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Life is moving at double time tempo.

I am honored to have completed my second year in residence at Castleton Festival. During this residency, I enjoyed teaching rhythm-intensive workshops for opera singers and performing community live/in-person outreach for schools and seniors. In addition, I performed live soundtracks of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton films in a packed house as well as organized yoga/live music events with Steve Wolf leading the Yoga while I interacted with sound design and meditative music. The residency culminated with my Sound Garden concept, where I fitted the space with world-class gongs and percussion supplied by Gon Bops. We concluded with an exciting afternoon of community music making/concert and interactive drumming, Yoga, meditation sound therapy, and more—thanks to The Virginia Commission for the Arts for their generous support.

I anticipate creating other Sound Gardens throughout the region and country in the future.

 I thank Castleton Festival for giving me the opportunity and resources to develop these projects I will take out into the world. I wish them great success next season and sincerely thank them for being such gracious hosts during my residency!

 Next in store for me is the following!     

 Tour of China!

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ptf2ZaMeVYw 

  I am delighted to announce that I will leave for China on May 25 for a tour of Zhangzhou. My collaborator, virtuoso Chinese dulcimer performer Chao Tian and I will perform solo and collaborate with Zhangzhou Glove Puppet Heritage ensemble. This tour to the south of China will be a multifaceted cultural dialog between the traditions of East and West. During this time of ultra-binary global separation, the immense unifying power of music and sound is ever more important to cut through the differences that separate us. Chao and I will collaborate with steelpan virtuoso Josanne Francis and renowned Ethiopian vocalist Munit Mesfin. Other activities while we are in the country include visiting Guan She Village and experiencing the Alpine bamboo dance and Dao Luo dance. We will attend the Confucius Temple - Pientzehuang Experience Hall and the Kui Xing Pavilion to participate in a dynamic performance of folkloric dragon and lion dance as well as Nezha drum performances. We will also have the opportunity to perform and interact with various guqin artists. I promise to post lots of videos and pictures of this exciting tour. 

 Upon my return, I will perform a solo set at The Washington Folk Festival and participate in a percussion workshop. On June 26, I’m delighted to return to The Island Theater to perform my new soundtracks to Buster Keaton’s, “Sherlock, Jr and Charlie Chaplin’s, “The Fireman.”

 Family Concerts Community Drumming and Sound Immersion:

Building on the global trip to China and the regional work in Rappahannock, Valley, VA, I will be in residence for the Loudoun Library system for a series of interactive drumming and meditative sound immersions in July and August. The drumming workshops I will lead by myself, and the sound immersions I will perform with my brilliant collaborator, John Wubbenhorst. The residency dates are July 8, 9,16, 20, August 16, and 18. Please view my calendar for details and venue locations. 

 The benefits of drumming are numerous:

 Community drumming induces deep relaxation, helps control chronic pain, boosts your immune system, and aligns your body and mind with the natural world. In the following newsletter, I will go into further description. Please join me for these fun, healthy, and informative community-building sessions.

 The Breath:

 From the participatory action of drumming to the receptive connection of sound healing, I hope you will enjoy my new CD. The Breath is now available in hard copy on my website and other venues. It is also available for streaming via the usual outlets. It is a collection of reflective, meditative music combined with jazz influenced by the great astral traveler Sun Ra. I hope it provides listening enjoyment and a healing, meditative experience. This music was conceived to serve as a still and moving meditation and reflects my current interest in the functional healing properties of music and sound. A national radio campaign is forthcoming; stay tuned.

 I'll be sharing more updates and videos as they become available. Until then, browse the site and enjoy music, video, and educational material.

  As evidenced by my projects, I aim to harness the power of sound with a common heartbeat unified in human existence to make this world better than I found it.

  Stay well and be kind.

 Peace,

-Tom

   My DVD/Book set, An American Approach to World Percussion, was nominated for Drum! Magazine Drummie Award for best drum book of 2016! It is available at http://www.alfred.com/Products/An-American-Approach-to-World-Percussion--00-44486.aspx It can also be found here DVDs 

In a recent CD review, Rebecca Ritzel, The Washington Post, stated that Tom is ..."a multi-instrumental genius" for his compelling performance on over fifteen different instruments!