Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Toy.
Andrew, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started playing the drums as a child growing up in Delaware and immediately fell in love with it. My first professional gig was as a cruise ship drummer, which allowed me to visit over 70 countries while performing on stage nightly. Since then, I have toured all over the US in groups of all types. When not performing, I stay active as a session percussionist and as an educator. I currently teach privately and at 7DrumCity in NW Washington DC. A love of music technology has also led to a professorship teaching music production at American University and George Washington University. My career thus far has been extremely rewarding and one thing always seems to lead to another. There have been many surprising twists and turns that have made the journey all the more rewarding and I’m always excited to see what will happen next.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Careers in the arts are notoriously difficult. Balancing art and commerce (both necessary) is necessary for a sustainable and satisfying career. Like all musicians, finding the right balance has been a constant struggle but I’m grateful to have a sustainable career that is inspiring, enjoyable, and rarely feels like a job.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a percussionist first and foremost, which has manifested in several different ways. The path that has gained the most attention has been my use of live digital production techniques with acoustic drumming. I’ve been exploring my “electro-acoustic” approach for the last 10 years, which has been endlessly inspiring for myself. I have recorded two albums (Guardrails in 2021, Spontaneous Ritual in 2025) and performed many times live on stage, including at PASIC, the world’s largest percussion convention.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Although a lot of people know me through me electro-acoustic work, most of my touring life has been performing Celtic music (very acoustic and tradition-based), including tours in Ireland.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.andrewtoy.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atoydrummer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atoydrummer
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atoydrummer/
- Twitter: https://www.x.com/atoydrummer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/atoydrummer
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/andrew-toy-drum-lessons-college-park-4
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/atoydrummer
