I suppose there are many experiences in one’s life that can shape the course of a musician’s path. Many classically trained musicians for instance may draw inspiration from attending concerts by great orchestras, dreaming one day to perform in such a group. I too was fortunate enough to have parents that took me to concerts by the Cleveland Orchestra along with the opportunity to listen to great music in my home. But there were other experiences that seemed to have destined me to forge my own path, rather than following someone elses.
One of my earliest memories from around 4 yrs. Old were the little performances we put on in our garage, with my mom as director. She would include all us kids in little concerts and set the stage, including costumes and props. From the very beginning my understanding of performing drew on this experience, with little more than my imagination, and my mom’s costumes to set the stage in our garage!
The seeds of possibility wouldn’t resurface until years later when I saw a music video of Laurie Anderson for the first time. Laurie is not just an interesting violinist, she has used technology and creativity unlike any performer I had seen before. While her work was often characterized as ‘performance art’ rather than a mere violin performance, for me, she was and is a master story teller. More than any specific detail of the experience, I remember coming away with a sense of possibilities that could be explored and boundaries for the classically trained musician that could be transcended.
These experiences all played a role in my decisions as an artist from music videos to crossover music projects as well as multi-media technology in my various performances. And most recently they inspired me to create a line of violins!
A few years back, I remember reading an article in the New York Times about the numbers of graduates from Juilliard that actually survived as artists upon graduation. While there was a percentage that found jobs in traditional music settings, a large number were not able to do so, ultimately finding themselves without a career in the arts upon graduation. My own artistic experience lead me to the belief that music students, from the very youngest, should not just experience music, but delight in music. I realized that while kids may not appreciate the fine wood used for the violin, or even the craftsmanship, they would delight in an experience that ignited their imaginations and inspire creativity. Say, a violin with a Twinkle Star on it, in addition to the sound of music. Music is not just heard, it is felt. And so my path has been forged with this belief and conviction it’s a means to address the needs of the 21st c. I knew that if children could experience music and all in a more creative environment, they might just have the tools to survive as artists in the 21st c. It seems music is a 2 way street. There’s the irrepressible message of the artist, but there’s also the smile on the face of the listener. So just maybe, the smile on the child’s face will one day be the evolution of the human-being.
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