Zach Lapidus

“I feel that understanding the why of music is the key to understanding the how.”

•B.M., Indiana University

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest near Portland, Zach Lapidus moved to Brooklyn in 2014 to pursue his career as an improvising musician. In reflecting on how he chose to play piano, he said “I grew up in a musical household, constantly surrounded by recordings, and my father playing the banjo and guitar. But it wasn’t until I was 8 years old and had a babysitter who would practice at our house that the bug bit and I begged for piano lessons.”

“I practice a holistic approach to private instruction that incorporates listening, music theory, and a little bit of history, as well as a study of the piano, technique, and repertoire. I feel that understanding the why of music is the key to understanding the how, and that learning more about what the student is studying leads to a deep emotional connection with what they are playing, and by extension, faster progress and more fun” says Zach about his teaching style. Open to teaching students ages six to adult, he says “the two most important ingredients for practice are patience and the desire to learn.”

Zach loves all different genres of music. “My phone is completely full of a mix of classical music, jazz, rock, pop, and experimental electronic music.” As a performer, he loves solo and group collaborations, though he “enjoys any experiences that allow me to work with musicians who are creative, curious, and listen well. I also really love to be challenged by putting myself into unfamiliar situations that stretch me as a musician. When I am in the moment and truly improvising is when I am the most in love with what I do.”

Outside of classical music, Zach is musically influenced by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, and Herbie Hancock to name a few. He also enjoys reading and strategy board games like chess.