opera vocalists Michael Amante and Laura Hyman, along with vocalists Cindy Coffin, Carol Mennie, solo artist, composer, vocalist, Catherine Russell and jazz vocalist Andrea Wolper; guitarist/songwriter Gene Casey & Ann Klein, jazz guitarist Dom Minasi, and guitarists Jeff Mironov, Richie Naso, Oz Noy, John Putnam, Marc Shulman, Kim Starner and Dan Wray; and bassists Paul Binotto, Steve Count, Mark Egan, Tony Garnier, Rob Glick, Gary Haase, Mark Lupone and Jay Ward.
As an engineer and producer, I attended and consulted on final mastering sessions with mastering engineers Greg Calbi, Ted Jensen and Bob Ludwig.
As an engineer and producer, I attended and consulted on final mastering sessions with mastering engineers Greg Calbi, Ted Jensen and Bob Ludwig.
Producer
As the owner of a recording studio, I was very excited to produce and/or co-produce the recordings of numerous songwriters, singers, and instrumentalists, including John Joseph Nolis, Sandy Smyth, Minus Ted, Carmin Turco, composer/pianist, Andy Monroe, mandolinist/composer Terry Pender, the cello/percussion duo Cellovision, pianist Louis St. Louis and Rusty Cloud and vocalists Patrick Arena, Dottie Burman, Claire Cloud, Barbara Lowin, and Elaine St. George.