Artist Spotlight: Tim Carolla Junior
“I think music helps with so many skills, but the first one that pops in my head is communication and with it empathy.”
- Tim
Tim Carolla Junior hasn’t let the COVID pandemic prevent him from continuing to make music. Although he doesn’t have the same gig schedule as he did before everything shut down mid-March last year, he is still focusing on teaching (now online) and collaborating with other musicians as well as itching to get back into performing. Currently based in Northern Virginia (right outside the D.C. area), Tim is optimistic that musicians won’t have to jam alone for that much longer.
I met Tim about 8 years ago when he was studying music in Boston and we have been friends ever since. I myself have had the opportunity to perform with Tim and can attest to his skills as an accomplished musician on guitar. Not only is he talented he is super down to earth. It is a pleasure to feature him in this blog. Keep reading to check out his interview below!
SO TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF. HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
I got started in music around the age of 12. I was very interested in music at this time and had a few friends who played instruments, so I picked up the guitar and started taking lessons. At this time, I played in pick up bands with my younger brother and friends until a few years later I ended up auditioning for a Classical Guitar program at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, not far from where I grew up. Before I finished this program, I added a Jazz Minor to my degree. I ended up wanting to further pursue this by moving to Massachusetts to do my graduate work in Jazz Guitar/Free Jazz Performance at The Longy School of Music of Bard College in Cambridge, MA.
What attracted you to jazz?
When we were getting lessons in middle/high school, my brother’s teacher was showing him lots of jazz records and I was listening to all that stuff throughout high school and college. As someone who was mostly looking at classical guitar at that point, I was just blown away by the players’ fluidity on their instruments and how much technique they had, not to mention how it opens up your ear and you hear the musicians playing harmonies and lines you wouldn’t hear in any other genre. That really captured my imagination. Then getting into it from a classical point of view, improvisation just seems like a huge impossible thing to tackle but it’s an incredible skill that seems like a no brainer for a musician to aspire to be able to do.
Obviously the life of a musician is very different now than it was a year ago, what was your life like before as a musician and what are you looking forward to as things open back up?
When COVID and the shutdowns started to occur I was performing regularly with two groups (lead guitar in a band and bass in a church band) which entails a lot of playing with other musicians. Between performances and rehearsals, I would end up playing at least a few times a week with other musicians. While I’ve been able to keep busy recording some things for various projects and continuing to offer lessons online, I’ve really been itching to play regularly with a group. I have recently started a band with some other musicians that have similar feelings, and it’s been great to focus on leading a band and all the things that come with that.
Having performed with you myself I know how talented you are and love referring students to you for guitar lessons! What other lessons do you offer and can people take lesson with you online?
Yes! I offer private lessons on guitar, bass, piano, or ukulele. In addition, I love to teach lessons or classes that focus on music fundamentals as well so please contact me about lessons having to do with theory, composition or improvisation!
HOW WOULD YOU SUM UP YOUR TEACHING PHILOSOPHY?
I think it’s so important to tailor lessons to every student, and their wants and needs in terms of progress. I have been teaching for 12 years now, and I have a lot of experience helping students to progress over time and meet their goals. My philosophy is about helping you to make that progress while also being able to tie in things that you take interest in to keep you engaged and moving forward, while also having fun and enjoying the journey!
I so appreciate your teaching philosophy because mine is very similar. It is important to listen to your students’ interests, i believe that is the best way to keep music fun: to let them know they have options and a say in their own learning!
How can prospective students contact you about lessons?
The best way to reach me is by email: Tcarolla@icloud.com
I WANT TO THANK TIM AGAIN FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONNECT WITH ME FOR THIS INTERVIEW AND WOULD ALSO LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW WHERE YOU CAN connect with Him online & ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Interested in booking Tim to perform for your next event?
TheBash: https://www.thebash.com/jazz-guitar/tim-carolla-junior
Make sure to Follow him on Instagram:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tcarolla/
You can listen/stream his music on Soundcloud & Youtube:
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/tim-carolla
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgG88MIZxj2zSvldxytbTbQ
THANK YOU FOR READING THIS MONTH’S ARTIST SPOTLIGHT!
Tim Carolla Junior is proud to be one of our Artist Affiliates
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