Tolman working to build band
By CHRISTIAN FRANKLIN
Student Reporter
Zachary Tolman recently earned his doctorate from the University of Arizona school of music. He also studied at the University of Wyoming. He has done mobile DJ work since 2017. He plays the saxophone.
This semester, he teaches all the band classes, including jazz band, as well as instrumental music literature.
Q: How do you like living in Alva?
A: Coming from a small town in Wyoming that was smaller than Alva, I feel there’s something special about small town communities. In contrast, moving to Tucson [for graduate school], we loved it, but it’s different from big city versus living in the small town to where everyone waves. Part of coming here to NWOSU is getting back to our roots. My wife was born in Kansas. They are small town folk to where the center of the town revolves around the university events, sporting, fine arts and many others that are the heart of the community in many ways.
Q: What sold you on coming to NWOSU?
A: The potential of the band program has had a lot of director turn over, and it’s hard to build traction. However, it has a great history back in the early 2000s and ‘90s and ‘80s; the band had over 80 to 90 members. Then getting to chat with alumni that are still in town is nice. Everywhere I go someone says “I used to be in the band.” So the band is a strong part of the community, and the potential of what is here is really exciting.
Q: What is one of the first goals you hope to accomplish here?
A: One of the first things we have been working a lot on is establishing how we operate and how we function. With director turnover, you’ve seen a lots of style of marching and playing that have been happening over the years. The big part of what we’re doing is working with the leadership team to establishing a base line on how they want to operate defining marching fundamentals, defining how the leadership is going to function and their roles within the ensembles.
Q: What is your favorite class to teach and why?
A: That’s like asking who’s your favorite child. I got into this business to do music. At the moment it is band. From the last couple weeks, the growth and excitement about the band has been great!
Q: What is your superpower?
A: I wish I could control the weather. It would be nice to be able to be able to turn the heat down for band rehearsals. It gets hot out there!
Q: What is something most people don’t know about you?
A: Just how much my connection with those around me means to me. I am a people person, and as a musician, for me, music wasn’t supposed to be created and played in a vacuum. I don’t practice my horn in my room to just play for myself. Let it be shared. The importance of community and sharing what we do with everyone else is so powerful. It makes it all worth it playing under the lights and at events. That power to connect means a lot.
Zachary Tolman, left, the new band director, works with the marching band on the intramural field before school started this semester. The band performs at home football games.