My name is Thomas Cognetti, and I am a music educator.

I was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. Both of my parents are teachers. My siblings are teachers. I have aunts and uncles who are teachers, as well as cousins, and even grandparents. I’ve always been enveloped in the world of education, and I’ve seen how important it is to have a natural curiosity, and a passion to learn. As I grew into a passion for music through my own school band programs, it intertwined with the teacher genes that clearly run in my family.

I’ve spent countless hours teaching students from all walks of life. I’ve been in affluent neighborhoods and at Title I schools. I’ve been in the city and I’ve been in the sticks, and everywhere in between. I’ve taught students who were basically prodigies, and students who just needed a little bit of music in their lives. No matter how different the schools or the students are, the one thing that has always remained constant was music, and its impact on each one of us. Regardless of the specific details, it is in my classes that I see my students and myself grow, year after year, into better, more whole people.

Off the podium, I bring the same level of passion into everything I do. I am a loving father to my beautiful daughter, Gloria. I have a tirelessly caring wife, Angelica, who is also a musician. I love to cook and I love to eat. I feel I am just as creative in the kitchen as I am in the band room. I love to laugh. I have a great sense of humor, and I’m always the first to lighten the mood with a joke or two. I also love to explore nature, especially in the National Parks. I am slowly crossing each one off my list. Next stop: Grand Canyon and Petrified Forest!

Thank you for spending your time to browse my site. Please feel free to explore the various pages to view my work, or fill out the contact form if you’d like to chat.