- April 27, 2024
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At 8 years old, Avi Sigal-Verier finds plenty in life to inspire musical compositions. His first song, “Fresh Hair Cut,” was inspired by his long hair that was in need of a trim.
He also wrote the song “Murder Dog” about his dog “murdering” all of the new toys in his house, another song called “It’s so Hot in the Summertime,” and the song “Hanukkah Harry,” which shares how he celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas.
The songs always start with an idea that he brings to Music Compound instructor Taylor Galford in order to assemble like a puzzle “piece, by piece, by piece, by piece.”
Jenny Townsend, founder and president of Music Compound, said writing a song is possible for people of all ages if they are in the right environment, but students also have the opportunity to go further than writing.
The school’s annual Songwriter Showcase on Jan. 19 allowed students, including Sigal-Verier, the chance to perform their work in front of an audience.
Students also have the option for others to perform their work for them.
“I think it's kind of scary at first, but once you get up there, it's feels really fun,” Sigal-Verier said. “You feel like people know who you are. Like famous people — all their songs are basically about them, how they feel in their life.”
Amanda Kronhaus, 27, a vocal performer and voice instructor at the school, also showcased an original composition.
Titled “Prevail,” the song had been written 10 years ago, when she was in high school. Although Kronhaus said melodies will emerge in her mind seemingly from nowhere, and she writes her own lyrics as well, Music Compound helped her complete the song through chord progressions and other features.
“As a performer, I always think that you want to inspire people, and so I wrote the song I wanted to say to people. It's a very vulnerable thing, but it's also very beautiful, and I think it is what makes music so wonderful,” she said.
For Nina Young, 11, working with 13-year-old Drake Trombetta, another student in her band, has helped her stay on tempo with songs, thanks to his contributions on drums.
“I didn't even know how to count my music. I would just play notes; now with the drums, If I'm not counting in my head, it's going to go all sloppy. So I have to be constantly counting.”
She also finds the speed of her songs has increased as well.
Young said the melodies for her songs come to her at “the most random times,” like in the shower or sitting at the piano. She starts composing with a chord and a melody, thinking of possible words, including a hook at the beginning to ensure the song sticks in the audience’s minds.
Trombetta is thinking of new ideas for the drums all the time, as well.
“I’m at my school, I finished all my schoolwork, I'm sitting at my desk and I'm creating random patterns with my hands, and then I tap my foot as a metronome,” he said.
Kristina Rosenbaum, a teacher at State College of Florida, started at Music Compound about three and a half years ago, but grew surprised at her progress when she arrived at the point that she was able to perform on stage.
Although she didn’t write the songs in which she played guitar and provided vocal harmonies during the showcase, she did serve as a source of inspiration.
When another band member suggested the ideas of “struggles with corporate power, joy and meaning in life and curses and beauties of humanity,” Rosenbaum suggested a song centered on a truck stop.
“I love truck stops. I like the seedier side of life,” said Rosenbaum, who enjoys taking road trips.
For 8-year-old Sophia Silva, the school was a fitting venue for expressing what she loves.
“I love opera. I love art, poetry and learning,” she said.
She performed her song “Music and Me," an ode to her love of music.
“It says music is great, whatever instrument you are playing,” she said.
