Touring musician discusses creative process during University Hour

Eastern’s spring 2025 University Hour series continued Feb. 5 with a talk featuring jazz guitarist Scott Tarulli, who shared his experiences as a professional musician and offered advice to students interested in music careers.

Tarulli is a musician, composer and clinician specializing in funk-rock, jazz, pop and chamber music. His career has taken him across the United States and internationally, with performances at events such as the Pescara Jazz Festival in Italy and venues including the Sunset Sunside Jazz Club in Paris, France.

During the discussion, Tarulli emphasized the importance of being open to new experiences. He shared that saying “yes” to projects opened doors for him.

“The tours turned out to be cold, in a van, with no heat and disgusting hotels, but it was amazing,” he said. “During those tours, I met people who brought me into other projects and so on.”

When asked about interpersonal dynamics on stage, Tarulli stressed the importance of maintaining a positive attitude.

“Be kind and compassionate. No one wants to spend 16 hours in a tour bus with someone who can’t control their anger,” he said.

Diverse skill sets and determination were additional key points in the discussion.

“Being an artist [requires] so many disciplines,” Tarulli said, referring to social interactions and the need for constant practice.

According to Tarulli, practice is a crucial part of being a musician. When feeling stuck, Tarulli said he sometimes steps away from music for a couple of days or practices with others to find inspiration and new perspectives.

Away from the stage, Tarulli is a professor at Berklee College of Music and leads a mentorship program that helps musicians of all levels build their careers and make a meaningful impact in the industry. He said he enjoys guiding his mentees, who vary in age and discipline, through the creative process to help them find their own voices.

“Everybody’s different, so there are no set answers,” he said. “I lead them to their own conclusions, which they get because they are bright and curious people. It’s fascinating.”

Written by Darlene Orozco '28

Categories: Music