I am starting this blog to help share my music. We are currently under constructions, but while we wait I'll share my bio with you!
I'm pretty sure I was born loving music. I loved to perform from a very young age. At the age of 4 my parents put me in Sunshine Generation. I loved it! I still remember some of the songs I learned. At age 5, I started taking violin lessons. Finally, my mother started teaching me basic piano from the Suzuki method. At age 10, I finally started taking lessons from a "real" teacher. Within the first year of taking lessons, I passed my Mom up in ability. I instantly fell in love with the piano. In 7th grade I played 1st chair 1st violin in my school orchestra, but grew tired of being teased for having my violin on the bus, so I quit orchestra to join the choir. Again, I fell in love with choir music. Many years later, and 4 piano teachers later, I continued learning piano, and singing in school choirs. After high school, I started teaching piano to a few friends and family members. Again, I came to love teaching. I taught for 12 years, and just this last fall made the very difficult choice to quit teaching piano to care for my 3 little children. In the last few years, I have developed a deep interest and love for writing and arranging music. This has been my focus in music since I quit teaching. I have always had a deeply seeded passion for music, and the piano has become part of my soul. I am grateful for the blessing I have of the ability to play the piano, and express myself through music.
My first album "Solitude" I initially recorded on my parents' grand piano, with my brother's amateur recording machine. I shared it with friends and family, and finally got up the nerve to start sending around to people in the LDS music business, including Kurt Bestor, Marvin Goldstein, and Greg Hansen.
After some great advice from Greg Hansen, I went to Platinum Sound, and there, had a professional recording done of "Solitude" with a few minor changes. I added 3 new songs, and took out a couple of songs, that I'm saving for a future project. This album includes arrangements of hymns such as "Love at Home", "I am a Child of God", "Families Can Be Together Forever", "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing", "If You Could Hie to Kolob", and more. It also includes seven original songs, including the title track "Solitude".
"Solitude" is still in the rough stages of production. It will be ready soon. In the mean time, you can hear a few of my songs, from the initial recording session here at mp3.com
Soon, I will be putting my songs up on Your LDS Neighborhood Jukebox.
Soon you will be able to purchase the CD and/or songbook and sheet music from this site.
Come back soon!
Yay!!! I never knew all this about you. It's almost the story of my musical life, but yours is much more ambitious. I started piano at a young age and have always loved it, but I have never attempted to compose. (We don't even own a piano right now. Sad.) But I still love to play. I was in a city-wide children's choir, too, and am SO thankful for that experience. It was directed by a woman who taught music at a local university. Everything I know about singing I owe to her.
ReplyDeleteIt's so exciting that you're going to have a professional album out. I'm still amazed by that.
Wow!! I just knew yesterday when I read your first bucket filler and then scrolled down and read some of your other posts AND listened to your music you chose that we were kindred spirits!! I promise that is not said in a creepy, stalking way. I too loved music from a young age, performed and played the piano and now teach piano. I stopped teaching for awhile when my kids were younger and now have started up again.
ReplyDeleteYour song is beautiful!!!!!!! How lucky you are to be able to "hear" the music and then put in down so that all can enjoy it! I look forward to your album and hearing more from you!! Thanx for sharing!
That's awesome Sher! You have talent coming out of your nose even! How wonderful that you will have an album put together with your works. Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteSher, I just met you and Lisa Loo today (are you blogging visiting teaching companions?) and I think we're ALL kindred souls! I have a music degree and teach piano and AP music theory to pay the bills, and direct a symphony and chorus to keep breathing. Like you, I'm spreading my compositional wings, but my compositions are geared toward the symphony and chorus set. I haven't listened to your music yet but it's on my list; right now I have (not surprisingly) a student on the way. I'm looking forward to watching your music career take off, and I can tell everyone, "Yep, I knew her when she was my blogging visiting teacher!"
ReplyDeleteHey Sherrie,
ReplyDeleteSo cool that you're doing this! I have a million questions. I have my degree in music also, but in voice, and I would love to someday record a CD, but I have no idea how to even go about it. Plus, I don't do compositions, so I would be curious as to what I'd even be allowed to sing. I'd love to hear more about how you kind of broke into the business, so to speak. :)