This week I’m hosting Sarah Sundin with A Distant Melody and Catherine Imbert who writes music. If you want to enter the drawing for Sarah’s book, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (Mar. 28th) evening.
Interview with Catherine Imbert, song writer:
1. What made you start writing music?
I wrote down a few songs when I was a teenager. Then in college I majored in music education. We had to compose. I guess that is when I started to write, but still not seriously. The first real serious composing came when I was about 40 years old, when a parent of one of my piano students needed someone to write music for her exercise video. She asked me if I knew anyone who composed. I didn’t, but asked her if she wanted me to give it a try. I’ve been composing since then.
2. How long have you been writing music and playing?
It is a two part answer to this question: I’ve been ‘making up’ songs my whole life. As a very young child I would sing and dance all around the house making up the songs, words, and movement as I danced along. I also would play my songs on a toy organ.
I started formal organ lessons at age 9. This was later followed by piano, voice, guitar, recorder, and several other instruments.
3. Why do you write songs?
I compose because the music needs to be written down. I write songs when an emotion needs to be expressed. Sometimes it is easier to say what I am feeling by composing music. I write songs commercially also.
I ‘hear’ music all the time. When there is a need for a song I just write down what I am ‘hearing’. Here is an example: I recently started working with a small group of boy ages 8 to 10, teaching them keyboard. They needed to learn in a very different way then what most books are designed for. So, I simply wrote them a program for learning the keyboard, just for them. Of course now, other people can use this program also.
4. What would you be doing with your free time if you weren’t writing music and playing?
I can not imagine my life without the music. God is the biggest part of my life, and He guides the music which is a huge part of who I am. It is a way to communicate with God. I teach private piano, voice, and guitar lessons both on line and in person. So, if I wasn’t writing, I would still be teaching music. Outside of music I like to cook and read and do craft projects.
5. What are you working on right now?
I recently finished a book and CD of Marches for preschoolers. And I also just finished a book of “Learning To Read The Treble Clef” – which can be used by all ages from 5 to 105.
6. Do you have any advice for other songwriters?
Yes, keep on listening to the music and writing it down. And please learn how to read music if you don’t already know how. This way you know it has been written down exactly the way you want it.
7. How important is faith in your music?
It is very important. The music is an inspiration from God. As you know, “With God all things are possible”. It is through Him that I am able to write the music and glorify God.
8. What themes do you like to write about?
I wouldn’t say I write about themes. I write by what I’m feeling or hearing around me. And example: I get impressions of and from people about them and their lives and what is happening in their lives. Each year I write a book of songs in which there are 12 songs of 12 people who have been in my life that year. Usually there are no words, just the music. The people that know the people I write about say that definitely that is that person.
Blurb from “Marches” Volume One
Music has mood, just like you and I do. Music can be happy. We call this Major. Music can be sad. We call this Minor. With this book and CD we are going to listen, feel, and do happy (Major) and sad (Minor) sounds, and you will learn how to tell these two sounds apart from each other. When music is happy it makes us feel a movement upward in our body. When music is sad it makes us feel a movement pushing us downward.
Wow! She's awesome! Thanks for telling us about her.
Forget Jim; it's me, and hey! I found the right button after all! Was going to send an email, but now I'll copy and paste.
SUPER, Catherine! The thing that struck me was the similarity between your experience with music and mine with writing–started early by making up songs/stories, not doing it more seriously till later in life, and feeling a need to get it down and out there. I also hear music ALL the time, even when I'm sleeping, but it's quite often being stuck on some choir thing or praise song that goes on interminably. Music in one form or other is just always there. Keep on making music! Ellie
Great Interview! Nice to know more about Catherine, her music and how she came to where she is now. Music is such an important part of our lives and Catherine certainly has chosen to do everything she can with it! Great!
Hi Catherine, it is so nice to learn more about you and what inspires you to write music. God bless you and thank you for inspiring a new generation of writers as you teach children the beauty of music.
God bless you.
Annette
Loved getting to learn more about Catherine and her music. Enjoyed the posts! Thank you, Margaret and Catherine for sharing!
An interesting interview. Catherine, it's wonderful the way you can write music and also help others by teching music and even coming up with special programs for those who need them. Thanks for sharing.
Catherine, you are so very talented to do all that you do and to work with all the ages that you do. I know you will continue to go far in this life, because of your God-given-talent and personality. I am proud to call you my friend. God Bless!
Sylvia
I got to know Catherine a little on shoutlife but sure didn't know she wrote her own music, i play the piano and organ a little so maybe her book would help me.
thanks
mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net
Greetings,
Really super interview. Enjoyed hearing about the music. Very refreshing.
Thanks and blessings,
Trinity Rose
Would love for you and all of your friends to become my follower. I'm very new at this blogging, but love it. Thanks,
http://thelifeandtimesofwanda.blogspot.com/
I have been in contact with Catherine and she is an inspiration to me. I also compose songs but none published and I write childrens books. But she is a great encouragement to many who are starting out. I love her enthusiasm for music and the joy that I get from her. She is a very talented person and friend. Keep doing what you're doing Catherine.
Great! I love music just as much as I do reading. Please enter me in yoour drawing.
rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com
Wow, Catherine! I just love how you allow God to work through you in your music and teaching!:) You are truly an inspiration!!:)
It was truly a delight to read this article on Catherine! I am moved by her passion for music. I love the way she uses it to glorify God too. She is a blessing!
Awesome article about Catherine Imbert!!! She's my mom and I am super proud of her!!! GO MOM!!! Alecia, Baby and I love you so much!!!
Hi, I know Catherine from Shoutlife.com and I just heard that she was interviewed. It's so good to hear what she has to say. Great interview, the two of you.
God Bless,
Lizzie