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piano and lights it up. I stood up, pointed at the screen, ZGP: How can music connect humanity?

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and told my buddy that is what I know for me, music got through to me more than
I want to do. I had no backup plan, but I knew that was anything else could. I have seen this work for other
what I wanted to do and perhaps people as well. It is not lost on me that when I'm
have the chance to set one on fire as well. teaching my students music, I'm also giving them
something to help them cope with different situa-
DAVE
ZGP: Do you feel you have some conduit to tions. Just like humanity, there is no one-size-fits-all.
this energetic musical force, as described by We connect best by tapping into each individual's
By Tammy Yosich Tom Petty? essence; it is how I teach and how I live. I would be
wasting my time with my students if I'm working
"It is kind of a dangerous business looking deeply into to make them all sound the same. Instead, I focus
the germ that creates songs. I don't like to stare at that on individual talents, and when brought together, a
light very long. There is some kind of actual magic going beautiful harmony is created, connecting each per-
on there. I feel that for some reason, I was born with son. The only way to bring out the best in a student
some kind of conduit to this energetic force." is by being patient, kind, and nurturing. For me,
---Tom Petty, 2015 it is easy to provide a 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 as
term prodigy, as I like to think I have worked for my the Gregorian Chant or the 15th Century cathedral
talents. I put in a lot of practice and effort. I believe music. I couldn't live without it. I know I would not
you can have an aptitude for music, but you still must be the only one attempting
work that craft to sustain it. The muscle memory is not to create music if we found
going to happen without consistent effort. I was bless- ourselves without it.
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 David Michael Thomas can

year; Jean gave me an amazing gift and confidence.” be seen playing his piano
Now, as a teacher, Thomas imparts this same wisdom all over town. I can certain-
to his students aged seven to thirteen. ly attest that once you have
seen him play you will nev-
As far as a conduit as Petty describes, possibly I have er forget the performance.
that, but I also know that you could lose that connec- Thomas has music in his
Young Dave Thomas tion without work. I think music is the closest to magic soul and it shows on and off

that we have. Music crosses cultural and language the stage. I was fortunate to
boundaries. It is magical that people who may never interview Thomas “off stage”
come to the United States adore the music that flows and to experience firsthand
from here. The Rolling Stones and the Beatles were his compassion for human-
influenced by the blues coming out of this part of the ity and for music; both just
country. as authentic as when he
plays his beloved piano.

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