Thomas Doggett has been an active performer and educator for over 20 years and enjoys all styles of music.
Thomas began 2013 by performing in Gent, Belgium at the 3rd European Clarinet Festival with his wife Cynthia. The Duo performed Mad Rush to the End by composer Charles Savage. Mad Rush was the first of many works written for Thomas and Cynthia.
Tommy plays a TM Custom tenor saxophone designed by Randy Jones at Tenor Madness and an EWI4000s: Electronic Wind Instrument by AKAI.
Tommy’s teachers include Greg Banaszak and Bob Reynolds
In 2008, Tommy became a member of Corey Taylor’s Junk Beer Kidnap Band. Throughout 2009, JBKB performed at clubs and festivals including Rockfest in Kansas City, Lazerfest in Des Moines, End of the Summer Scorcher in Phoenix and the Key Club in LA.
At the beginning of 2011, Tommy joined the Free Style Variety Band. Prior to that, Tommy regularly performed with Des Moines’ premier R&B/Funk group One Nite Stand.
Tommy is featured on Cleo's Apartment's 2010 release: Off At The Shoulders and the 2012 Axis Manifest film production: Flick
Thomas was an ASCAPlus Award recipient in 2006 and 2007.
As an educator, Thomas has taught at Muskingum College, Ohio University-Zanesville, Kent State, Hiram College, Cincinnati School for the Creative and Performing Arts, College of Mount St. Joseph, South-Western Community College and Central College.
Originally hailing from Covington, Kentucky, Tommy established himself throughout Cincinnati, Ohio as a performer with Lo-Fi (2006 Cincinnati Entertainment Award (CEA) nominee "Best Funk”), The 4Track All-Stars (2005 CEA: Best Hip-Hop) and Two Turntables and a Saxophone (“One of the Top bands to see at Midpoint Music Festival in 2004” Citybeat).
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
I said something to my saxophone teacher today that I thought would be worth sharing. I was discussing this past month’s practicing and what I’ve learned and without trying to say something clever, I said:
“…I need to play like I’m not trying but I need to practice trying everyday.”
I wish I had some patience. I get so excited recording and everything sounds cool in the moment but a day later, I hear everything. Everything that could have been better. Everything that I shouldn’t have shared. That’s kind of me in a nutshell: heart on my sleeve. Everything good and bad. I hope the listener sorts it out. The positive spin on all of this is; if I didn’t put it out, I wouldn’t have a reason to try harder next time. So, with that said; I’m going to go practice.
A big part of practicing is setting down your horn and going out and hearing some live music. Go get your batteries charged this week.
I had a wonderful day with family and friends and a productive evening practicing. I’m transcribing some Chris Potter and it’s kicking my ass…in a positive way. To document my progress, I record everything I get and I treat it like a recording session. I experimented tonight using a Blue Baby Bottle and a BeyerDynamic Opus 62. It’s a great combination of warmth and detail. I’m looking forward to using this microphone combination on future recordings. 2011 was a year of serious study. 2012 is going to be a year of serious creativity. I have so many new sounds and note combinations in my head. At the beginning of this year, I set out to transcribe a solo or song a month and I have achieved that goal (one more month to go). I told myself in January that I get better every time I transcribe and this year, I’ve gotten better 11 times. What I haven’t done is compose my own songs since 2004…except for a few things here and there. All of the work I’ve done this year is really going to fuel my composing next year. What I don’t know is the end result but right now I’m not concerned. I just need to compose a song a month and see what I have at the end of the year. :-)
http://thetalentcode.com/2011/05/31/a-gauge-for-measuring-effective-practice/
If you distilled all the new science about talent development into two words of advice, they would be “practice better.”
That’s it. Practice. Better.
Forget everything else about your genes, your potential — it’s all just noise. The most basic truth is that if you practice better, you’ll develop your talent — and you won’t develop your talent unless you practice better. Period.
Video Practice Log: Technicolor Nightmare transcription
I’ve started transcribing Technicolor Nightmare by Christian McBride. Besides loving the song, saxophonist Ron Blake takes a great solo; the complexity is in the simplicity. As of today, I’ve lifted the melody and a little over a minute of the solo. I plan to finish it in the next two weeks.
Video Practice Log: overtones and longtones
I started taking saxophone lessons with Bob Reynolds in November. To document my progress, I’ll be posting a video journal of my practicing. This video is about overtones and quality of tone.
