Friday, October 30th, 2009 at 7:53 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
ITT:When did your love of music start? Do you play any instruments?
Carrie: My love of music started as a child. I grew up in the Church, my father was a Pastor and my mother was a Singer / Pianist. It was never an option for me to not learn music!
I began piano lessons at age seven, and started performing in our little Church in Boulder City, NV by the time I was eight. I was trained as a Classical Pianist, so by the time I was ten I was performing Mozart for our Church offertories.
My mother also directed our Children's Choir, which exposed me at a young age to the joy of singing. We put on musicals each year, which we performed at the Church, as well as for the local public elementary school. Those were the days when a Church group was allowed to bring 'religious content' into the schools! Gosh, I sound old!
As a Middle School student, I went through a phase where I wouldn't sing because 'that's what my mother did ' and I wanted to be different! Thankfully, it didn't last long, because I really missed it.
ITT:When / how did you decide that you wanted to sing / write professionally?
Carrie: By the time I was a Freshman in High School (we had moved to the Boston area by this time), I joined the Choir in school and performed as a chorus person in various Musical Theater productions. At that point, I didn't have confidence that I could be a Soloist, but singing in a group was wonderful training ground. By the time I was a Senior, I landed the lead role in the musical, it was a great experience!
It was also during my Senior year that I started thinking about writing my own songs. I was listening to some of the stuff playing on radio and I thought to myself, 'That sounds pretty easy. I think I could do that.', so I did. I wrote an incredibly cheesy love song that I would NEVER play for anyone now! But you have to start somewhere!
College was really where I honed my writing skills, it became an outlet for me. It was also during College where I began to really blend what God was teaching me with my everyday life, and it found its expression in my lyrics.
There were opportunities galore to perform for campus groups, Chapel services, Youth Groups, basketball games, dorm meetings...where ever there was an opportunity I took it. I knew then that I wanted to be a professional Singer / Songwriter, although I didn't know all it would entail at the time.
ITT:Any advice / encouragement for the InTheTimes.com girls who desire to be a professional Singer / Songwriter like yourself?
Carrie: Start right where you are. If you enjoy singing, then join a Choir at school or Church.
A Choir doesn’t seem as exciting as being the Soloist on stage, but you will be trained very well musically. The skills you learn in a Choir will help you your entire life and will make you a better Soloist.
If you’re in your teens, Voice Lessons can exercise your skills even more. Even taking lessons on an instrument such as piano or guitar will help you vocally, because you’re learning the ins and outs of melody, harmony and rhythm.
When you’re ready, step out and sing a duet with a friend or go for that solo in Church or a school musical. All of the experiences you have performing will strengthen and prepare you for a professional career, so that you can be confident when it’s time to take things to the next level and 'take your show on the road' and / or record a CD.
>>> More from Carrie next week!
>>>Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of some of Carrie's music and to purchase your favs! The rest of Carrie's music is available via her web site !
tags: carrie marshall christian music, celebrity behind the scenes interview, q&a question and answer advice tips ideas, tween pre-teen teen teenage teenager young adult girl magazine web site blog e-zine christian faith-based biblically-based
Alathea "Smiled On Me" / Editor's Currently Listening To
Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 12:00 AM by Ruth Tynes / Online Editor / InTheTimes.com
Hi InTheTimes.com Girls!
I'm currently listening to the single "Smiled On Me" by Alathea from the album What Lights Is All About !
This is such a fun, upbeat, get 'ya going for the day type of song. My fav lyrics? "What cut straight through my blinds was / Light, light to live by / Open my eyes, and my oh my / This day is gonna be good / Not gonna fuss about fashion / Not fret about time / Open my door, and thank the Lord / This day is gonna be good / God has smiled on me / Mornin' sings to me"
This really puts me in mind of Matthew 6:25-34, where the LORD Jesus advices us to not get all bent out of shape worrying about some of the details of life. Instead He encourages us to trust in the LORD for 'our daily bread' Like in this song by Alathea, what freedom to simply look into the new mornings sunlight, open your door, thank the LORD, and declare that 'today is the day that the LORD has made' (see Psalm 118:24) therefore, "This day is gonna be good!"
If you haven't heard the single, click the link above to preview it for free!
Have an ultra fabulous day! RUTH
>>>Let's go shopping! Make sure to click the links below to hear free audio samples of Alathea's music and to purchase your favs! You can buy hard copies of Alathea's albums, download individual songs, download the entire album, or buy used copies for a discounted price!
tags: alathea christian music, smiled on me song what light is all about album, inthetimes.com in the times magazine editor's currently listening to, christian music review devotional, editor picks choices, tween pre-teen teen young adult girl magazine web site blog e-zine christian faith-based biblically-based
