Cool Stuff #2

As a child, I really enjoyed watching American Idol because I have always loved music and I loved seeing the different levels of talent that was tucked away all over the country. I looked up Arab Idol Auditions on Youtube and came across this video. On American Idol, you can always almost immediately tell whether or not the singer would be going to Hollywood, either by their voice or by the judges' reactions. Unfortunately, since I have absolutely no knowledge of Arab music or how it "should" sound, I had no clue how well this young man performed. Judging by some of the judges faces, some seems very pleased while others tried to hide their laughs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JT5B3vHb2Io

While looking for blues music on youtube, I decided to search my high school's jazz band to see if there were any videos on there, and surely enough, there was a video of my band performing at an outdoor concert during my junior year. The song is called "Blues-Bari Pie" and it features a baritone saxophone solo (my friend Willie). (I am in the second row on the far right if you were wondering) 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKfEKr1e-1o

When I first discovered the didgeridoo when I was younger, I was absolutely amazed. I learned about this instrument many years before I began playing the trumpet in 6th grade, so it confused me as to how a hollow cylinder could produce such a sound! After learning about buzzing, embouchure, and the different methods of playing instruments, I then completely understood the science of the didgeridoo. Here is a 10 hour video of the wonderful music of the didgeridoo. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHSRv4Hsxn0 

Music and Gender

In my seven years of being involved with music, I have noticed that there aren't very many gender divisions regarding who played what instrument. It seemed as though most students only wanted to play the instrument with which they had the most talent and produced the most enjoyable experience. I remembered hearing that there aren't very many female conductions in the world of classical music, and while that is true, it isn't the same within middle and high schools, as I had both male and female band directors all throughout my grade-school years and they were each equally as talented and knowledge as the next.
I was in marching band from 7th-12th grade and was the drum major my senior year and the only gender separation that I have noticed within my middle/high school marching band is that there weren't very many female students playing the bigger brass instruments. Not because they weren't able to, but because the instruments were simply too heavy for them to carry while marching smoothly AND playing a crisp sound. There were still boys playing the flute and clarinet and girls playing the baritone and bass drum in the marching band and my friend Anna Kate and I both took turns playing the drum set in our jazz band. Each of the students played the instrument that interested them and had no care in the world that it may have been "too masculine" or "too feminine. I find that music is music no matter who is playing it. The gender of the person holding  the instrument doesn't change the sound that they are producing. the only thing that is different at Converse in comparison to what I have experienced at my previous schools is the singing. Not very many boys/men sing like the women here. That would be strange. Beautiful, but strange.

-NTP

This Stuff is Pretty Cool! #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sqq3U_mydv0I really found Carlos Nakai's music very interesting when we listened in class. I know that a lot of instrumental music can have great meaning, even though there are no words, but it fascinated me that Nakai's songs each have their own significance that greatly affect the Navajo people. Not only is his music absolutely beautiful, but it is also very pure and soothing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYrTyJBoAmk
I decided to look up "Navajo children" on youtube and came up with this video. The description says "Navajo school children compete in a Native American singing competition". In the many elementary schools that I had the great pleasure of attending, there was never a competition held for the students. There were always talent shows and talent showcases, but students were never put up against each other for a price or reward. I find it very interesting that everyone is included in the Navajo community; kids, adults, males and females, everyone has the opportunity to participate in a large setting and competition is looked at as great fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV0kgidzGqY
This video is a little bit cheesy, but I have always been very interested in other languages and comparing them to the languages that I do know. While this seems very silly to watch, I find great value in this video as it allows me to learn simple words in another language.

Music and Religion

For me personally, music is the most important aspect of my religion. I am a Christian, and my favorite way to feel close to God is through praise and worship, or just listening and studying gospel music. Here are a few of my favorite songs:

https://youtu.be/rFNHmA9a2gI

https://youtu.be/W7zwlHZ4fxU?list=RDrFNHmA9a2gI

Music is my favorite form of worship because it is also something in which I have great skill, so, if I ever wanted to create a worship song of my own, I feel as though I would be fully equipped to do so. Music I generally used in church services the traditional form of worship through hymns and/or praise bands. This time allows church goers to send praises to the Lord before and after hearing His word. 

I have found that many gospel artists have attempted to make their music sound more secular so as to reach out to and attract younger listeners. These artists are beginning to focus more on how the music sounds rather than what the words are saying, therefore defeating the purpose of the song and I think that this is the wrong method of taking things from society and applying them to music. One rule that should be followed within the realm of gospel music is that the lyrics of the song should do nothing other than tell a story of God's grace and mercy, rather than attracting more people solely for the style of the music. When the focus of a song is taken away from The Lord and placed upon the singer or the audience, it is no longer gospel music. It is selfish to try to classify songs that have little to nothing to do with God as gospel. 

My Global Music Autobiography

My parents and siblings were all born in Jamaica while I had the pleasure of arriving on earth in Bridgeport Connecticut, a melting pot of cultures. Growing up, my mom worked on the radio where she played a wide array of music from reggae and dancehall to the Temptations and the O'Jays. As a child, whenever I was asked what my favorite genre of music was, I would always reply, "Anything but country music and rock. I can't stand either of those genres. They don't make sense to me." I grew up listening to reggae artists like Gregory Isaacs and Jah Cure, gospel artists like Mahalia Jackson and even some of Elvis' gospel, "old hits" artists like Dionne Warwick, The Jackson Five, and Celine Dion. From the young age of even three years old, I was singing songs that people generations above me listened to in their teen years. In high school I was introduced to more jazz songs than I'd ever imagine I'd know by heart as I was a part of the Jazz band for two years.

Now, as an eighteen year old, I feel as though my musical palette is slightly more broad than my close friends because I was introduced to such a wide selection at a young age. This has allowed me to be more open to new types of music as I have a newfound love for soca, bachata, and afro beat music and I have taken the time out to learn about these new cultures. 

As I am creating music of my own, and somewhat focusing on R&B and hip hop beats, I am finding ways so incorporate my favorite genres into my own music. Many of my friends point out that my songs have a "bachata twist" or "reggae vibes" throughout them, and that inspires me to find more genres that I can somehow transform into my own. 

-NTP

FINALMENTE

Before coming to Converse, I was just a baby.

I actually thought that maybe

I’d grow out of that name.

Seeing that we are all adults and are viewed as the same,

I actually hoped and prayed that I’d grow out of that name.

Unfortunately, I didn’t.

It’s my own fault, I couldn’t keep it hidden 

That I was only 17.

But I am 18 now.

It’s been exactly one month but I’m still shocked at how

I was able to fly home by myself and celebrate the day of my birth

With the things i go through mentally,

my experience could’ve been worse. 

Every day is still a slight struggle,

some days better than the last.

As time goes past I think it’s going too fast.

I still don’t know why I’m at Converse, but I know its for a good reason

every trial and tribulation, I know there’s a reason for this season.

In these few short months, 

I have grown and matured.

While my anxiety isn’t cured, 

I constantly look forward

to the day I am able to look back on this time of my life

and say with pride, “I appreciate that strife”.

During my time at Converse, 

I have been able to use my sense of independence

I have learned to manage my time wisely and take care of myself. 

I’ve learned that not everyone will like you, and not to take it to heart,

not everyone deserves to be a part

of your life, and that’s fine. To each her own. 

I hope they all know, they can always contact me by phone,

or email, or in person. 

I’d never be one to worsen someones day with any sort of negativity.

I’m still not sure where I’m going

But i know my future is glowing.

I hope to graduate knowing that I did my part

I hope to help everyone, no matter who you are.

My life Is still unclear and I know that’s normal. 

I hope that in the future, if you forget these words,

that you remember my face, and know my troubles are with the birds. 

I feel as though my "poem" does a great job of explaining my transition into college over the last few months. I did mention in class that I would share a lot more about myself in my blog, and I apologize but, I don't really feel comfortable doing so yet. There is a lot to know about me, and there are many things that I can share with you all. But for now, just know that I have experienced many things in my short life and I am continuously growing, evolving, and learning from those things. I have an amazing mom and a wonderful best friend (who I call my brother) who both give me constant support on a daily basis. 

The character that I'd most like to emulate in my own life is George I, but not to the fullest extent. His work ethic is something that I admire and would like to be able to acquire for myself. Although he was constantly painting and neglected his social life, he truly became one of the best artists of his time and I personally believe that that is because of his attention to detail and perfectionism. I would love to have the drive that he has in order for me to be the best that I can be in whatever it is that I decide to do with my future.

(Backstory on my best friend and I)

We met in 9th grade (I'd already been attending our school since 7th grade) and I was going through a huge change in my life. I'm a really, really shy person and the other kids at my school were extremely judgmental and pretentious and I figured that I had nothing to lose by going to him for advice. Little did either of us know that that one moment of advice would turn into nearly four and a half years of a bond that many of our friends, students at our high school, and some of the teachers truly admire. We have honestly become siblings more than anything else and we have taught and continue to teach each other A LOT. And, as expected, many people assumed that we were dating, but that was never the case. He is an only child and I grew up being the only child in the house so it has been good to have an older brother who I can look up to, and he has enjoyed having a little sister to look after. :)

(I hope this video works. It was the day after our graduation and we'd gone to so many grad parties over that weekend)

PS, my mom is AMAZING. I would add a picture of her but I truly cannot find any recent ones of us together.

-NTP

My First Love

My taste in music may be "contradictory" to some as it ranges from gospel to hip hop to reggae and many genres in between. Some may believe that it isn't possible to like gospel music and still listen to secular music because of the differences in the lyrics but I personally see music as a form of someone expressing themselves. If I want to worship and praise God, I will listen to gospel. If I want inspiration for my own music or connect with one of my favorite artists through their work, I will listen to rap. There are many reasons as to why I listen to certain music beyond the fact that it's just background noise or vibrations that fill up the empty space in my room. With every song that I choose to listen to, I feel a connection that not only inspires me to continue to make music of my own but it also allows me to somewhat more understand the artist, if their lyrics are true to their lives.

One of my very favorite songs is Pray by The Game featuring J Cole(my favorite rapper). When my friend first told me about this song, I was in 9th grade, experiencing a very difficult time in my life as my mom moved to Connecticut to work and I stayed in Georgia and moved in with my aunt. During this time, (my then, new friend and now, best friend) introduced me to new genres of music that I'd never consider listening to before. Almost every day he gave me one or two new songs to listen to after school as a way to distract myself and to keep my mind off of the struggles of my life. Along with these songs, he told me the importance of prayer, although I'd already known its power. My mind was filled with such negativity that it pushed me away from God and I'd almost completely forgotten about His grace and mercy. Because of this, my friend also used music as a test to see if it would in any way change my mindset and outlook on the things I was experiencing. The lyric that he told me to focus on was "Stressed out, parents getting divorced/ Girl love 'em worth, she ain't try'n to sit in court/ She a square so it's hard to see the angle/ And that's why God gave her a guardian angel/ It's me, and I'm here for her, swear to God that I'm here for her". While I wasn't experiencing those exact things that The Game mentioned, it still had a very magnetic connection to my heart. Seeing as though I was only 13, I'd just started high school and I only saw my mom about once a month, I felt completely different than my classmates and felt that I had no one to talk to about my problems. But this new friend of mine pretty much "adopted" me, checked on me and essentially became my guardian angel, even though we were in the same grade and he is only seven months my senior. Listening to that song made me realize that I actually did have someone to talk to, someone who truly cared about me and my well being and still cares to this very day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7vN_mHnGq4


Another of my favorite songs is a gospel song called Encourage Yourself by Donald Lawrence. Whenever I go on a spurt of listening to gospel and gospel only, this is usually the very first and very last song I listen to because not only do I love the feeling of the song itself, but I just love the very first verse that says "Sometimes you have to encourage yourself./ Sometimes you have to speak victory during the test./ And no matter how you feel, speak the word and you will be healed;/ Speak over yourself,/ encourage yourself in the Lord." I brought myself to the lord when I was 4 years old and again when I was 7. Although I knew exactly what I was doing and fully understood what I was saying as I prayed for God to be in my life, as I got older, it was sometimes difficult for me to understand that everything in my life was a part of His plan and even though it didn't seem ideal at the time, it was necessary for me to appreciate the beauty that was to come in the future. This song helped me understand that sometimes I just have to continue to praise God and thank Him even when my life isn't clear and I don't necessarily feel happy. Speaking good things into existence will cultivate these things and it I learned that it is important to always have a positive outlook on life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFNHmA9a2gI

Seeing as though I am Jamaican, I felt as though it were only right for me to have a reggae song in my list of favorites. No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley is one of first songs I remember listening to in the car as a child, along with Smooth Operator by Sade (which I knew all the words to as a 2 year old but that's another story for a different time). This song is special to me because it reminds me of my mom's radio show that she hosted when I was between the ages of 4 and 7. Her show was called "Natural Vibes" and she played a range of songs from artists like The Temptations and Dionne Warwick to Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Her involvement in music sparked my immediate love for the art and being able to go to the studio with her, watching the process of radio and listening to the calls that came in, it showed me how much music can have an impact on people, especially my great uncle. My great Uncle Val is currently suffering from Alzheimer's but has always had an enormous love for music, especially that of The Temptations. When my mom was preparing for her radio shows during the week, she would call Uncle Val to come over and help her find music to play. Before our family knew that he was suffering from Alzheimer's, we all thought that he was just very forgetful and his stuttering was just his speech. But as time went on and he could no longer remember the names and artists of songs, my family could tell there was a problem. Although he has lost his ability to speak, he still shows signs of remembering certain songs when my family plays them for him. This in itself proves that music can have an eternal impact of its listeners and that is what I strive for in my own music: having a strong influence on those who listen to my art.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x59kS2AOrGM


If you took the time out to read all of this, thank you. Music clearly means a lot to me.

-NP