How I started in Utah and ended in Missouri: A spiritual journey

Those that know me know that I've had quite the journey these last few years.  As mentioned in my previous post, I've seen a lot of the world.  In the past five years alone I've been to Guatemala, Kosovo, New Zealand, Australia, and Hawaii (if you count that as a foreign country, which I do). Compared to my classmates from my high school, I've had probably one of the most diverse careers so far.  All these experiences have led to me being here in Missouri, pursuing a master's degree in percussion performance.  My master's recital will be this Wednesday at 8:30pm at Whitmore Recital Hall in the Fine Arts Building on the University of Missouri Campus, you should all come, it will be one of the best recitals you have ever seen :)

Enough advertising for my recital (seriously, though, you should all come).  Back to the topic of this post: how did I end up in Missouri?  To best answer that question, I will explain how I ended up in Hawaii, because how I ended up there leads to our journey to Missouri.
Most people know that I received my bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University- Hawaii.  What most people don't know, however, is that I studied for a year at Snow College, a tiny associates degree college in Ephraim, Utah.  You see, my high school marching band went there for band camp every year, and as I got to explore the campus and familiarize myself with the music program, I felt that it was the perfect school for me to attend to pursue music.  They had a state of the art music facility (it still rivals the other facilities that I have seen), and I had good experiences with the staff for the most part.  I auditioned and received a $500 scholarship from the school of music, in addition to my full tuition academic scholarship given from the school in general.  As I read the conditions for the $500 scholarship, I had to enroll in private lessons, take all the music classes, etc, etc.  Basically, the scholarship would pay for my private lessons and ensemble fees, and none of it would go to anything else.  "That doesn't seem like much," I thought.  If I accepted the scholarship, I would be giving myself entirely to the music program.  I wasn't quite comfortable with it.  As my first semester approached and as I got to know the staff more, I felt that they were quite indifferent towards me.  I didn't feel valued as a musician and as a student.  I was beginning to doubt my decision to pursue music at Snow College.
For those who don't know, I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormons.  The church has an educational program that provides adult religious classes that can be taken as part of a college curriculum, called "Institute."  Because Utah is predominantly Mormon, most colleges there have a huge institute building near campus, and the majority of students are enrolled in classes there.
A few weeks before the first day of my freshman year, I entered the Ephraim Institute to enroll in religion classes.  Earlier in the day I had visited with my music professors, and I again felt uneasy.  As I walked the halls of the institute building, however, I felt peace.  One teacher saw me, came up to me, and the first words out of his mouth were, "You look like a singer!"  I was a little surprised and I think I said, "Maybe?"  He proceeded to tell me about a choir that was sponsored by the institute called the LDSingers.  As he showed me videos and told me about the program, I felt a huge peace in my heart.  I knew instantly that I needed to do it.  I had not had much choir experience, but I felt that my previous music experience would help me.  So I planned to audition.
The first day of school came.  I attended my music classes and felt out of place.  Everyone seemed to be getting along, but I felt very uncomfortable there.  I auditioned for a large ensemble (did I mention that I was a clarinet major at the time?  That's probably important and I should have said that before, sorry), but was very uncomfortable and played poorly.  I got second to last chair in the lowest ensemble, which soon turned to the last chair after the first last chair dropped out of school.  When I auditioned for the LDSingers, however, I felt calm and reassured.  I was accepted into the choir and felt joy in my heart.
The rehearsal schedule for LD's and concert band conflicted, so I went to the dean of the school of music and asked if I could do different ensembles to satisfy the requirements.  When he asked why I wanted to join other ensembles, I told him it was because I had joined LD's.
I'll never forget his reaction.  
He instantly got upset and angrily told me that I had to quit LD's immediately.  I was scared.  I had never seen someone get angry at me over a personal decision that I had made.  I felt that I was owned by the school of music and that I had to act in a way that would please them, and if I did anything wrong then I would be punished.
I had a decision to make.  Join LD's and be comfortable and happy at the risk of dropping my music major, or continue with my plans of studying music at Snow College, drop LD's, and be uncomfortable, yet have security in my plans.
I fasted and prayed to God for guidance.  I explained my dilemma, and asked for a confirmation of my feelings.  As I asked whether I should stay with the LD's, I had an immense feeling of comfort and joy overwhelm me.  It was one of the most powerful feelings that I have ever had.  I knew that God's plan for me included me participating in LD's.  I could not deny it.  But this led to my next problem; dealing with the school of music.
I went to the registrar and changed my major to undeclared.  I enrolled in general classes and planned to graduate with an associates in general studies, and hoped that along the way I would figure out what I wanted to do with my life.  The registrar delivered some news that I had hoped I would never hear; I had to get the dean of the school of music to sign my drop from.
With a big lump in my throat, I entered the music building.  I was scared, but I knew I had to do it.  The first person that approached me was the clarinet professor.  She was upset that I had not shown up to rehearsal the night before, and told me that I was making a big mistake by joining LD's.  She told me that she thought I was upset about my audition and that I was doing this to spite the program.  I told her that it wasn't the audition, I knew that I could practice to get better, but I was quitting music because I genuinely wanted to do LD's, and I felt it was right.
Next came the dean of the school of music.  With fury in his voice, he told me that I had lost my scholarship (all $500, wooh!) and would be disciplined for even considering this decision, and that it was a terrible mistake to miss the previous nights rehearsal. With his voice raised he began to tell me of my immaturity and poor judgement.  Rather than argue, I handed him the drop form.  He sat down in a chair, sighed, and said, "Just tell me, why are you doing this?"
I said, "Well, to understand, are you Mormon?"
"Yes, I am in the bishopric of my ward."
"Then you can understand that I prayed, I fasted, and I KNOW that I have to do LD's."
He laughed at me.  "I don't think that God would tell you to sacrifice your education for a show choir."  This shocked me.  Here was a supposedly religious man, denying my personal revelations from my efforts at prayer.
I told him, "I never prayed about studying music here.  But God wants me to do LD's."
He laughed harder.  "Maybe so.  Maybe you're not meant to be a musician."  His laughter and scorn genuinely frightened me.  I needed to get out of there.
He signed the card and handed it to me.  The last words he said to me were, "Have a good life."
I responded, "Thanks, I will!"
(Side note:  Saying "Have a good life" to someone is one of the most hurtful things you can say.  Don't ever say it to anyone.  Please.)
This experience taught me some things that I will never forget.  One of these things is that when you are trying to follow the path that God sets for you, opposition will always follow, and it will come in ways that you least expect.  I can't judge this dean's life, but I know that in this instance he was acting as opposition to God's plan for me.  I felt persecuted by him, like the prophets of old were persecuted by the people they taught.
Another thing that I learned is to trust that God will deliver you.  If you have faith and follow God's plan for you, you will receive blessings.  LD's was one of the best things I have ever done for myself.  Although I was a pain for the directors and other choir members because of my emotional problems, it was what I needed to change my outlook on life and focus my goals towards better things.  Through LD's, I not only sang and participated in religious life daily, but I also made great friends and learned how to effectively cope with depression.  Had I not joined, I have no idea what would have happened.  What I do know, however, is that I wouldn't have learned that from the school of music.

I'm not saying that the music program at Snow College is bad.  Some very successful musicians have graduated from there.  It just wasn't right for me.
Although LD's was great for me, I still had to figure out what to do with my life.  I enjoyed my general classes, but none of them were intriguing enough to make a career out of.  I figured that I still had time to decide before my second year was up, which wouldn't actually happen for two extra years.
After my first year, I became a missionary for my church in Guatemala.  It was an amazing experience, made even richer from the experiences that I had with LD's.  I spent my time teaching and serving others.  I was lost in the work of the Lord, and it was one of the  most rewarding experiences I had ever done.

About a year in, I got an email from my cousin, who had done LD's with me, that told me that they had cut LD's from the institute program at Snow College.  When I read this, I decided that there was nothing for me at Snow College anymore, and that I would transfer schools after my mission.  So I talked to other missionaries, and I thought about studying at Brigham Young University- Idaho, where many of my friends were going.  But after the excitement of living with my friends died down, it didn't feel right.
I wrote an email to my father, telling him that I was lost and didn't know what to do with my education.  I asked for some help as to where to go and what to study.  He responded and told me that my love was music, so I should study music.  I was scared to try it again, but it felt right this time.  My parents also suggested that I study in Brigham Young University- Hawaii, where my brother currently was.  I prayed about it, and it felt right.  So I applied and got accepted, as well as offered a scholarship in the music department.  It felt good to have some direction in my education.
I finished my mission with fire, and was immediately thrust into the real world and started college.  The first few months were very hard to adjust, and I had a hard time getting into a practice routine.  I even told my professor that I wasn't sure that music was for me.  But he was patient with me.
The difference between the faculty at BYUH and Snow was that they cared about me at BYUH.  When I expressed my insecurities about studying music at BYUH, they showed their support and offered their guidance.  I felt like I was a valued student.  It was amazing to see and feel.
I should mention that I started studying percussion as well.  I decided that I didn't like the clarinet and that I would rather hit things.  My only percussion experience had been drumline and percussion ensemble in high school.  I played the piano well, so reading keyboard music wasn't a problem for me.
The first few weeks were excruciatingly difficult to jump into collegiate percussion straight from two years of not touching a drum.  It was frustrating for both me and my professor, but he was patient with me.  I will always love him for that.  I spent hours in the practice room learning a bongo beat (I now play some killer bongos, you should hire me for your next gig).

I then started learning the marimba.
I fell in love.
As I learned the musser/stevens grip, I started to find my true passion.  After my first semester, I decided that I wanted to go into music therapy, so I kept with my music classes with the plan of transferring to Utah State University.  I now excelled in music, thanks to my teachers and my dedication in the practice room.  I even won a concerto competition.  This made me want to be a performance degree and stay in Hawaii.
I had to make the decision to continue studying performance in Hawaii or to transfer to Utah State for music therapy.  I loved performance more and more, and loved Hawaii more and more.  My mother supported me staying in Hawaii, and my friends encouraged me to stay.  The decision was made infinitely easier when I was rejected from the music therapy program at USU.  So with joy, I announced that I would stay in Hawaii.
Many of you know the story from here.  I toured with BYUH in New Zealand and Australia.  I did an internship in Kosovo.  I explored the islands and played the steel pan in Kauai.  I excelled in percussion, with my favorite instruments being the marimba and the steel pan.  I had very successful junior and senior recitals, along with playing a concerto movement with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra.  I got many gigs playing percussion in a variety of settings.  Music was life.
Right before applying to graduate schools, I got married (you can read about that in my last post).  I had been accepted to the University of Missouri, but Sarah still had to finish her degree.  Due to a variety of circumstances, we had to decide whether to postpone her education for me, or whether I should put off graduate school to let her finish her degree.  So, as you can probably guess, we fasted and prayed.  We felt that we needed to go to Missouri.  With the support of my amazing wife, we made plans to move.
So here we are.  I am about to give my graduate recital (you should all come), I teach private lessons, I am pursuing certificates in jazz studies and music entrepreneurship, I have had many gigs and performance opportunities here in Columbia, and I have been an overall successful percussionist.  Sarah has taken control of her career and works as a very successful freelance accompanist, private piano teacher, and has performed in many situations, including with the Missouri Symphony.  We are both successful musicians.
So to the faculty at Snow who told me that I would be a failure: YOU WERE WRONG.  I am a success.  My life is full of successes and rich experiences.  I couldn't be happier.  I am playing music that I love, I am married to the girl of my dreams, and I am seeing the world.
There are two morals to this story.  The first is to not let anybody tell you what you can or cannot do.  You are the master of you life, you control it.  Do what you want and what you feel is right.  You know what will make you happy, so don't let anybody else get in the way of it.
The second moral is to trust God and have faith.  For much of my life I didn't know where I would go, but I always had the reassurance that I was being spiritually guided.  Faith is like walking a few steps into the darkness, and only after we take those steps will the path be lit for us.  If we trust God and have faith, He will lead us to where we need to go, even if we don't know where that is.

Son of an international businessman (and what he's taught me)

Those who know me at least moderately well know that I've spent a few years of my life outside the United States.  These experiences have shaped my life and influenced my perception of the world.  What some of you may not know, however, is the whole story of why I love world cultures.
I've made it a goal of mine to incorporate as much world music into my studies as possible.  If you come to my graduate recital on October 29th (8:30pm, Whitmore Recital Hall, free admission, it will be awesome), you will hear me play the Tahitian To'ere and Pahu, as well as the steel pan.  These instruments are not traditional in a fine art recital, but I feel that they are a key part of my musical personality.  I also have strong interests in music from Latin America, Africa, and Asia, although I won't play any of those styles in my recital.  Well, I guess we'll have a Latin influenced quartet piece, which will be awesome, so you should all come watch it :)
Anyway, back to the main point of this post, which is, how did it all start?  Why am I, a middle class caucasian Utah redneck, so interested in world music and culture?
Meet my father:

His name is Daniel Todd Edwards, and he is wearing that turban because he is the guest of honor at a product launch... in India.  This is not the first time he has been to international countries.  A few weeks ago he was in China.  His list of other countries includes most countries in Asia, Australia, basically every country in Latin America, Most of Europe, the Middle East, and so on.  Basically, he is the textbook definition of a world traveler.  

So why does he get to travel the world?  He is even more caucasian and redneck than me, so how did he get that luck?  The short answer is that he works for a company that develops plant nutrition products, and he promotes that product and negotiates with worldwide distributors.  Go back a few years, and he was hired to work territories in Latin America and the US because of his knowledge of horticulture.  Go back a few years before that, and he worked on farms with a degree in horticulture.  Go back a few years before that, he was a redneck who liked to grow things.

So how did he go from being a man who liked to grow things to become an international businessman?  He worked hard.  He had a goal, and stopped at nothing to accomplish it.  He seized opportunities as they came, and embraced learning opportunities as they came.  He wanted to make money growing things, so he worked hard to do it.  

One of the most amazing things about him is that he uses his travels to learn about the cultures of other nations, and finds applications for his own culture.  I love reading his letters that detail his experiences, especially when he shares about the friends he has made everywhere.  

That leads to a key aspect that makes my father a successful international businessman:  He does not criticize or condemn other cultures.  Rather, he learns from them.  He asks questions.  He shares his insights with those he works with.  Too many people today treat other cultures as too foreign, and often only point out the differences that separate us.  He, though, finds how we are similar.  

My first experience with experiencing an international culture came when I was seven years old, and my father took a job opportunity in Argentina.  He took his family, hoping that we could benefit from it.  I remember complaining before we left, saying "I don't want to go to ArgentinaaaaAAAAaaaaAAAaaaaAAAA!"  Due to my lack of negotiating skills, I failed in persuading my parents otherwise.

Our first few days in Argentina were a whirlwind of experiences.  Everything was different.  I remember seeing packaged food in stores and thinking that they all looked gross, and I thought to myself, "I'm never eating again.  I'm going to starve."  I quickly got over that, though.

One of the things that I'm grateful for is that my parents didn't send me to an english school.  In fact, I don't even know if they had an english school in the city we lived in.  I was forced to learn spanish as quickly as possible so I could survive in an educational environment.  

My parents also kept us heavily involved in religious life.  My family and I are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon).  My father was asked to be the branch president over the congregation where we lived, which is similar to being a pastor.  We accompanied him when he visited families, and always attended services and activities.  This helped me to make friends and understand the culture more thoroughly.  

We were in Argentina for only two years.  In those two years, however, I became fluent in spanish, made many friends, grew to love the food (I didn't starve), and loved the culture.  In fourth grade, I was part of a ceremony where my classmates and I promised our dedication to loving the people of and serving the country of Argentina.  When the time came to move back to the United States, I prayed so that we would be able to stay.  But my father and my family had accomplished what we needed to do, so it was time to move back to the states.

Life was different.  I didn't quite fit in.  I had a new view of the world, and found it difficult to relate to others.  Yes, I made friends and had good times throughout my youth, but I always had a different perspective.  While my friends would share racist remarks about Latin Americans, I would argue that we needed to understand them to accurately judge them.  

I was able to return to Latin America later, this time when I was 19 years old, to Guatemala.  I was there for two years as well, but this time I was serving as a missionary for my church.  I had no family with me.  I worked hard, though, and again became fluent in spanish.  I learned to love the people even more, and used my experiences to enrich my life.  Some of the missionaries I worked with never learned to completely appreciate the culture, which I feel bad for.  

After my mission, I studied at Brigham Young University- Hawaii, which has more international students than American students.  I immediately joined the Latino club, and started hanging out with international students more than native students.  I found that I fit better with them.  Of course I had American friends, but I always found myself criticizing their lifestyles and attitudes (not always accurately, I must admit).  This grew until I married the girl of my dreams, Sarah:

Probably one of the first things you notice is that she is not white.  She is from Taiwan.  That doesn't change how I feel about her.  I love her.  She loves me.  We are happy.  We have out struggles, but we always make it through.  She is teaching me more about culture than I could have ever learned on my own.  

Along with living in Argentina and Guatemala, I have traveled throughout Europe, spent six weeks in Kosovo, and spent two weeks in New Zealand and Australia.  I've spent a couple days in Puerto Rico and Mexico.  I have always tried to learn about their cultures, and it has enriched my life so much.  This December I will be spending Christmas and New Years with Sarah's family in Taiwan.  It will be my first time in an Asian country, so I am excited to have that experience.

Although my father and I disagree about many subjects and often don't connect well, I love to hear him talk about his international experiences.  It is always inspiring for me.  He often comments on how he wishes that he could have been a better father by staying home more, but for me, his travels have been more inspirational than he knows.  Seeing him travel as I was growing up, I often wanted to go with him, and become like him.  I still want to become like him.  I want to become a force for good in the world.  The difference is that I will use music as my tool, while he uses plant nutrition.  He has taught me a work ethic that will stay with me for the rest of my life.  I have learned from him to take any opportunity that comes my way, and not to rest until it is accomplished.  This has led me to tackle 19 credits this semester, including a recital, an internship, and doctoral school applications.  I've survived so far.

So why am I so interested in world music?  There are many factors, but my father is a primary one.  And I am grateful for it.  My wife is another.  And I am grateful for her.  There are many influences in my life, but I feel that family is the most important one.

Upcoming Graduate Recital (and how busy it's been)

I will be performing a graduate recital on October 29th, at 8:30pm.  It will include many works for a variety of percussion instruments, from marimba to steel pan to Tahitian drums.  I will be assisted by members of the MU percussion quartet, and my amazing wife, Sarah.  Admission is free, and I hope to see you all there.
It's been quite the process preparing for this recital.  This has been one of the busiest times of my life.  Not only have I had to prepare about an hours worth of difficult music, but I have had to do it while taking nineteen credits, teaching lessons, extra rehearsals, and fulfilling my responsibilities as an intern.  I'm pretty sure that the stress is making me lose my hair.
Although it has been busy, it has also been rewarding.  We'll see how the recital goes, but my classes have taught me a lot so far.  I am trying to obtain certificates in Music Entrepreneurship and Jazz Studies, which I feel are giving me more direction in my career goals.  I have to write lots and lots of papers, but the process is helping me to grow.
I'm hoping that in the midst of this I'll be able to apply to schools for a doctoral degree, but I'm taking that one day at a time.  I've narrowed down a list of possible options and have made calls, now I just need to submit the applications.  I'll keep you posted on that.
But enough about all that, you all want to hear about the recital.  One of my favorites will be a trio by Andy Akiho called "Aka," it features me on steel pan, Sarah Edwards on cello, and Kyle Bauche on drumset.  It is pretty jamming, and is bound to make you dance in your seat.  You can check out the original here.  Let me know what you think.
So to anyone who has ever been as busy as me and has survived, I could definitely use your advice as to how to stay sane.  But all the craziness will pay off once I play this awesome recital.

Photos and Videos

To see some videos, you can go to my YouTube Page, and you can watch this video.

Playing for commencement excercises at BYU-Hawaii, December 2012

Playing with Shaka Steel at BYU-Hawaii

Performing for BYUH Got Talent, Spring 2013

Playing for my Junior Recital at BYUH, Spring 2012

Me with the BYUH Salsa Orchestra, Spring 2011

Having some fun at BYUH Got Talent, Spring 2013 (We took 2nd place)

Preparing for a performance, December 2012

Singing for a television station in Auckland, New Zealand, June 2013

Playing the steel pan for an outdoor concert, Spring 2011

Playing with Shaka Steel, Fall 2011

Playing the marimba with Shaka Steel, Fall 2011

Playing the Tahitian To'ere, Fall 2011

Playing the xylophone with Shaka Steel in Kauai, Spring 2012

Having fun with the steel pan in Kauai, Spring 2012

Playing a duet with Egha Kusuma at BYUH, Spring 2012

The BYUH Salsa Orchestra, Spring 2012

Fundraiser Concert at the Hyrum Civic Center, January 2nd, 2013

Daniel Edwards will perform a fundraiser concert at the Hyrum Civic Center at 7:30pm on January 2nd, 2014.  He will perform a variety of works on both the marimba and the steel pan.  Admission is free.  All donations will be used to purchase equipment to start a private teaching studio. Light refreshments will be served.

Audience members can expect a very diverse program.  Some of the works will be very serious and thought provoking, others will be fun and upbeat.  Both the marimba and the steel pan have a unique sound that has captivated listeners around the world.

At first glance, the marimba looks like an oversized xylophone.  Evolving from its ancestor instruments in Africa and Latin America, it is made with rosewood bars that produce a very warm, full sound when struck.  Performers can use its natural sound to create beautiful melodies that are both haunting and inspiring.  It can be played using between two and four mallets, and has sometimes been played with up to six mallets.  Listeners can expect to be inspired by both the music produced on the instrument as well as by the skill it takes for the performer to play it.

The steel pan originated in Trinidad at the beginning of the 20th century, when people experimented with empty oil barrels and found that by shaping them a certain way with a hammer, they could make them play different notes.  The first steel pans were crude and simple, but they evolved over time to become the sophisticated instruments they are today.  Steel pan ensembles are growing at a rapid rate throughout the United States, and throughout the world.  Their nature allows them to be played at incredible speeds, yet they can also produce slow, beautiful melodies.  Although most people associate them with upbeat music from the Caribbean, performers have also been known to play classical works on them.  Their sound is loved all over the world, and is being used more every day.

Daniel Edwards is a performer, an educator, and an advocate for world music.  Originally from Hyrum, Utah, he received his bachelor’s degree in music from Brigham Young University-Hawaii, and is currently studying to receive a master’s degree in percussion performance from the University of Missouri.  Along with orchestral percussion, he performs on the steel pan, the marimba, and a variety of world instruments.  He has toured and performed in regions of the United States, Europe, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, and Australia. 

Besides performing, Daniel has taught beginning music skills to children in Kosovo, and currently teaches percussion at the University of Missouri.  He also spent two years serving as a full time volunteer in Guatemala, where he taught life skills to families and helped in many service projects. 

His experiences with world travel and working with people of other cultures have inspired him to base his life and career around promoting a greater sense of unity and cultural diversity wherever he may be.  He believes that world music is just as valuable as Western classical music, and that the two should be taught side by side in educational systems. 

He is focused on exposing audiences and students all over the world to new genres of music, including steel band, salsa, and Polynesian styles. He hopes that as students learn to perform new genres, they will gain a better appreciation for other traditions and values, and at the same time will form a stronger bond of friendship and unity among themselves as well as among other people from other cultures.  He also wishes to include students from underprivileged backgrounds in his music, so that anyone who is interested in obtaining a quality music education may have the opportunity to do so.

He hopes that his work may spread across international borders and affect anyone who is sincerely interested in learning about world music.  His greatest goal is to use his music not only as a form of entertainment, but as a vessel to spread education, understanding, excitement, cultural diversity, and unity.

Daniel Edwards can be reached at dantedwards89@gmail.com, or by calling (435)232-2685.  Any questions regarding the concert are welcome, and will be answered as quickly as possible.

 For samples of his work, view his YouTube channel, or you can watch this video

Biography

Daniel Edwards is a performer, an educator, and an advocate for world music.  He received his bachelor’s degree in music from Brigham Young University-Hawaii, and is currently studying to receive a master’s degree in percussion performance from the University of Missouri.  Along with orchestral percussion, he performs on the steel pan, the marimba, and a variety of world instruments.  He has toured and performed in regions of the United States, Europe, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, and Australia. 

Besides performing, Daniel has taught beginning music skills to children in Kosovo, and currently teaches percussion at the University of Missouri.  He also spent two years serving as a full time volunteer in Guatemala, where he taught life skills to families and helped in many service projects. 

His experiences with world travel and working with people of other cultures have inspired him to base his life and career around promoting a greater sense of unity and cultural diversity wherever he may be.  He believes that world music is just as valuable as Western classical music, and that the two should be taught side by side in educational systems. 

He is focused on exposing audiences and students all over the world to new genres of music, including steel band, salsa, and Polynesian styles. He hopes that as students learn to perform new genres, they will gain a better appreciation for other traditions and values, and at the same time will form a stronger bond of friendship and unity among themselves as well as among other people from other cultures.  He also wishes to include students from underprivileged backgrounds in his music, so that anyone who is interested in obtaining a quality music education may have the opportunity to do so.

He hopes that his work may spread across international borders and affect anyone who is sincerely interested in learning about world music.  His greatest goal is to use his music not only as a form of entertainment, but as a vessel to spread education, understanding, excitement, cultural diversity, and unity.

Welcome!

Hello Everyone,
I've been thinking about making a blog for a while, and now I've finally sat down and did it.  I've done it mainly to start a web presence for business reasons, but I will also post stories, anecdotes, and just general updates on how my life is going.  Once I get an official website up and running for my career, I may dedicate this blog entirely to stories and personal essays. 
Whatever the reason is that you came here, I hope you enjoy yourself! I am new at this, so if anyone has any suggestions or comments on how I can improve this, please let me know.
Thanks Everyone!