Who Is Tubazimm?
In the Beginning there was tuba
Derek Zimmerman began playing tuba at age of ten in the Germantown Hills fifth grade band and has loved it ever since. The tuba became his true passion from an early age and is still my primary focus to this day. He began taking private lessons shortly after starting the tuba and throughout his early years enjoyed attending band camps such as Bradley Jr. High Band Camp, Illinois Summer Youth Music, the Smith Walbridge Marching Band Clinic, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
Metamora Township Years
Derek attended Metamora Township High School where he received an excellent music education from Mr. Chris Render and Dr. Walter Parks. Throughout his time at Metamora he played in a Wind Ensemble, Jazz bands, Metamora Marching Band, Madrigal Brass Quintet, started his own tuba quartet, and started a high school tuba ensemble with Metamora students and students from surrounding schools.
Some of his favorite memories from high school were traveling to the Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis, marching through downtown Disney, visiting Washington D.C. on a band trip, attending his first regional tuba conference at Illinois State University, and his first International Tuba Conference in Bloomington, Indiana. Derek's trip to the Music for All National Festival is where he was inspired to pursue a career in music after watching the Honor band of America perform. The following year he was able to participate in the Honor Band of America and the following year performed with the Honor Orchestra of America.
Throughout his high school career he was also tubist in the Central Illinois Youth Symphony, actively auditioned and participated in the ILMEA district & All-State Ensembles, and competed in the IHSA Solo and Ensemble competitions. Derek also had the amazing opportunity to perform a solo with the Prairie Wind Ensemble during his senior year of High School.
Derek also met a mentor that would shape his mind as a tuba player, musician, and human being for years to come. Dr. Andrew Rummel taught a masterclass during Derek's freshman year at MTHS. Derek soon after began taking lessons with Dr. Andrew Rummel. Dr. Rummel acted as a musical father as he developed in high school and during his time at Illinois State. He brought Derek in as a as a student from a young age and helped Derek take his first steps in pursuing a professional career in music. Derek remembers driving to Illinois State on Fridays to take weekly lessons with Dr. Rummel and says he wouldn't trade those Friday trips for anything.
Derek Zimmerman began playing tuba at age of ten in the Germantown Hills fifth grade band and has loved it ever since. The tuba became his true passion from an early age and is still my primary focus to this day. He began taking private lessons shortly after starting the tuba and throughout his early years enjoyed attending band camps such as Bradley Jr. High Band Camp, Illinois Summer Youth Music, the Smith Walbridge Marching Band Clinic, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp.
Metamora Township Years
Derek attended Metamora Township High School where he received an excellent music education from Mr. Chris Render and Dr. Walter Parks. Throughout his time at Metamora he played in a Wind Ensemble, Jazz bands, Metamora Marching Band, Madrigal Brass Quintet, started his own tuba quartet, and started a high school tuba ensemble with Metamora students and students from surrounding schools.
Some of his favorite memories from high school were traveling to the Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis, marching through downtown Disney, visiting Washington D.C. on a band trip, attending his first regional tuba conference at Illinois State University, and his first International Tuba Conference in Bloomington, Indiana. Derek's trip to the Music for All National Festival is where he was inspired to pursue a career in music after watching the Honor band of America perform. The following year he was able to participate in the Honor Band of America and the following year performed with the Honor Orchestra of America.
Throughout his high school career he was also tubist in the Central Illinois Youth Symphony, actively auditioned and participated in the ILMEA district & All-State Ensembles, and competed in the IHSA Solo and Ensemble competitions. Derek also had the amazing opportunity to perform a solo with the Prairie Wind Ensemble during his senior year of High School.
Derek also met a mentor that would shape his mind as a tuba player, musician, and human being for years to come. Dr. Andrew Rummel taught a masterclass during Derek's freshman year at MTHS. Derek soon after began taking lessons with Dr. Andrew Rummel. Dr. Rummel acted as a musical father as he developed in high school and during his time at Illinois State. He brought Derek in as a as a student from a young age and helped Derek take his first steps in pursuing a professional career in music. Derek remembers driving to Illinois State on Fridays to take weekly lessons with Dr. Rummel and says he wouldn't trade those Friday trips for anything.
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Illinois State University
After meeting Dr. Rummel in High School it was an easy decision to complete his undergraduate degree at Illinois State University. Derek's time at Illinois State University helped him grow immensely as a musician and a person.
During Derek's time at Illinois State he performed in the Chicago Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Heartland Festival Orchestra, Chicago Brass Band, Prairie Wind Ensemble, Peoria Municipal band, Chicago the Musical, Illinois state large ensembles, chamber ensembles, and the Big Red Marching Machine. He took private lessons, played for his peers in masterclasses, attended conferences, and worked in the College of Fine Arts Dean's Office. Derek also took a variety of classes in business and received a minor in Business Administration while at Illinois State.
During his summers Derek taught at the Illinois State University's Junior-High Band Camp and local marching band programs such as Metamora Township High School, Normal Community High School, Prairie Central High School, and Richwoods High School. Derek also ran live sound and lighting for Illinois State University's freshman orientation titled "Preview".
After meeting Dr. Rummel in High School it was an easy decision to complete his undergraduate degree at Illinois State University. Derek's time at Illinois State University helped him grow immensely as a musician and a person.
During Derek's time at Illinois State he performed in the Chicago Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Heartland Festival Orchestra, Chicago Brass Band, Prairie Wind Ensemble, Peoria Municipal band, Chicago the Musical, Illinois state large ensembles, chamber ensembles, and the Big Red Marching Machine. He took private lessons, played for his peers in masterclasses, attended conferences, and worked in the College of Fine Arts Dean's Office. Derek also took a variety of classes in business and received a minor in Business Administration while at Illinois State.
During his summers Derek taught at the Illinois State University's Junior-High Band Camp and local marching band programs such as Metamora Township High School, Normal Community High School, Prairie Central High School, and Richwoods High School. Derek also ran live sound and lighting for Illinois State University's freshman orientation titled "Preview".
University of Southern California
At the end of his undergraduate degree Derek decided he wanted wanted to pursue his Master's Degree and was happy to audition at and be accepted to the University of Southern California. Derek is currently studying Tuba with Jim Self and Doug Tornquist. While at USC Derek will perform with the Thorton Symphony Orchestra, Thorton Winds, the Trojan Marching Band, The USC Brass Quintet, and The USC Bass Tuba Quartet. Derek hopes to hone his skills in music and find opportunities to perform and be of service to the music industry in LA.
At the end of his undergraduate degree Derek decided he wanted wanted to pursue his Master's Degree and was happy to audition at and be accepted to the University of Southern California. Derek is currently studying Tuba with Jim Self and Doug Tornquist. While at USC Derek will perform with the Thorton Symphony Orchestra, Thorton Winds, the Trojan Marching Band, The USC Brass Quintet, and The USC Bass Tuba Quartet. Derek hopes to hone his skills in music and find opportunities to perform and be of service to the music industry in LA.
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Arranging Music
Derek wrote his first arrangement for low brass in Jr. High School. Penny Lane for two euphoniums and one tuba. He did this because he wanted to play the music he was listening to on his iPod. He couldn't find the right arrangements on the internet, so he decided he would figure out how to arrange the music himself.
Derek got more into arranging during high school for the Bottom line Tuba quartet performing music that was popular and fun for an audience.
In College Derek has worked to bring his arranging up to a more professional level through arranging and writing music for tuba quartet, brass quintet, solo arrangements, and brass band.
Recording Music
As Derek went off to college he was forced to find a new way to play the music he wanted on tuba. This led him to begin recording the arrangements he made. This began in high school and has continued to the present.
Recording has helped improve Derek's arranging skills and created a new passion for music production. Derek finds that he loves using the skills he has developed in recording, mixing, mastering, and publishing music to express himself musically.
Derek wrote his first arrangement for low brass in Jr. High School. Penny Lane for two euphoniums and one tuba. He did this because he wanted to play the music he was listening to on his iPod. He couldn't find the right arrangements on the internet, so he decided he would figure out how to arrange the music himself.
Derek got more into arranging during high school for the Bottom line Tuba quartet performing music that was popular and fun for an audience.
In College Derek has worked to bring his arranging up to a more professional level through arranging and writing music for tuba quartet, brass quintet, solo arrangements, and brass band.
Recording Music
As Derek went off to college he was forced to find a new way to play the music he wanted on tuba. This led him to begin recording the arrangements he made. This began in high school and has continued to the present.
Recording has helped improve Derek's arranging skills and created a new passion for music production. Derek finds that he loves using the skills he has developed in recording, mixing, mastering, and publishing music to express himself musically.
Outside of music I love riding my bike, listening to podcasts, following youtubers such as Dashiexp, play video games, and enjoy spending time with my friends and family.
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I want to give a special thanks to all of my mentors through the years! I could not have come this far without them!
Eric Loring - Director of Bands - Germantown Hills Middle School Adam Schneblin - Director of Bands - East Peoria Central High School Chris Render - Director of Bands - Metamora Township High School Dr. Walter Parks - Director of Bands - Metamora Township High School Dr. Andrew Rummel - Professor of Tuba and Euphonium at Illinois State University Dr. Anthony Marinello - Director of Bands at Illinois State University Dr. Jim Self - Professor of Tuba at The University of Southern California Dr. Doug Tornquist - Professor of Tuba at The University of Southern California I also want to thank my friends, my family, and especially my grandma for being so supportive over the years.
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