A native of Michigan, Tim graduated from Kalamazoo College with a major in Music and minor in Theater in 1979. After graduation he traveled around the Midwest for a few years paying his dues with a variety of Top-40 and show bands. During this time he saved up the money for a year at Musician’s Institute in Hollywood. That year turned into 10 when Tim was hired onto the GIT staff after his graduation from the school. While in LA from 1982-1992, Tim continued teaching at GIT, doing recording sessions, and playing in original bands, cover bands, casual bands and Vegas bands.

As the owner of Music Prep, a music preparation service in LA providing computer-generated music scores to individual musicians and corporate clients, Tim was around at the dawn of desktop music publishing. It was this high-tech connection that enabled his escape from the rat race of the music biz in LA to a straight job in the friendlier environs of the SF Bay Area in 1992, when he joined the staff of the start-up electronic music distributors, MusicWriter, (makers of the NoteStation computer kiosk) as a full-time engraver.

Over the next 6 years, Tim worked his way up through MusicWriter, first as an engraver, then as a Regional Sales Manager, and finally to the role of Managing Editor, in which he supervised an internal staff of 6 and an online network of music engravers across the US and in Europe. He also negotiated publisher contracts and served as MusicWriter’s representative to the MIDI Manufacturers Association.

At the invitation of his former GIT colleague, Vic Trigger, Tim joined the teaching staff at Guitar Activity Center in 1993 on a "spare time" basis. Over the years Tim assumed added responsibilities at the school until, due to Vic’s battle with cancer, he was given the opportunity to keep the school going in Vic’s absence by buying it out. Tim kept GAC going as a sideline to his publishing day-job.

Eventually, the rewards of the straight job lost their luster, and Tim returned to the familiar occupation of "Musician" once again. He returned to school and earned his Masters in Jazz and World Music from San Jose State University. Tim joined Ohlone in 1998 and is now a full–time faculty member of the Music department.

Tim has recorded three CDs featuring numerous styles including solo rock fingerstyle, guitar ensemble and full band instrumentation. He also created a series of 1-hour ear training CDs for educational applications.

Doubling on banjo, mandolin, and nylon-string, Tim is also active as an orchestra player in many Bay Area theaters including AMT, ACT, TheatreWorks and Foothill Music Theatre.

You can view Tim's personal website at www.phretz.com.