Yet, despite being hailed as “a mastermind” guitarist by The New York Times, consistent appreciation of Timony’s talent never translated into a viable income and she reels off to me some of the odd jobs she went through to eke out a living: “I was an office temp in my 20s, then I was a gardener for a while. I’ve done everything from packaging video tapes to working in a toy factory – I’ve had some weird jobs.” Timony’s luck began to change 10 years ago when she started teaching private guitar classes to children and teenagers in her Washington basement. “It is so inspiring,” she says. “I love the children I teach and I learn from it. Plus it gives me the flexibility to do my own music.”