Tom Foote - Snare Drumming Instructor, Cymbal-Artist

Tom started learning WWI style pipe band drumming from his grandfather (Joseph Bevington) at the age of eight. At elementary school age he was training classically at the Hamburg NY Schools and received private instruction with Steven Henry. He played in both All County and All State bands several times. He was taught pipe band drumming by Jack Strickland of Fort Erie, ON Canada and Jimmy Agnew of St. Catherine’s, Ont., Canada. With Jimmy's example of strict study habits of rudimental play, Tom advanced to Professional Level status in short order.

Tom has received PPBSO (Canada) Champion Supreme Honors through all grade levels during his individual and band career.

Band Career

Tom played briefly with "The Clan McFarlane", St. Catherines, ON Canada (1980) and then joined the 78th Fraser’s, Toronto, ON Canada (1982-1986) while Reid Maxwell was lead-tip. After a brief hiatus Tom began to instruct local bands in Upstate NY, and now teaches many bands and individuals across North America both in person and via web based lessons. He has played for the Toronto Metro Police Band with Drew Duthart in the early 90’s, and then with Peel Regional Police
(2001-2004) and with the innovative Toronto Police Pipe Band with LD Doug Stronach. Of recent, Tom has concentrated on helping develop drummers using virtual instruction.

Tom holds the highest level of certificate in drumming from the combined Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, The Army School of Piping and Drumming and the Institute of Piping, known collectively as the Piping and Drumming Qualifications Board.