TUSK: What instruments do you play and when did you begin playing them?
Trumpet - 10 years old, Piano - 10 years old, Guitar - 14 years old, Drums - 28 years old, Ukulele - a week ago, Bass guitar - 14 years old
TUSK: What do you love most about teaching?
Passing on my love for music to others
TUSK: How long have you been teaching?
Six years
TUSK: What musicians have influenced you the most?
Tom Waits, Sarah McLachlan, Miles Davis, Beatles, & Nina Simone
TUSK: Out of your own music, do you have a favorite song?
I have a song that’s in the works that I love playing on the piano.
TUSK: When you write lyrics how do they form? What place do they usually come from (other people, memories, etc.)?
I usually write lyrics as I play a song. I use a recorder to capture the lyrics. I find that if I initially put them to music, the emotions are stronger. The lyrics can come from everywhere. When I first started writing as a teenager, everything was from a place of teenage angst. Now, that I’m older, I tend to become a little storyteller in my mind. The ideas come from anything.
TUSK: What is your favorite restaurant to eat at in Denver?
Oh, tough one! The first place that comes to mind is Root Down. But I’ll eat just about anything.
TUSK: What is your favorite Denver bar or hangout?
Thin Man has always been a favorite.
TUSK: Where can TUSK readers learn more about you or hear you play live?
Check out my website for info on shows and classes.
www.jenlapinskimusic.com
TUSK: You teach children and have been involved in Boys and Girls Club for some time now; what’s your favorite part of working with kids?
I’ve taught a couple of guitar sessions with the kids there. Many of the kids come from challenging home environments. The boys and girls club offers them a positive place
to meet people and get involved in various activities. All of the activities are free to the kids that belong to the club. My favorite part of working with the kids was seeing them put 100% into something. Many of the kids had never picked up a guitar before. Now, they have a great skill that hopefully they will continue to use as they get older. One of my most favorite moments, was when one of my students was nervous before their performance. I asked him, “who’s one person that you’d like to play for? Picture that person as being the only one in the audience.” The student said, “you, miss jen”. It about melted my heart.
TUSK: What is your most influential childhood memory?
My uncle letting me into his music room when I was 14 years old. He let me and my sister play his guitars. That moment will always mean the world to me.
TUSK: You have a beautiful singing voice, when did you start singing?
I’ve been singing on and off for a long time. I was in choir in junior high. After that I kept my voice very quiet until about 3 years ago. I was extremely shy about people hearing me sing. Eventually, a few people heard me sing and encouraged me to put it out there. I feel very lucky to have my singing voice.
TUSK: What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
To learn from my mistakes and never give up on a dream
Jen Lapinski
www.jenlapinskimusic.com
