Issue 3 2014

"A percussionist in the widest and most exuberant sense of the word"--The Washington Post

Welcome to the new subscribers from the U.S., Europe, Middle East, and Africa. It's a joy to share my work and news throughout the world.

I'm very excited about a short tour with Paul Reisler and a Thousand Questions featuring Howard Levy of the Flecktones. Paul is a wonderful poet and songwriter and Howard is one of the most amazing musicians I've ever encountered. We performed at Piedmont Community College in Charlottesville and Sunday, April 6, 4pm at RAAC Theatre, Washington, VA info 540-322-2022.

March was a great month with a variety of exciting, new, and very different projects. Jane Franklin Dance and I collaborated on a contemporary dance piece, Blue Moon, Red River. I performed my original composition to this new and ever expanding 30 minute multi-media work combining live music, prerecorded sound design, video, and modern dance. This was for the Atlas INTERSECTIONS Festival.

Just after this concert I departed for Boston to perform with the Red Well Theatre Group at the AGPA (American Group Psychotherapy Association). Their belief that artists and psychotherapists are kindred spirits on a sacred journey of healing, discovery, and growth is very exciting to me as a new outlet to express my music. As soon as I returned from Boston I performed my live soundtrack to "The Adventures of Prince Achmed" at The Washington Ethical Society. In keeping with my passion for music education I presented a full day residency at St. Stephens & St. Agnes Academy. It's always a delight to share my work with these enthusiastic young people. The combination of ancient percussion from all over the world with modern digital technology kept them in rapt attention.

Charles Williams and I also performed a concert to a full house at the Workhouse Arts Foundation in Lorton. We performed an eclectic mix of world percussion combined with the poetry of Langston Hughes, African Traditional songs, and African American spirituals. In my spare time I recorded a new CD. "Love of the Nightingale" is my original music from the play with the same name I'll World Percussionist-Tom Teasley performs World Percussionist-Tom Teasley performs To The Max perform live with Constellation Theatre opening April 25. I'm exploring a variety of odd meter compositions in 5, 7, 9, 11, and even 13 beats. To make this even more interesting we are choreographing dances to these. This is a show you will not want to miss.

In celebration of my work combining world percussion with American Jazz I'm offering a new video To The Max. It is my tribute to drumset master Max Roach performed on a Cooperman Kanjira, L.P. Djembe, Bongos and Hi Hat.

World Percussion Workshop

On the subject of combining instruments to create a world percussion hybrid set this month's workshop is combining doumbek, djembe and foot patterns. I'll be using Turkish style split hand strokes on the doumbek with heel tip strokes on the djembe and combining this with cymbals and a variety of foot patterns. I demonstrated these individual instruments and techniques in previous newsletters.

For reference on previous workshop videos please visit my site regularly as I will be frequently uploading new videos.

If you would like to schedule a lesson either in my studio or via Skype please contact me.

Looking Forward

I will also be presenting a series of school assembly programs on behalf of InterAct Story Theatre in Maryland as well as a tour for Young Audiences of Virginia to Richmond and beyond. I'm looking forward to continuing to share my passion for music and percussion.

Peace, Salam, Shalom, Shanti,

Tom