Roots & Wings Online

Taryn Haydu moved to Ladera Ranch a year ago from Auburn, a small town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains just outside of Sacramento. Moving to Southern California halfway through her junior year of high school was less than ideal. It was part of Taryn’s journey that has been a meandering rollercoaster that included learning how to cope with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and trying public, private, and charter schools throughout her childhood in hopes of finding the right school that fit her.

Taryn says, “My educational path was a struggle. Coping with ADD made it difficult to focus on schoolwork for six long agonizing hours each day.” She decided to turn to private homeschool, where she had the flexibility to cultivate her schedule and focus on doing what she loved most: playing guitar.

The flexibility that her homeschool program offered allowed Taryn to excel in school and master multiple instruments. Additionally, it has allowed her to start a small business teaching guitar, bass guitar, and drums. Taryn teaches Ladera Ranch students out of her home music studio.

She attributes her success to having shorter school days and flexible afternoons.

Recently, new doors of opportunity have opened for Taryn in music. She was recently endorsed by Tagima Guitars USA and had the opportunity to perform at their booth at the North American Music Merchants Convention (NAMM) in Anaheim.

Taryn formed an all-female band called Epiphany and is the band’s lead guitarist and vocalist. Epiphany has upcoming performances at Chain Reaction, Universal Bar & Grill, and The House of Blues.

Epiphany had the opportunity to play at NAMM and is beginning to build a following. Follow Taryn and Epiphany on Instagram at @tarynhaydu and @theband_ep1ph4ny.

LaderaLife recently caught up with Taryn for an interview.

LaderaLife: How did your interest in music start?
Taryn: Throughout my childhood, I played team sports - soccer, softball, and basketball. For seven years, my main focus was on Girls Fast Pitch Softball as a pitcher. I started playing recreational softball and moved into competitive travel ball. I lived and breathed the sport of softball.

My parents bought me my first guitar when I was ten years old. However, it sat in the closet for a few years. At 12, I hung up the softball cleats and gloves to try something new. A School of Rock had opened up in our neighborhood so we checked out the school. It was love at first sight! My mom immediately signed me up for private guitar lessons. Several months after taking private lessons, I was placed into the Performance Group, playing in front of live audiences. Being on stage was one of my best experiences, and this is what drove me to improve my guitar-playing skills. I wanted to perform and experience more time on stage.

LaderaLife: How did you get started mentoring others in music?
Taryn: After playing guitar for years, I auditioned for the School of Rock touring House Band. Part of the requirement to be in the House Band was to sit in with the younger Rock 101 performance students and help them improve their guitar playing. I loved volunteering as a mentor to these students and fell in love with instructing.

Outside of School of Rock, a few friends from the House band and I formed our own band, where we played at local breweries, private middle school/high school events, and kids' birthday parties. Parents from the private parties would compliment me on my guitar skills and ask if I would teach guitar to their kids. This motivated me to start a small business teaching lessons to aspiring students.

Mentoring students who share a passion for music is rewarding for me. What I love most about teaching is making personal connections with each student and getting to know their personality, their favorite style/genre of music, and their aspirations to develop as musicians.

One of the most rewarding things is to see the excitement on their face when they can play the guitar or drum part perfectly to the backing track of a cover song. It's this type of progress and their excitement that is most rewarding. 

LaderaLife: What was your first concert, and who has been the most influential artist or band on you? 
Taryn: My first concert was the Green Day Hella Mega Tour with Fall Out Boy and Weezer in San Francisco. Nita Strauss is my idol and has been the most influential artist to me. She is a female lead heavy metal guitarist for Alice Cooper who shreds guitar solos and performs like no other on stage. We share the same love for metal music, guitar solos, and an enhanced stage presence.

LaderaLife: What helped you make significant transitions in your life? (e.g., moves, changing in schools)
Taryn: I had a lot of support from my parents, who helped guide me during many of these transitions. My mom was actively involved in my life and homeschooled me during most of middle school.  Her support allowed me more time to catch up on reading and math and do projects that were interesting, like writing short stories, drawing, and baking. She helped me organize activities with my friends and found after-school activities that I enjoyed, like attending the School of Rock. 

LaderaLife: How have you learned to cope with ADD and be effective? 
Taryn: I learned during homeschool that I was a kinesthetic learner. If I was crafting and using my hands, I was focused. Many of the things that I loved doing at the time, like playing guitar, writing short stories, drawing/sketching, and baking, all involved my hands, and these types of projects ultimately helped channel my ADD. I also improved my lifestyle by exercising more and cutting back on carbs and sweets.

LaderaLife: What advice do you have for teens who are facing big transitions in their lives?
Taryn: Change can be difficult but knowing your passion and finding activities that you love to do will help you meet like-minded friends which will help make transitions much easier. Meet others who share your interests, hobbies and enjoy learning new things. 

For those who have been thinking about learning to play an instrument, Taryn offers a free trial lesson. Contact Wendy at (916) 267-1667.