An Interview with Timm Gould
by Jennifer Parker
Timm Gould is probably best known as a member of the Unity Jazz Band. I loved hearing more about his musical background as well as his life.
What would you like to share with the community about your life?
“I was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, in the back seat of a ’49 Buick. They called it marshmallow town.”
“My grandparents raised me. My grandparents gave me everything. I got into music because of them. So supportive. I was fortunate.” It was rough having a different name from my grandparents. They would have adopted me if they’d known they would take care of me the whole time.”
“I had a good experience in the Congregational church. I found out that they did farming for many reasons but the number one was they felt closer to God.”
Timm said Iowa was ultra conservative. He went to grade and high school in Grinnell, Iowa, which had about on hundred people in it. Timm attended undergraduate school at University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. “I was on the eight year plan in college. I signed up for courses and dropped them, so it took a while. I was working also.”
“I moved to New York with one semester left, which I didn’t realize at the time. I moved there because I wanted to get away from racism.” There was only one black family in his county, other than student exchanges. “In New York I could blend in and be anyone I wanted to be. It was very freeing. I grew a lot there.” “I was a bike messenger on the streets of New York. It was a dangerous job; I did what I had to do to survive. After a while, it got a little too much. I said, ‘I gotta go back home.Then I spent three years finishing my degree at UNI.”
Timm got his seat back in the Waterloo symphony orchestra. His grandparents were so proud of him. Timm studied with world class mentors beginning in 1974.” His mentors helped him with many things, like getting ready for auditions. As a graduate student in 1986, Timm tried out for the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and made it. He went to the Twin Cities to teach private clarinet, saxophone and piano lessons and commuted or the Chamber orchestra. He eventually moved back because he was working more in Madison.
Timm combined teaching 40-60 students every week and playing in the WCO. Seeing these students grow was fun. “Adult students expected more from themselves. He would remind them they were doing this for fun and not getting ready for concert stage.
“I met Diane in 1992 on kind of a blind date set up by Sharon Farwell. Diane’s son Joseph was 8 at the time, and Timm wondered what he would do with a son.” Sharon vetted him to make sure he was a good guy for Diane. They married in June of 1993. “Diane is always my supporter.”
Timm thinks the orchestra turned into one of the finest chamber orchestras in the nation; he felt honored to be part of it. He retired in 2016.
Timm loves all music genres..” The key to that was the Unity jazz band, which he joined in 2000. He learned jazz and then played everything but country in both Madison and Milwaukee. “My favorite was the Reptile Palace Orchestra. I went on tours, and played with Tony Rocker, who was an Elvis impersonator.” He had a lot of fun in Memphis playing on Beale St.
Timm still practices every day. “It’s been so much part of my life, but it’s not like performing. Learning music is a lifetime thing.”
What brought you to Unity?
Diane invited Timm to Unity when Roger was the minister. Roger played drums and Timm decided he had to be part of the jazz band.
“I was familiar with reinventing myself and Unity was compatible with that.” It was like coming home again, but a different home. I’d been searching for something.” Timm didn’t like the churches he’d been to because they felt rigid. He likes the openness of the congregation and not so many rules.
Timm thinks a lot of people point up for God, but that God is within us.
What are your favorite activities at Unity?
Timm loves the Unity Jazz Band and the book studies, most of which he’s participated in.
Timm wants Unity to continue on in the same vein. “It will always be a part of my life.”