English teacher Jim McNabney listened to his father play the piano every night growing up. At six, he started taking piano lessons. Now, he plays piano and guitar, and he plays the electric bass for a band.

“[The band is] called B-side. We’re scheduling to do some jam nights sometime in April, and that’ll be our first performance,” McNabney said.

McNabney’s professional music career started at the age of 12 when he played upright bass in a rendition of “High School Musical.” He joined jazz band and marching band in high school.

“I’ve played in orchestras, I’ve played in jazz groups, I’ve played about every kind of music you can think of, really,’ McNabney said.

McNabney enjoys the humanistic aspect of music the most.

“I like the way you can get together with other people and sort of create things. Even if you’re playing someone else’s song, you can kind of do your own style,” McNabney said.

To anyone interested in learning how to play music, McNabney stresses staying consistent and practicing regularly, like any other skill. He also encourages always finding new ways to play and playing in front of other people, even if it goes badly.

“If you only play for yourself at home, you kind of become a ‘practice-in-your-room’ musician. You need to at least record yourself, so you know how you sound,” McNabney said. “If you have a cool hobby, show it off, honestly.”