How did you get into making music, and how did arts education (or lack thereof) affect you and your music?

My older brothers. They loved music from when they were very young, and pretty much passed it along to me. So, I started making music just because I loved listening to it so much, and had this really unique connection to it. Then, once I created something that I enjoyed listening to as much as those Faith No More tapes, well, that felt pretty good. And it still does!

My music teachers were really supportive, encouraging people, who were able to get me excited about music that wasn’t exclusively rock and roll. These classes definitely got me thinking about harmony and melody and rhythm in new ways. My arts education also provided me a history of pop music, without which I would have had very little notion of or appreciation for its origins. All in all, my music classes were positive, fun environments that nurtured an interest in all kinds of music.

The Small Cities “Fargo (Minneapoliscast Session)” (mp3)

(Official) (MySpace)

This post is part of our 60-hour blogathon in support of music development and literacy within the Twin Cities. We appreciate you visiting the site – but before you go, we ask that you consider clicking the Donors Choose banner below and giving what you can to help enrich the lives of a number of local children through music and reading. Thank you. – Culture Bully