Thomas Piercy's relationship as a student of three of the most revered clarinetists and teachers of the 20th century — Gervase De Peyer, Kalmen Opperman, Leon Russianoff — give Piercy an exceptional and extraordinarily valuable perspective to clarinet performance and teaching methods. He combines these acclaimed pedagogues and performers' experiences and influences with his own to bring about an exciting and varied teaching method tailored to each of his students’ unique strengths and needs.

Piercy maintains a private teaching studio in New York City and Tokyo, Japan where he teaches clarinet, saxophone and voice to students of all ages and levels. Many of his high school and college age students have been competition winners, performed in festivals and continued their studies in colleges and conservatories to pursue careers in music. His current and former students have performed in concert, on Broadway, TV and radio.

Mr. Piercy has contributed to published clarinet studies and books, and assisted and contributed to the Carl Fischer publication “The New Extended Working Range for Clarinet” by Kalmen Opperman.

Thomas Piercy conducts Master Classes in colleges, universities, community music schools, high schools and festivals throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.


Lesson information:

Private lessons available in studio or online through SKYPE.

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For Master Class or Private Lesson information: CONTACT.
thomaspiercy@gmail.com

Thomas Piercy’s published remarks after the death of Gervase De Peyer.
‘His sound – bold, colorful – was in my head since I was a teenager. I moved to NYC to study with him and continued to learn from him until the last time we spoke. He was always there to give advice and encouragement, both about music and life.
‘His personality and musicality were a great match: bigger than life, full of energy, endlessly curious. His playing was unique and almost instantly recognizable: full of charm and elegance, with a powerful technique always at the service to the music. Many composers wrote their music for him, as they knew he would bring a great life to those little black dots on the page. Playing for him, and with him, was a walk on the high-wire: endlessly exciting and thrilling; always learning and living something new.
‘It was a true honor and joy to become friends with Gervase and his dear wife Katia. So many good laughs; so many good talks about music and life. My deepest sympathies to Katia and the family.
‘Very early on in my lessons with Gervase, he told me to write something down. He said it was important.
I still have that note.
“Do Something,
Say Something,
Don’t be Predictable.”‘

GERVASE DE PEYER

LEON RUSSIANOFF

KALMEN OPPERMAN