Page 105 - July ONLINE VERSION_Neat

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ZGP: Do you feel you have some conduit to
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this energetic musical force, as described by nect best by tapping into each individual's essence; it
Tom Petty? is how I teach and how I live. I would be wasting my
time with my students if I'm working to make them
"It is kind of a dangerous business looking deeply into all sound the same. Instead, I focus on individual tal-
the germ that creates songs. I don't like to stare at that ents, and when brought together, a beautiful harmo-
DAVE
light very long. There is some kind of actual magic going ny is created, connecting each person. The only way
on there. I feel that for some reason, I was born with to bring out the best in a student is by being patient,
By Tammy Yosich some kind of conduit to this energetic force." kind, and nurturing. For me, it is easy to provide a
---Tom Petty, 2015 sympathetic ear and attitude because I've been in
their shoes.
I know when I was younger, I was able to hear music in
my head almost as clear as you would hear a radio, but ZGP: If you awoke tomorrow and there
there was nothing there. My parents realized I could was no music, how would you create it?
play by ear when I was seven. My mom entered the liv-
ing room where I was playing the theme to the prime- It would start with that primal scream. It is really
time TV drama, "Dallas." Curious, I just told her it was where keeping time began. The first caveman re-
the song I heard from that show you and dad watch. alized the pitch and how you could change it. It
impacted members of their tribe in magical ways.
I think it was a shock to my parents that I had…I don't Music has always taken on a larger-than-life per-
want to call it an advanced ability, and I don't like the spective if you think about how music began, such
term prodigy, as I like to think I have worked for my as the Gregorian Chant or the 15th Century cathe-
talents. I put in a lot of practice and effort. I believe dral music. I couldn't live without it. I know I would
you can have an aptitude for music, but you still must not be the only one attempting to create music if we
work that craft to sustain it. The muscle memory is not found ourselves without it.
going to happen without consistent effort. I was bless-
ed with a piano teacher – Jean Hammonds- because
she made me feel there wasn't anything I couldn't do
if I put in the time and work. I studied with her for a
year; Jean gave me an amazing gift and confidence.” David Michael
Now, as a teacher, Thomas imparts this same wisdom Thomas can be
to his students aged seven to thirteen. seen playing his pi-
ano all over town. I
As far as a conduit as Petty describes, possibly I have can certainly attest
that, but I also know that you could lose that connec- that once you have
tion without work. I think music is the closest to magic seen him play you
that we have. Music crosses cultural and language will never forget
boundaries. It is magical that people who may never the performance.
come to the United States adore the music that flows Thomas has music
from here. The Rolling Stones and the Beatles were in his soul and it
influenced by the blues coming out of this part of the shows on and off
Young Dave Thomas country. the stage. I was fortunate to

interview Thomas “off stage”
ZGP: How can music connect humanity? and to experience firsthand
I know for me, music got through to me more than his compassion for human-
anything else could. I have seen this work for other ity and for music; both just
people as well. It is not lost on me that when I'm teach- as authentic as when he
ing my students music, I'm also giving them some- plays his beloved piano.
thing to help them cope with different situations. Just

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