“I’ll hop onboard this train and I’ve recently been meaning to drop you a line to say hi anyway. But a number of my favorite memories and some of the most fun and important things I learned at Brandeis took place in your classroom. It changed the way I play music and impacted the ways I think about and interact with the world around me. So in the spirit of improvising, keep wondering why but make sure you appreciate the positive influence you have had on so many of us!”

“Tom Hall, you switched something on in me too. i use your improvisation-mind-openers-philosophy in many ways, Both in my music as well as in how I learn and use improvisation techniques in many areas of my life. Thank you for opening this door!”

“Dear Tom, Every Tuesday I sat in your Improv class, I had two thoughts: A) This is the coolest thing ever, I know I’ll never forget this! and B) I can’t believe I waited until my last semester to get involved in this class! In a semester very bogged down by classes and my job, your class on Tuesdays was the most beautiful healing respite. At first I was skeptical - how much can I learn by making up music? - but I quickly learned under your guidance how very misinformed my skepticism was. I have learned so much about the breadth and scope of musical possibility - about trusting my impulses - about the power of quiet and space - and these are lessons I will use in all my life -endeavors and music- endeavors to come. I know that when I reminisce on my Brandeis years fifty years from now, the moments in your classroom are the ones I will recall most clearly. Thank you so much. I will miss your class and your wisdom more than I can explain!”

“I need to throw some Tom Hall love out onto facebook. It does wonders for me every day and comes through in the randomest of moments. He teaches that life is one big improvisation. Last weekend I found a nice little shack with a huge stereo to get a haircut at, which can be a nervous adventure when you barely speak the same language as the person cutting your hair. It seemed like we had communicated successfully; a 2 for the length of the sides and a 4 on the top. However, it wasn’t long before he had taken the clipper heads off and was just going for a vision of his own. Remembering Tom once describing his dentist as a master artist and improviser, I let the worry leave my shoulders and embraced the inner artist and improvisation of my barber. And what an awesome haircut it turned out to be! (even with my head bobbin to the killer jams all throughout). An hour later when trying to get a hitch to a friend’s house, a police officer stopped me at a roadblock and directed me towards a car to get a lift in. I sat down, and suddenly all of the police filed in. 5 of us in the back seat of the sedan, policemen on my lap and wedged in on all sides, and I definitely wasn’t the only sweaty one there. Though it all felt a bit strange, the jams were on point again. Tom teaches us to say “yes”, because you never know what’s going to happen. Since that’s how things are no matter what, you might as well have some fun along the way.”

“Tom, I’m not always very vocal about these things, but my time at ‘deis came with many personal growing pains, and your class was always a safe space for me to stop thinking about everything and just play. It’s encouraged me to be more open and adventurous with my art and life. I don’t think there’s any way to work with you without leaving enlightened in some way.”