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The Life of a Guitarist and Composer - An Interview with Zack White

Which instruments do you teach? For how long have you been teaching? 

I teach classical guitar, primarily.  However, I do want to begin teaching music theory and composition since that is what I hold my degree in from SJSU.  I've been teaching since I was in high school (primarily electric guitar) to a few kids in my hometown of Tracy, CA.  However, I only had like 3 or 4 students at a time.  I'd say about ten years, but I didn't start teaching seriously until I was in college.

How did you get into teaching?

I initially started teaching just as a means of not having a job with a boss in high school for some walking around money.  I didn't start teaching seriously until 2016.  I was dating a girl who immigrated to the US from Mexico.  Her grandfather was a classical guitarist and she always wanted to learn how to play the instrument.  Each week we'd have a lesson after cooking our Sunday dinner.  I then started getting other students as well.  I found that I no longer enjoyed working in the service industry as a waiter and began shifting my career focus.  It took four years, but now I have a large enough studio where I do not have to wait tables for a living.

We heard you had recent graduation compositions and recitals, how did those go? 

Yes, I finally graduated from SJSU's School of Music and Dance after nine years of undergraduate studies.  I switched majors a few times during my first three years of college.  The degree I've been awarded is a B.M. in Music Composition.  It feels good to have an expensive piece of paper that proclaims I am an authority on putting little black dots on a piece of paper.

As far as a recital, it didn't happen this year due to COVID-19.  It's unfortunate, and I was holding rehearsals of my compositions up until the March 17th shelter-in-place order.  I did my junior composition recital back in April of 2019 with a colleague and good friend, and we were set to do a two-hour concert of both of our original compositions.  We're currently waiting until things normalize before carrying on.  Stay tuned, we may be throwing a bigger concert than initially planned sometime next year (hopefully). 

In your own words, how do you think music can help people through challenging times?

In regards to teaching music, the gratification with helping students has kept me from losing my mind during this lockdown.  Teaching my students during this pandemic, even though we are not in the same room together, gives my students and myself a social outlet.  Even though it is not the ideal situation, I think that getting together and making music brightens up these dark days for all of us.

What are some challenges players face when trying to learn? What do you say to help them overcome those challenges?

Frustration and giving up is a huge challenge for a lot of budding musicians.  One thing that I'm working with my students to overcome this hurdle is to have a more structured practice time.  Keeping a practice journal and writing down your struggles, goals and achievements is a great way to keep you going down the right path.  Plateaus in growth within any artistic pursuit occur, and I think that it's important to put in the work to overcome periods of non growth.  Trust the process.

What are some of your musical influences? 

I have a bunch of weird influences that don't seem to connect, but I try to make some aspects of different composers in my own works to some degree.  I've been a huge fan of Aphex Twin from a young age, and the fact that someone can make these wild sounds with electronics inspired me to start making electronic music at a young age.  Other electronic musicians I enjoy are Deadmau5, Mr. Bill, 1788-L, Pendulum and Knife Party.

I also have love for hardcore, punk and metal music due to the use of unresolved dissonance to express complex emotions.  Bands like The Dillinger Escape Plan, Car Bomb, The Chariot, Daughters, Vein, Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Slayer and Trash Talk are on my constant Spotify rotation. I love heavy, complex music.

I began listening to music by 19th and 20th century composers when I was in my senior year of high school.  Composers like Igor Stravinksy, Bela Bartok, Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel, Dimitri Shostakovich, Paul Hindemith, Fredric Chopin, Sergi Prokofiev, Gygory Ligeti, Leo Brouwer... The list goes on.

Everyone who writes music has something to offer.  I know what I like and it's important for others to find what they like.  

Do you like using a pick? Or do you prefer just your fingers?  

The hand is only as strong as its weakest finger.  That being said, and that I am primarily a classical guitarist, I prefer to use the full scope of my hands.  Plectrums make for lazy right hands, and my pedagogical biases are showing.

Socials/Web

You can visit my website: https://www.zacktwhite.com/

Links to my Youtube page as well as my Instagram are in the top left corner.  The website is still under construction, because I'm doing my own graphic design and site planning.  I'm currently working on an album of electronic music that should be released by September 30th or this year (My dad's birthday).  Stay tuned on my website for more details.  I hope to get it on both Apple Music and Bandcamp.  If electronic music isn't your thing, you can hear one of my compositions for Saxophone Quartet here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb7IoK4n97o

Thank you so much Zack for the amazing discussion. Zack is a wonderful guitar teacher and it’s great to hear his stories and perspective.