What we’re about
Please read the following if this piques your interest:
The Story:
Before COVID I was on a path of spreading the passion for music creation, exploration and collaboration through developing a free community music studio. COVID haulted that project and put my life in a tailspin, like it did for an unfortunate many. At the time this community studio concept wasn't common but now there are many non-profits who provide this. They focus on providing this to youth with career opportunity being the focus.
While I was on that path 7 years ago I would reach out to everyone around me asking about music and instrument history. So many adults told me "I wish I'd had the opportunity as a kid, and now I just don't have the time or the money to put into it, but I love music and would love to create something of my own" or they told me "I spent my youth learning the (some instrument) but it was all reciting and perfecting, there was no creating, exploring and collaborating. After highschool I put the instrument down because my lessons ended and I didn't know what to do with it."
I view that and can't help but see hardwork put into learning something that was in the end not utilized in all the ways it could have been. We learned these instruments as part of some large system that had the mission of finding those few artistic geniuses. Those geniuses would take their instrument skills beyond highschool while all others would drop their instruments permanently because there was no career opportunity. The arts, however, are a field that is one of few that exists beyond economic benefit. So the question being asked is: "is there no way to utilize music creation, exploration and collaboration outside of career?"
For me, I know that my connection to music has been my greatest ally in life and has always existed outside of career purposes. It has always bordered on the spiritual. I have creations that would not ever be a "chart topper", but when I listen to them they provide the most comforting feeling, one that is difficult to articulate. And as opposed to most music, the more I listen the more I love them. 10 years ago when I set upon the aforementioned path, I wanted to attempt to reproduce this connection to creation for others and explore what value might be hidden within. COVID then haulted my path, and now we are in a world where so many are in need of healing, I myself am on a path of healing and a path of wondering where to take all this.
With all that said, I still have my studio and instruments, and I am seeking a possible aligning of self interest, where my value is that of a teacher, guide, peer, group leader, or many other possibilities. I seek value from others in the form of anyone who might be interested/knowledgeable/insightful in that which is being discussed here.
Please reach out if this question/topic interests you and/or you can offer some wisdom or insight. I'd love to create a team out of this posting, find a partner, receive advice, gain information or insight, find people to teach guitar/digital creation/recording outside of career purposes (no cost volunteer/case study options), find people who could benefit from having instruments/studio space/guidance made available to them, a good conversation with someone, find others seeking a creative support system... essentially I am cast a large net based around the above question.
Looking for others who might be interested in learning an instrument/vocals to explore the beauty and expression of music creation and collaboration for life fulfillment, artistic/emotional expression, therapeutic, spiritual and/or rehabilitative purposes.
I am on this journey myself, and have a full music studio, though less "professional studio" and more "artistic makeshift", with instruments, which I could make available to others that might accompany me on this journey of learning, exploring, creating, recording and collaborating. The basic idea is that with any creative and/or artistic pursuit, especially if NOT career-motivated, will greatly benefit from some form of peer support and guidance. Without this, in our current world, I can't imagine a person setting out on a creative personal pursuit and not immediately getting hit with enough obstacles and overwhelm that end up forcing its derailment.
I am 38 and I do not have the desire to attempt to make a career as a musician but I wish to explore the values within musical expression more as an appreciation for the phenomenon that is music. I do have a community music studio concept that was haulted due to covid and this is my way of exploring whether I should continue that path after the chaos has settled. Anyone interested in such a pursuit please reach out as I'd love any form of support, soundboarding, ideas, connections, partnering/teaming up, etc. It is not a profit focused concept, but rather one with the mission of general community development and wellness.
We have come to view music more as a product than a beautiful and powerful form of artistic expression made up of the collection of hundreds or thousands of individual vibrations at different frequencies, composed and manipulated in such a way that it can evoke a reaction within a part of us that we have come to refer to as our soul. It can bring people together, help people relate and connect, help us express that which is beyond words, help us to reflect and heal, escape and cope, or just remind us that maybe we should take a moment every now and then to view and appreciate life's vibrations, and how we can create and connect through them.
I do need to make sure to find the right people who will be supportive to my journey and be a journey that I can be supportive with. Like minds and all. So please share enough info that'll give me a good understanding of our possible compatibility.
This is simply artistic exploration. This would end up needing a gradual process of building trust through communication over time, ideally using video chats as a means to connect and discuss our musical journey and share information learned while supporting each other and encouraging creativity and artistic expression. The studio would become available after the introduction phase, once we are on the same page. Up to that point it would be a video chat group as a support system while learning an instrument or while exploring creative expression.
The Studio Gear List:
Stringed
Guitar, electric, metal style
Guitar, electric, jazz style
Guitar, electric, Alt/rock style
Guitar, strat style
Guitar, acoustic electric, classical nylon
Guitar, acoustic electric, steel stringed
Bass guitar, electric, 5 strings
Cello, acoustic, full size
Violin, electric, full size with headphone and effects options
Ukulele, acoustic, concert
Percussion/Midi/Keys
Electronic drums, 6 piece full set
MIDI controller, pad/beatmaker
Keyboard, MPK mini with pads
Keyboard/piano/synthesizer, 88 key full size semi weighted, MIDI
Production Software: FL Studio 21 Digital Audio Workspace Studio creation, recording and mastering software
Audio Equipment
2 Studio monitors 7" (speakers) **there is HEADPHONE MODE, where you could play loudly and together but not disrupt anyone
4 studio headphones
8 channel input interface
** this allows all the instruments to be plugged in and recording separately but all together at the same time. This encourages exploring other instruments during a session, allowing you to maintain a consistent flow of focus with one instrument to the next.
Digital creation: the software FL Studio is like a video game for music creation. It is truly unbelievable, you can compose orchestras that sound realistic, make drum beats, write film soundtracks, all forms of composing are replicated here using a Keyboard and mouse. It has the potential to give younger generations a more immediate enjoyment that you can't get from instruments. So theoretically a kid could learn music theory and composition, or mixing and mastering, in FL Studio and THEN pick up a guitar, where had they first grabbed only the guitar it would have frustrated them into giving up altogether. In this way it's good to have all the options all at once... then there can be no excuses to just stop trying and give up.