Tzer

Keyboards / Guitar

My official name is Michael Tabaczka but most of my friends call me Tzer. In 1987 I started going to college in Muskegon. Except for a brief period after college and short stint working in Traverse City I have called Muskegon my home since that time.

As a youngster I used to help my father with setting up sound for various events. This formed my basis for music and sound amplification. It was a great benefit to me. I now realize it was a great benefit to him also - he always had a roadie to carry the gear!

I'd say my musical journey officially started in 7th grade when I started playing percussion with the high school band. In the course of learning different percussion instruments I began playing the bells and xylophone. Due to the layout being identical to a piano it was quite easy to learn how to play keyboards after that.

I've played in bands off and on throughout the years, mostly in rock bands between 1987 & 1994. In the rock bands I was primarily a guitarist but I also played a bit of keyboards. Sometime around 1995 it wasn't much fun anymore so I took a break. I started playing guitar again when some friends invited me to jam at a party in 2001. A little jamming here, a another party there, and then they ask me, "Hey Tzer, do you know how to play the Blues?"

"Sure, I know all the major & minor chords, and nearly all the major & minor scales, how tough can it be to learn the Blues style?" is what I was thinking.

In a very short time I found out knowing the chords & scales does not equal knowing how to play a certain style!

So I dived into learning more about blues & jazz, listening to Nina Simone, Ray Charles, Jimmy Smith, and a variety of other musicians. Since the first time jamming with Jimi & Doug I've changed significantly as a keyboard player. I'm still not happy with my playing style but then again how many musicians are? That's the sort of attitude that keeps a musician practicing, learning, doing their best to be a better player.



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