Among his students were Charles Gounod (who married one of his daughters), Georges Bizet, César Franck, Charles-Valentin Alkan, Ambroise Thomas, Louis Lacombe, Alexandre Goria, and Lefébure-Wély. Zimmerman wrote two operas, "L'enlèvement" (Opéra-Comique, 1830) and "Nausicaa" (never staged). His principal legacy is considered his "Encyclopédie du pianist", a complete method of the piano, including a treatise on harmony and counterpoint..