Meet Tom
Artist Statement
One of my favorite places to visit? Junkyards. Rusty wrenches, brake drums, old oxygen tanks, scrap pieces of stone: all the perfect objects to create music. I have spent hours picking through piles of discarded junk, tapping on everything and anything, and searching for the pieces that sound the most unique when struck with a mallet.
I began making musical instruments with the vision of 1) creating something that absolutely anyone is able to play (with or without musical training, any age, in a stroller, walking or in a wheelchair....... no limitations), 2) encouraging musical interest with instruments that are easy, interactive and fun, and 3) demonstrating how instruments do not need to be expensive and may be made out of nearly anything.
My career began with performing music for others and has since evolved into a mission of creating opportunities in which others are able to perform their own music. My hope in making my instruments, is that anyone and everyone may experience the joy of making and sharing music, as I have experienced throughout my life.
Artist Bio
Tom Kaufmann has been entertaining audiences of all ages with his musical and artistic talents for over 40 years. A Michigan native, Tom was raised in the small town of Hastings. He began playing piano, singing and entertaining during adolescence, and began working during high school as an afternoon disc jockey at WBCH.
Music Education
In 1995, while continuing his performance career, Tom founded Tinkertunes Music Studio, a music teaching facility located in Traverse City, MI. Tom and several colleagues provided private and group lessons in piano, flute, and violin, as well as numerous early childhood music programs including KinderMusik, Suzuki programs, and First Steps in Music. The other teachers eventually outgrew the studio space and Tom closed the physical location of the studio in 2002. However, he continues to offer childhood music education programs such as the Traveling Musical Instrument Petting Zoo at various schools, museums, libraries and other children's events.
Sculpture
In 2001, Tom began sculpting aluminum wire into names, that when “played,” created beautiful bell like tones. You could find him "bending wire" for birthday guests or anniversary couples during his breaks at the Beacon Lounge. These personalized gifts became a customer favorite and he created Your Name Rings A Bell.
Shortly after, he began creating a variety of unique, handmade musical instruments, made out of recycled materials. His pieces have been purchased by various museums, schools, libraries and parks and three of his pieces were entries in ArtPrize (world's largest art competition with over 1500 entries each year). His interactive musical sculptures earned placement in the top 50 in 2012, top 100 in 2013 and top 20 within the Time Based category in 2014.
Personal
Tom has two children, Miles and Elise, both of whom are highly driven and enjoying their respective careers. Tom enjoys spending time with them both during holidays and the summer months, and also enjoys sailing, riding his velomobile around Traverse City, and traveling.
Music Career
His professional music career began in 1973 at a night club in Osaka, Japan. After traveling, living, and performing in a variety of locations including San Francisco, Florida’s Gulf Coast, and various cities throughout the Midwest, Tom eventually returned to Michigan.
In 1979 he moved to Michigan's Northern lower peninsula, which soon became “home.” He began in Charlevoix working as the morning DJ at WVOY / WKHQ as well as playing piano at the Weathervane Inn. In 1981, he began performing music full-time and writing and producing jingles with local radio legend Bill Vogel. Tom was recognized for his outstanding work via receiving two Michigan “Addy” Awards for his jingles written for Audio Graph Productions.
After five years at the Weathervane Inn, and a return tour of Japan in 1984, Tom played throughout the 80's and early 90's as a soloist and member of the "house bands" at Boyne Mountain, Shanty Creek Resort, and Charlevoix’s historic Grey Gables Inn. It was at the Grey Gables Inn that Tom perfected his signature closing exit of riding a unicycle throughout the bar while playing the William Tell Overture on a concertina and harmonica.
Tom was appointed Entertainment Director for the Grand Traverse Resort from 1993 to 2000, where he performed in the Trillium Lounge as a soloist and leading both his six piece band Lake Effect and trio Altitude.
In 2001, Tom transitioned to the the top of Traverse City's historic Park Place Hotel as a soloist entertainer. He performed weekly on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights until the pandemic closed the Beacon in March of 2020.
He now appears Thursday through Saturday at Slate Restaurant , 250 East Front Street in Traverse City.