Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Zini.
Hi Nathan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started playing piano when I was nine, growing up in Victorville, California. My parents found a local classical teacher, Kristine Schnebeck, who ended up mentoring me for the next nine years. I still think about how lucky I was to have a teacher who didn’t just show me how to play the piano, but taught me the fundamentals of music, discipline, and patience—things I carry with me in my career today. The first few years weren’t easy. I’d come home from lessons frustrated, sometimes in tears, overwhelmed by music theory or pieces that felt impossible. But I learned early on that anything worth doing takes time, and I was fortunate to have the support of both my family and my teacher during those years. I entered competitions and walked away with nothing—until I was 18, when I placed 2nd with a Chopin piece introduced to me by another mentor, Dr. Choi.
I met Dr. Choi at Encore, the performing arts public charter school I attended from 7th to 12th grade. Encore isn’t around anymore, but it was a unique place for young artists. For those of us involved in extracurriculars, we were basically living there—rehearsing plays, traveling to other schools, and putting on shows. At the time, I complained about how much work we were doing without getting paid, especially when I played with the alumni band where staff members were getting a check and I wasn’t. But in hindsight, that experience gave me an early taste of what life as a working musician would actually look like: rehearsing, traveling in vans, loading in gear, performing, tearing down, and doing it all over again the next day. It taught me the pace and expectations of the industry before I ever called it a job.
I graduated high school in 2019 and was accepted to Berklee College of Music in Boston that fall with a $22,000 scholarship. It helped, but tuition was still steep, and the adjustment to life on my own in a new city hit hard. I was introduced to jazz—something I hadn’t fully explored before—and spent most of my time in class or in practice rooms. That’s when I picked up running. Spending so many hours per day inside is not good for your mental, so I just needed something that would take me somewhere to get sunlight and fresh air. Outside of that, my weekends were spent skateboarding through freezing weather to the nearest liquor store, using my fake ID to get as many Coors and Jäger bottles that would fit in my bag, finishing the load back in the dorm with my roommates, watching UFC fights, playing our own, watching classmates play at the Bebop, and ending the night next door at Little Steve’s pizza. It was a good time. Then COVID hit. We all got sent home and finished classes online for the year. Some of us came back in 2021, and that’s when things really started to move for me.
Spending all that time shedding at home during lockdown paid off. When we returned, I was getting called for more ensemble work, gigs, and recording sessions. I started producing and writing my own stuff in Berklee’s studios. One of my first real professional gigs came when I auditioned for a wedding band called Sugarbabies. That was probably the highlight of my time in Boston. We were doing weddings, club gigs, and corporate events all over New England—sometimes by boat if we were playing Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard. It was constant, but I loved it. Our manager, Lyle (who felt more like a big brother), held us to a high standard, so I learned how to really study songs, program sounds on my keyboard to match the records, and deliver every night. I was doing music 8 hours a day—between classes, gigs, rehearsals, and writing—and while the shift from playing music for fun to doing it for a living wasn’t always easy, I kept finding these moments that reminded me why I do it. A breakthrough in the practice room. A powerful set. A memorable interaction with the audience. That sense of purpose and connectedness has always been enough to keep going.
After graduating in 2023, I stayed in Boston for one last summer gigging, then took my first cruise contract with Holland America Line that December. It was kind of a dream gig. I got to travel, experience new cultures, make close friends from around the world, and play jazz six nights a week. Most days I’d go for a long run through whatever port we docked in—sometimes ending up in caves or on top of waterfalls—then be back on the ship by 4 to play four sets that night. Afterwards, we’d hit the crew bar for drinks and a smoke. What stuck with me most was how quickly you build bonds with people you might never see again. You’re from 20 different countries, thrown together for five months, navigating unfamiliar places every day, and then one day it ends. You go home, where everything’s remained the same, and the whole voyage almost doesn’t feel real. I did two contracts between December 2023 and February 2025, and by the end of it, I had saved enough to make the move to LA.
Since moving to LA in March, I’ve been keeping busy—playing bar and restaurant gigs, recording with local artists, and teaching piano at Angeles Academy of Music, which has been one of the more meaningful parts of my routine. I picked up a free upright piano off Facebook Marketplace and started posting salsa videos that ended up growing my TikTok to over 70k followers and my Instagram to 15k. Social media’s been a great tool for connecting with new people and opportunities. I’ve got a show coming up with Ammo (Lil Toe) at Vans Warped Tour, which will be lit. Outside of music, I ran my first marathon and started working part-time at Barry’s. Between rehearsals, teaching, running, and trying to make rent, the past few months have flown by, but I’m settling in and figuring out what it looks like to build a life here.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
One of the biggest challenges for me has been learning how to balance gratitude with ambition. On one hand, I’ve worked really hard to get where I am, and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished—whether that’s touring, teaching, performing, or just creating a life where music is central. But there’s always that internal pressure of, you’re not there yet. That lingering feeling that there’s still a long way to go, and if you slow down, you might fall behind.
I’m constantly trying to stay just outside my comfort zone, because I think that’s where real growth happens. My biggest fear is staying the same—being stuck in one place for too long or getting too comfortable. But at the same time, I don’t want to be so focused on the next thing that I miss the life that’s happening right in front of me. I try to remind myself to take a breath, appreciate the people around me, celebrate the small wins, and just enjoy playing the game.
Sometimes I think about how I play chess—I’ll miss checkmate and keep moving pieces around just to stay in the game. Not because I don’t want to win, but because I get so caught up in the process, in the back-and-forth, that I forget there’s an end goal. I wonder if that’s how I live life too—focused on the moves, the moments, wanting to stretch it out instead of going straight for the win. There’s a quote I saw from Jim Carrey that stuck with me: “I hope everybody could get rich and famous and will have everything they ever dreamed of so they will know that it’s not the answer.” That really hits. For me, the answer isn’t some final destination—it’s the journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a working pianist, music director, and teacher based in Los Angeles. My day-to-day is a mix of gigs, recording sessions, private lessons, and creating content—some days are packed, some are quiet, but they all revolve around music in one way or another. I’ve been lucky to play in a lot of different spaces—from weddings and jazz clubs to cruise ships and festivals—and I try to bring the same level of care and preparation to every setting.
My background is pretty diverse. I studied classical piano for almost a decade before getting deep into jazz and contemporary music at Berklee, and now I draw from all of that. I don’t like to box myself into one style. I think that ability to shift gears is something people appreciate when they call me in to play or music direct. I try to be someone who shows up prepared, listens well, and plays what’s needed.
Over the past year, social media has also become a surprising and rewarding part of my work. I found a free upright piano on Facebook Marketplace that’s still out of tune, and started posting videos—mostly salsa grooves—and somehow those started gaining traction. I’ve grown a small but supportive audience on TikTok and Instagram, and I’ve come to really enjoy that space. It’s been a fun way to connect with people, share ideas, and stay creative between gigs.
Outside of music, fitness is a big part of my life. I run, swim, and lift regularly—not to chase any particular goal, but because it keeps me grounded. The discipline of training gives me structure, and the physical outlet helps me manage the ups and downs that come with a creative career. I ran my first marathon recently, and it’s something I want to keep doing. For me, music and movement are connected—I need both to feel balanced.
If there’s anything I’m proud of, it’s being able to build a life that’s true to who I am. I still feel like I’m just getting started, but I’ve learned to appreciate where I’m at while staying open to what’s next. I don’t think there’s a finish line—just the work, the people you meet, and the growth that comes from showing up every day.
What are your plans for the future?
I just want to keep doing what I’m doing, but at a higher level. I want to work smarter rather than harder, so I can free up more time to focus on the parts of music and life that actually bring me joy. That means playing with more people I look up to, collaborating with artists who push me, and continuing to grow as both a musician and a person.
One specific project I’ve been thinking about is bringing my salsa videos off the screen and into real life. I’d love to put together a live band and start playing at venues around LA—something that brings that same energy and spontaneity as the videos, but in a space where people can actually dance and experience it in person.
On the fitness side, I recently earned my NASM CPT certification, and I’d like to start building a community that blends both fitness and music. These two things have always kept me grounded, and I think there’s a lot of overlap in the mindset they require—discipline, presence, and growth. I’ve run one marathon so far, and I plan to keep going with that, maybe even take on an Ironman someday. It’s less about checking off achievements and more about pushing limits and staying connected to something bigger than the day-to-day grind.
There might not be any huge changes on the horizon right now, but I’m building something I believe in, and that takes time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/MusicbyZini
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zini.on.keys/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@zini_on_keys
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@zini.on.keys
Image Credits
Sean Uminski and Jacob Sutton
