Thursday, January 27, 2011

In it for the Money? part 1



"There are hundreds of dollars to be made playing folk music.."
-Karen Savoca

Over the years of playing music, I've had many conversations
in, out, under, and around the topic of why choose this career?
Most friends I know who are making music for a living
are in a constant dance with debt. It is clear to me, that
anyone who wants to create music and have it be a major part
of their life, did not get lured into the business by
dreams of stock options and fancy cars.
And yet, we live in a society that shows what it
values with the currency of money. I believe that Artists
should be able to work at their skill set and make a living
doing it. So why isn't that a possibility for most in this country?
That being said, there are so many rewarding
aspects to creating music, one of them being the
currency of connection.

I love to perform and therefore touring feeds a part
of why I enjoy this career. But I realized again on
this last Northwest tour, that the gift of being on
the road is the opportunity every night to make a connection.
The connection is not just during the 2 hours on a
stage between performer and audience.
It is the conversations that fill in the gaps
from one show to the next, that is the true gift.

The thoughtful perspective on songwriting
Ryan shares while we make the 5 hour drive to Seattle.
It is the early morning conversation with Brad in
Angeline's coffeehouse about our favorite new artists.
The voices and ideas that fill the hallway in a historic
capitol hill home at 2am with a concert host who has dedicated
seven years of his life to promoting shows for independent songwriters.
The gift of meeting a music loving blogger, marilyn, who beyond
raising organic blueberries decided to start her own
concert series so she could share the live music
experience with her neighbors, other amazing bloggers, and friends.
It is meeting a woman who I felt I've known years instead of
minutes, and knowing somehow that I could trust her instantly.
It is the quiet that fills my car and the big conversations
I have in my head with myself while driving through changing landscapes.

xo
sarah

MORE to come soon on my northwest adventures like:

how hip is the seattle hipster music scene on ballard ave?
how amazing are a group of high school students in sisters?
which new songwriters blew me away?
what parking lots are safe to take a nap in your car
when the coca-cola isn't cutting it?


Monday, January 24, 2011

Aaron Copland


Do you know this man?
Do you know his music?

Meet Aaron Copland.
Although I had heard bits and pieces,
it wasn't until collage that
he became one of my favorite composers.

Why? I honestly can't really put it into words.
All I know is that when I hear certain
melodies that he has composed
there is a visceral reaction in my body.
I have on many occasions found myself in
tears because his composition
has found it's way into the
very composition of my body.

So, this last week my piano instructor
gave me the assignment to learn
the music for the
"Coda" of Appalachian Spring.
And although I am so slow,
as the melody cautiously
found a way through my fingers
my vision blurred
and my heart is full because I am
playing music I love.

Listen to what I learning to play here and maybe even treat yourself to
the beauty of Aaron Copland's music:
(it is #17 on the list)

Appalachian Spring: Moderato - Coda - The Copland Collection

Who is your favorite composer??

xo
sarah

ps. I'll give you a full update this week on my tour through the Northwest. What a wonderful time it was!

Monday, January 10, 2011

FANCY SMANCY

Hi friends.
Welcome to my new blog-- "Shadows of a Song"
ok. same blog, but NEW title (thank you mr. jacobsen)
and new fancy look.
and even my very own BUTTON
to share. wouldn't that look great on your
blog wall? yep, it would.
It feels refreshing to have
a new space in write in.

I didn't want to have my blog called
sarahsample.boring.blogspot.lame-o.com
and 'shadows of a song' is the title
of a song off my new record.
It is actually one of my personal favorites
on the record. Paul Jacobsen had his
hand in several drafts which is probably why
it made my favorites list.

The idea was using a song as the metaphor for love.
The first verse--
"once my love was a band, and you were the kickdrum
jumpstart my heart and we start to run
didn't care we were so young
we tried so hard
to play all the right parts
with our hands full of false starts
till the downbeat dragged us apart"

Each verse is a different relationship
and the singer is chasing
the idea of a perfect song or perfect love
and can only get glimpses of it with each relationship.

the chorus sings
"I hear it, then it's gone
melodies haunt me
shakes it's chains and leads me
on an endless marathon
I lose my breath, chasing
shadows of a song"

I think part of, if not the main purpose we
are on this earth is to learn to love.
We get chances everyday to do this
with our families
strangers
neighbors
and maybe the hardest relationship
to learn to love
is with ourselves.

Let's celebrate my new blog together.
My gift to you for dropping by...

plus, if you download this song...you will get your
heart broken by the harmonies provided by
Dustin Christensen.

Have a lovely week friends.
I am off to the Northwest, come
and join me at a show, or send your friends out.
Shows are selling out fast, so get your tickets soon!


xox
s