Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Zachary Caplinger. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Zachary, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My father was a professional musician as well. His name was Dennis Caplinger. He sadly passed away a couple years ago, but he still is one of my greatest mentors and inspirations. He was a respected bluegrass musician and recording artist. He bought me my first guitar at the age of 10 or so. We would play music all the time together in my younger years, and in my teens I began to show serious interest. I began accompanying my Dad to all of his shows and recording sessions. I would often set up his gear for him, and then just sit and watch and learn. Those experiences were invaluable, and taught me many musical lessons, but also demonstrated the importance of professionalism and being a good person. Those years with my Father cemented my desire to pursue a path in music.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As I explained earlier, music ran in the family. Playing with Dad over the years, and traveling with him to various shows and whatnot really is what inspired me to pursue a life in music. However, up until high school I mainly was interested in bluegrass music. I actually thought I would follow in Dad’s footsteps, and perform bluegrass music around the world. He encouraged me though to join the Jazz ensemble in high school and learn some music theory, as well as how to read music. After graduating high school, I went to Riverside City College to continue my music studies. It was at RCC that my interest in jazz really took off. From there, I finished my college education at California State University, Fullerton. While I still do play bluegrass and other acoustic styles, today I consider myself primarily a jazz guitarist. I find there are so many similarities between jazz and bluegrass, and while there will always be a place in my heart for the latter, jazz is what I love most these days. I consider myself very lucky to have a career that is involved at all in any music, but the complexities and improvisatory nature of jazz, and the privilege we have to make different choices with each performance really draw me to it. Whether I am playing a concert of my own original music at a jazz club, subbing for a friend in a musical, or playing background music at a restaurant where no one listens, I always try to bring that same creativity in a mature and musical way. I am a part of a number of different groups that require me to fill the role of both soloist and accompanist, and I strive to be able to do both at a high level, and help my fellow musicians on the bandstand sound the best they can.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I teach jazz guitar at California State University, Fullerton, and I find that many students adopt a mindset that I struggled with, which is that there is some sort of finish line to studying music. I think while in school, it is easy to get overwhelmed, and students start to think, “I just have to learn these tunes this semester, and I’ll be done”, or “I just need to knock out this recital, and I’ll be done”. We have all crammed for tests in history or math, only to forget the information soon after the test is over. Music shouldn’t be studied that way. It is important to remember that there will always be more to learn with music, and we want to retain the knowledge we gain, so we can always be moving forward with our art. I try to encourage my students to be patient and dedicated with their practice, and not rush when working on new tunes or concepts. There is so much to dig into with music, and we really can spend the rest of our lives honing our craft. While that can be an overwhelming and sometimes frustrating thought, I think it should ultimately be inspiring, and one of the most rewarding aspects of being a musician!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I had a very important conversation once with the amazing bassist, composer, and educator: John Clayton. I was fresh out of college, and had gone to see The Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, which is co-lead by John, and drummer, Jeff Hamilton. I had met John before, and was eager to say hi after the performance. As usual, he was very kind and showed great interest in what I was doing with my music at that point. When he asked me what I had going on, I replied that I had just graduated, and was gigging, and going out to “network” at jams and whatnot. Networking was something I had always been taught was crucial to having a career in music. To my surprise, he immediately became serious, and urged me not to “network”, but instead create relationships. He laughed that no one likes to be networked, and that we should always strive to make genuine relationships with folks. I had not thought about the implications of that word until that moment. No one wants to feel like a means to an end, or that your worth to another person is measured in the gigs you can offer them. Creating honest, meaningful music with others requires a genuine personal connection, and I always try to offer that to the musicians I play with. That lesson has served me well over the years!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.caplingermusic.com
• Instagram: @zack_caplinger
• Facebook: Zachary Caplinger