Todd Casper of The Great Depression on Music and Arts Education

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

When I was in second grade, my music teacher, Mrs. Dawson (Go long term memory!), called my parents and suggested I audition for the Madison Boy’s Choir. My parents, being for the most part non-musical, had never heard of such a thing but I auditioned anyway and was soon sight reading music for voice. My experiences there led to playing first viola then trumpet in the school Orchestra. With the dawning of MTV, of course I promptly dropped everything and began to learn how to play the parts to my favorite albums (Devo, Icicle Works, The Clash) and was soon writing and recording my own songs.

I now live with my wife in Copenhagen, Denmark and work as a composer for Documentary films. I also write and record albums as The Great Depression and have been releasing them through Fire Records of London since 2001.

In summation, it was the initial encouragement of my second grade music teacher that sent me down the path I continue to walk (occasionally stumble down) today. I hope that, through your efforts, you are able to bring attention to the need for Arts/Music Education in the American public schools and that, through the wisdom of caring and knowledgeable teachers, other kids can have doors opened to them that they might not have found otherwise.

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