Tom McGrathEducator & Percussionist
Thank you for stopping by for a visit and to hear, see and read my story in music...
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 a variety of music genres 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. I conducted one of five percussion ensembles at the "One World Percussion" concert held at New York's World Trade Center, featuring the music of Wendy Chambers. The experiences of traveling nationally and internationalIy with dance companies was a thrill and performing both live and/or in the recording studio with numerous singers, songwriters and instrumentalist ranging in genres of contemporary folk to the pop music songbook, jazz and contemporary percussion 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.
Teaching entered my life early on and 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 not to be forgotten.
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 a variety of music genres 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. I conducted one of five percussion ensembles at the "One World Percussion" concert held at New York's World Trade Center, featuring the music of Wendy Chambers. The experiences of traveling nationally and internationalIy with dance companies was a thrill and performing both live and/or in the recording studio with numerous singers, songwriters and instrumentalist ranging in genres of contemporary folk to the pop music songbook, jazz and contemporary percussion 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.
Teaching entered my life early on and 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 not to be forgotten.
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 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, 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, 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, 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 many final mastering sessions with Greg Calbi, Ted Jensen and Bob Ludwig.
As an engineer and producer, I attended and consulted on many final mastering sessions with 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.