I Love This World

It's pretty incredible how many ways you can get involved with music. 

There's the standard way of growing up taking music lessons and honing specific instruments. 

There's the written part of music, focusing on music theory and composition. 

There's lyric writing - essentially poetry that can then be put to music by the same person or as a collaboration. 

There are studio musicians who add riffs and instrumentation to songs, who are wildly versatile. 

There's the music production side, where a musical ear is the focus. Mixing, mastering, finding elements and bringing them out; true artistry. 

There's the whole world of rhythm - beats, beatboxing, electronic music, layers upon layers taking what might seem like a single piece of noise and combining it with other sounds, however random, and making it musical art. 

Current social media has also cultivated collaborations that are mesmerizing, from vocal harmonies across profiles to taking the howling of a husky and turning it into a heavy metal song. 

The ideas and opportunities to play around and enjoy the world of music are truly endless. 

I love this world. 

I love My Musical Life. 

Courses

As a chronically ill musician, there are often barriers to advancing in the industry. While I have had the opportunity to engage in some really cool ventures and be part of the live music community in small doses, consistency is key, and for me it is also a physical impossibility. That doesn't mean that I have to stay stagnant though! 

While pursuing a master's degree was always the dream (or even further), it is not an option financially (even with the multitude of scholarships that I could apply for). It is also physically impossible for conventional on-site classes, and doesn't make much financial sense, so that dream has dwindled (unless, you know, the lottery...). Furthering post-secondary education has always been an investment in one's future, and while I would love to gain more knowledge and the designations to match it, it will not change my body's inability to work and provide any kind of return on that investment. 

Fortunately enough for me, though, is that there are much more attainable resources to gaining knowledge without costing an absolute fortune. 

I just finished a course through Udemy that has given me a much better understanding of the complexities of music production and mixing. I found the instructor highly knowledgeable and thorough, and I look forward to taking more classes on a variety of topics, with music being at the forefront, and hope to use these new skills on my own personal projects.

I love My Musical Life!

Come See Heathers: The Musical

The run of Heathers: The Musical is finally here. 

We just completed a nearly entirely sold out opening weekend and shows resume this Thursday, with most nights selling out quickly! 

I have felt honoured not only to be a part of this incredible show, but to be around such talented and welcoming individuals. Not only are the cast members, crew members, and entire production team consistently supportive of one another, but there is also this general air of mutual respect, integrity, and overwhelming love for music and theatre that this company (Untold Stories) really nurtures and cultivates. 

Come and see this gritty and macabre, yet still quite hopeful, musical (recommended for those over 18), running from June 13th to June 28th at The Pumphouse Theatre in Calgary, AB.

Book your tickets today! 

You can also check out the On Staging podcast episode, interviewing the Apprentice Director and Musical Director about the show. 

 

Photo Credits to: Mariah

I love My Musical Life!