Kickstarter

WHAT IS MUSITER?

Musiter is bite-sized fun bits of music in interesting locations. The length is based off of Twitter…no more than 140 notes of music performed and recorded in a unique and hopefully related location.  If Twitter is a way to share thoughts in a concise way, Musiter is the same thing for musicians.

One of the problems facing classical music in general is the negative perception of the art as uptight and limited.  Classical musicians are perceived as sheltered, cloistered in fancy concert halls and only accessible through expensive concerts of gigantic length and weight.  As an oboist I play an instrument intimately tied to classical music, and Musiter is a way to break out of the stodgy mold to show the freedom and beauty classical music can have.  It’s a way to make classical music accessible and fun, especially to an online audience used to tiny YouTube videos.

SO WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO?

I want to fill the summer with Musiter. 12 weeks of videos starting on May 7th, with three videos a week.

On Mondays you will get a classic Musiter: a short musical selection in an interesting location, performed and recorded live and posted for your enjoyment.  Backers can have the opportunity to suggest music, sponsor videos, or even compose their own music for me to play.

On Wednesdays you will get an episode of Oboe Scores. Gamers have long enjoyed creating montages of their most awesome moments, but because most montage makers want to set their footage to music they turn to copyrighted works that often mean getting their videos pulled down.  Some players just want to put up a short clip highlighting a fun moment, and don’t have the resources to score their own video.  Oboe Scores is the solution.  I compose and perform original background music for short gameplay footage (here's a recent example of a submitted video I scored) so gamers can get original music that sounds completely different then the standard thrash metal you hear in so many montages.  Backers can have the opportunity to submit their own gameplay, or even have the chance to play Halo with me to create their own montage.

On Fridays a Musiter Extra will be posted.  This video will include more freeform ideas that don’t fit into the 140 note Musiter limit.  What if I could play a dirge at the graves of famous artists like Jimi Hendrix or Curt Cobain? What if I could compile a round of Row Row Row Your Boat filmed on several actual boats around Seattle and Vancouver? What does it take to become a busker, and what challenges would a classical musician face busking? What funny or interesting behind the scenes adventures happened when filming the latest Musiter? And what the heck does it really take to make an oboe reed?  All these ideas and more would show up Fridays.  Backers can have the opportunity to submit full length compositions for me to perform, suggest locations to visit, or even have the opportunity to get a private oboe lesson with me!

As a bonus there will be special Backer Only videos posted to the Kickstarter page.

 

WHAT WILL THIS KICKSTARTER FUND?

So far Musiter has succeeded in providing bite-sized fun bits of music, but the interesting locations has been more difficult. Not only does it take money to travel to or set up in some of the unique locations I want to film in, but I do not have a high quality camera to record in such diverse environments.  The ideal Musiter is highlighted in episode #14, playing the Theme to Close Encounters of the Third Kind in front of Devil’s Tower.  Unfortunately the reality of most episodes is they are filmed in my apartment living room.

This Kickstarter will change that.  These funds will allow me to record in locations all over Seattle/Tacoma/Vancouver as well as a few long distance trips, bringing the creativity and diversity to the videos the music deserves.  It will cover all the costs associated with location shoots like gas, parking, fees and admission to some of the locations, equipment for the oboe, and the time needed to prepare any of the music.

Any donation amount is appreciated, and every dollar will be used to create months worth of content for everyone to enjoy.  I hope to create something unique, entertaining, and overall fun. Thank you!