Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Goode.
Hi Tiffany, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started my musical journey in the 3rd grade. My dad brought home a trumpet that he had bought off a homeless man the summer going into the 3rd grade. He came home and asked me and my brother who wanted to play it. I immediately through my hand up. The rest became herstory. I quickly started doing well and making it to all city and regional bands. My music life changed drastically in Middle School when the high school brand director, who would become my mentor came to my middle school and decided to take me under his wing. Although we had played Lah-Dee-dah jazz in middle school, once I met Mr. Jasper, he opened another whole world for me. Our high school was known for its Jazz Ensemble and went won awards all the time.
A competition at Hampton University would open the door to my next chapter. Senior year of high school, we went to Hampton for the Count Basie Orchestra Jazz Band competition. My high school, John Marshall High School in Richmond, won first place, and I won best soloist. This solidified me a band and music scholarship to attend Hampton, which helped greatly with me matriculating there.
I graduated from Hampton with a Bachelor of Science in Music Engineering Technology. I worked with Teddy Riley for two years as an Audio Recording Assistant to head engineer Junior.
I moved to Atlanta, where I began doing music for plays and independent productions, as well as starting an entertainment business with my brother, Goode Stuff Entertainment LLC while working a day job at Turner Broadcasting. I went on to get my MBA in Marketing and Decision Sciences/IT from Clark Atlanta University and also received a Professional Certification from Berklee College of Music for “Composing Music for Film and TV.”
Me and some beautiful sisters got together to start an all-female reggae band called “Sol Rizing Band.” We were blessed to share the stage with many beautiful artists. I had been working on music for Sol Rizing and myself.
I was also blessed to link with another one of my musical families, Orchestra Noir, Atlanta’s African American Orchestra under the leadership of Maestro Jason Ikeem Rogers. After auditioning for them, I became a part of their roster of dynamic musicians. Also through Orchestra Noir, I have been able to share stages and travel about doing music in some beautiful stages. I am forever grateful for the opportunities, fun times, and experiences that came from this beautiful group of talented musicians. Definitely check us out as well! Coming to a city near you!
During the pandemic as life came to a screeching halt, I had the time to really focus on my first project. In the midst of the pandemic, I released my first CD, “Today Was A Goode Day.” It was received so well, and so many people reached out to me. The next year, I released “EnterGoodeLactic.” My last project that I released was “1217.”
I have been blessed to play in some of the top jazz places in Atlanta. I sold out St James Live and The Velvet Note. I currently gig and tour with my band “The Goode Stuff Experience” as well as with “Orchestra Noir.” This year I have been blessed to play several Festivals, including “Sweet Auburn Music Festival,” as well as the “Alabama Women in Jazz Festival.”
I have many irons in the fire as well to collaborate on many other big projects. So be on the lookout for some fire things coming your way…
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road for what you love is hardly ever smooth, but the bumps are needed to grow you and shape you. I think though that I am my biggest obstacle most days. I must always try and stay balanced with life, keeping a positive outlook on things and staying organized. Staying healthy is a big part of that. I am vegan and eating well and working out are huge to me to me to stay balanced. But you also have to control the mind by silencing your negative thoughts and replacing them with positive ones. By cultivating a high vibration that attracts positive things to you. You have to motivate yourself. You have to hold yourself accountable. The external things that happen you can’t control, but you can control you! This was an important life lesson.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I think there are a couple of things that set me apart from other trumpet players. I am not afraid to do something different. Growing up as a student of Jazz, you get to listen to the greats play for sure, but I also got a lot from hearing their philosophies on music and life. Music can’t be pigeonholed. As humans, we are designed to want to put everything in a box or category because our minds work that way. In my humble opinion, music should never be boxed in. I am not even sure if I truly like the idea of genres. Music is Music. It’s personal expression. I feel like I do well expressing my unique voice through trumpet. I also think that gives others permission to do the same. I am also a black woman playing a male-dominated instrument. This is something I actually adore. I love all my musical/brass brothers and have typically been around guys more than girls the majority of my life because of music/trumpet. Lastly, I am always complimented on my sound.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Hmmmm…. Over the next 5 to 10 years, I see the industry becoming more and more independent. We have shown that we can make, produce, and distribute our music independently. Now, it’s time for that to go to the next level. With the upward rise of AI, we will see some really good things happen, but we also have to define what that new environment looks like and how do we keep everyone fairly compensated and honor their likeness in image and artistry. With music and tech heading the way it’s heading m, our industry will look tremendously different in 10 years.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.GoodeStuff.net
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/lifesgoode
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiffanygoode
Image Credits
@iyahdaephotography @dilgentlens
