Thomas Briggs studied at Berklee College of Music in Boston and received his BA in Music Education, Summa Cum Laude, at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst in 1978. Tom retired in May ‘09 from the United States Coast Guard Band after 30 years of service. He was the principal percussionist, arranger/composer, and musical director of the Coast Guard Masters of Swing jazz septet.

Tom is also an award-winning published composer. He has written and arranged many works for all types of musical ensembles, from symphonic winds to percussion, chamber groups and jazz ensembles. In the field of education, Tom has published a beginning-intermediate piano method book, two drum-set and two snare drum method books.

Tom is currently the Music Director at the Community Music School and has been a member of the faculty since 1985. He offers private instruction on piano, composition, percussion, drum-set, computer technology, and jazz piano and improvisation. Since 1996, Tom has directed the CMS Jazz Ensemble and has produced over 85 arrangements and compositions for the group. Tom is involved in several new projects at CMS this fall ‘09: the new digital piano lab, an adult performing ensemble and a world drum percussion ensemble.