Piano Lessons in Orinda, CA

Timothy Z

Instruments: Piano Guitar Trumpet Trombone Euphonium French Horn Tuba Music Keyboard Acoustic Guitar

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
I have know the majority of my life that I wanted to be a professional musician. I have always enjoyed that it is all about community and all the amazing people I have been able to work with. Music education has been a vehicle for me to enact positive change in other's lives.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
I really enjoy playing most of Charlie Parker's bebop music. I am currently learning some of his compositions. I hope to play them on gigs in the future for their beautiful and challenging melodies.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
I am a first generation musician. While I may be the first to use music as my career, music was constantly playing in my home. Most of my Mother's family played or plays musical instrument.

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I have been playing guitar and piano for about as long as I have been playing trombone. While I don't perform professionally on them, I have found their skills extremely essential for learning how music works. I have been attracted to those instruments for their ability to play harmony with one another. I have been teaching all brass instruments for all of my education career as the approach for those instruments are almost identical to that of trombone.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
My favorite style to play is Jazz. Most of my freelance work is in Jazz and Commercial styles. I really enjoy that every artist has their own voice and how individualistic the performances are.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
If I wasn't a musician, I would have entered the biology/ecology field. I am and Eagle Scout and have always had a desire to learn new things about the world and the Earth. This desire to learn has been extremely beneficial in my artistic development.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I have a B.A. Degree in Music Performance. I started as a double major in Music Ed and Music Performance. My 3rd year in my Undergraduate, I won a job with the United States Marine Corps band and decided to only finish my Music Performance degree to enter the service. In the service I attended the Naval School of Music where I graduated as a Basic Musician with Instrumental Honors.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
I'll use the Arban, Rochut, Rubank, and Jazz Conception for student's first starting out. While I like to use these resources, they are not necessary for learning music or trombone. We will also work on classical solos and etudes, and jazz standards and transcriptions, as well as make up fun exercises that address instrument technique.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
The greatest challenge on my instrument is playing music written for other instruments. Both in classical and commercial/jazz settings you will find trombone performing music composed for other instruments. This leads to a set of challenges and skills necessary to learn... and they are fun to learn too!

Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
My students have been selected to attend honors ensemble festivals. We have succeeded by being extremely focused on the musical product rather than the competition. The only thing that is in the student's control is in their own performance. I have discovered that students find this approach way more rewarding as the focus becomes about the growth journey rather than the outcome.

Why did you choose your primary instrument?
I was guided towards trombone by my first band director. They could tell I had a good ear for hearing pitch, so trombone was suggested for me. I have enjoyed the sound and challenge ever since!

What musical accomplishments are you most proud of?
I am most proud of my military service. I never thought that I would be in a position to travel the country making music and serve my community and a country. What a wild ride it has been!

When will I start to see results?
You can expect to see results as early as the first lesson. I have techniques to ensure growth occurs right away and students will get excited about continued growth!

Did you have a teacher that inspired you to go into music? How did they inspire you?
My first private teacher really inspired me to go into music. He taught me that you can make your dreams a reality and showed many sustainable and steady career options in music. I was able to see how he developed me to prepare for professional study. At every lesson I grew and it was exciting! I strive to uphold his legacy of teaching excellence.

What advice do you have about practicing effectively?
The key is both persistence and enjoyment! We will make sure that all the music we play is something you will want to practice. If you like it, you are more likely to find the time to do it! Each student will find different practice techniques to work better for them. Together we will discover what works best for you!

How do I know if my child is ready to start lessons?
Teacher guidance is essential to growth. If your student is interested in music, then they are ready for private lessons! Music is supposed to be fun and enjoyable. In my studio it will be fun, not a chore.

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