Meet Laura Zucker | singer/songwriter and music educator.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Zucker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Most creatives I know start out having one or more day jobs to pay the bills while their creative endeavors take shape, take hold. For many, having a day job is a necessity that allows them to pursue their artistic path. I started off with a day job that some would say is antithetical to creativity- a lawyer chasing down the dream of being a singer/songwriter. The more I immersed myself in the music scene, the more opportunities seemed to appear. So I quit my day job, took a big deep breath and said “yes!” to those opportunities. I knew I would never make as much money as I did as a lawyer, but as a single mother of three kids, I needed the flexibility to structure my work in a sustainable way. Laura Zucker Music was born, and now is the umbrella for private instruction, performance coaching, music instruction in the public schools of my town, songwriting workshops, Milestone Music, a custom song business, and Left Foot Forward Productions, my publishing company, which is releasing my new CD IN JANUARY!!! You can learn more about all of these on my website, www.laurazucker.Com.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I started writing songs and performing at age 46, long past the “ingenue” stage. To be honest – ageism and sexism in the folk music scene is just as alive as it is anywhere, like a stiff headwind on your road to becoming. I am most proud of persevering, of becoming well-known in my professional circles as a really good songwriter. And I did it by learning as much as I could about writing good songs, and then writing them. I believe that the themes and topics about which I write resonate with my audiences because we are all just frail human beings, striving for the same things. Because I am intimately connected to these songs, my listeners feel their authenticity, and often feel like I’ve written the songs just for them. After having several experiences in which listeners have approached me after a show, telling me things like “I felt like you read my diary”, I decided to actually write songs FOR people, for their special occasions- Milestone Music was born.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in the San Francisco bay area, where there are SOOOOOOO many amazing things to do and see. I’d take them hiking up Mount Tamalpais in Marin, or out to Crissy Field in San Francisco so they can get a close-up view of the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge. We might hit the DeYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park, or the Oakland Museum in Oakland, known for its innovative and provocative exhibits. There are too many wonderful places to eat to recommend any in particular, but i’d say that if you can imagine it, you can find it here, and it will be AMAZING!!!!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When I first started writing songs, I tried them out on my local songwriting organization, West Coast Songwriters Association. I got valuable feedback, and got to see what other folks were writing and playing. I tried to learn everything I could. And then there is my wonderful partner, who, when I said I was considering this move, said “Don’t wait till you’re dead to pursue your dreams.” If that’s not support, love and encouragement, I don’t know what is.

Website: www.laurazucker.com

Instagram: @laurazmusic

Twitter: @Laura_Zucker

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laura.zucker.3/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/laurazuckermusic

Other: www.mysongcraft.com