Entries Tagged as 'Classical Music'
December 3rd, 2014 Written by Vanessa | Comments Off on From Bike Messenger to Busker
Timothy Rusterholz, 32, of La Crosse, Wisconsin plays a variety of instruments, sings and writes his own music. String instruments are not the only thing he does. He also plays the keyboard and writes music for bands in the electronica, electronica dance as well as experimental electronica genres.
Rusterholz concentrating hard on his music .
After moving from Wisconsin to New York, Rusterholz’s first job was becoming a bike messenger but had noticed street performers and musicians made more money than he was.
“After seeing how much money the performers were making I thought that I could try it and thought that as long as I’m dedicated to what I’m doing I can make money. Competition doesn’t really matter to me it never did,” said Rusterholz.
With his bike messenger days long behind him, Rusterholz has managed to take his career to the next level and is now cellist, composer, as well as an instructor. With all of this talent, Rusterholz states that his talent dates back to when he was just a kid visiting his Grandparents.
Spotted in New York City Subway Station, Fellow with a Cello!
“I been playing for a really long time, actually its in the family I used to spend hours at home practicing on our families piano, My Grandma herself played the Cello which I currently been playing. We used to join together and just have fun,” he said. “This is what sparked an interest in me to keep on playing especially with string instruments.”
Sated with his cello in hand, Rusterholtz performs for the people.
With his hands full, Rusterholtz also plays for many different types of events for parties, weddings, and underground shows. Although, his main inspirations are classical artists such as Bach and are less appreciated nowadays by the younger crowds, Rusterholtz still believes that the type of genre of music you choose to play is not what decides if you stand out or not regardless if its cool or not. He believes that its how you choose to perform it to a crowd that makes you stick out from the others.
Feeling the music .
“I think its more of about how genuine and dedicated you are to it and offer it to the people, rather than worrying about who’s paying attention to you or not and constantly trying to compete with all these other subway musicians,” he said. “I have my own unique style and I know it, I can tell because even if they aren’t into classical pieces or covers of a song I perform they can still easily connect to it the attitude that you put into the music is appealing to people and shows a lot.”
Tags: Classical Music · Electronic Dance Music · Music · Subway Entertainers
October 19th, 2014 Written by Vanessa | Comments Off on Music is in the Blood
First inspired thirteen years ago by Led Zeppelin’s Heartbreaker, Maya Miele, 51, a solo artist from Brooklyn, NY spends his time playing guitar in Grand Central Terminal.
Becoming so moved by the sound, Miele decided to become a street musician after being motivated by a teacher who taught him the basics of classical music. This made him get involved with the MTA’s Music Under New York program in order to provide a better life for his son.
Maya Miele smiles for the camera with his guitar in hand.
“The program been around since the 70’s, I can stop performing in the subways for a while to go on trips and when I come back I can just go back to them and they’ll give me new days to perform. Once you’re in it you are for life.” he said.
Being a single dad, Miele states that his biggest priority is being able to take care of his son, despite spending four straight hours a day trying to make a career in music for himself. It’s his only job that helps provides for his family. Being far away from his son to long though, is something he isn’t willing to do right now.
He also sells CD’s full of composed classical pieces of hits that he covers that people are familiar with that helps with his musical career.
“I faced many problems since I started performing and just getting to work on time even, then many personal problems with getting out of a bad relationship and the birth of my son which changed things,” Miele stated. “I have many major hurdles to face before I can just hop on a plane and do my own thing.”
Maya continued to talk about some of these hurdles that he is still trying to overcome such as health problems with his hands and not being able to perform as well on the guitar. Thus delaying time that could be spent making money towards his son’s future. Even more so, his transition from male to female that he has to deal with on a daily basis.
Miele strumming on his guitar and getting back to business.
“My son is only seven, and still growing up I had him listen to a lot of classical music and Bob Marley since he was a baby, but he insists on rap music now,” he said. “I can tell he understands music though, he doesn’t just bang on the piano for instance, he actually sits there and thinks about how to play it.”
Being involved with the Music program for so long now, Miele insists that no genre of music ever really dies out, but kind of lives as more of an underground type of music. In addition with the hopes of one day being able to travel with his son to perform other places out of New York.
Tags: Classical Music · Music · Music Under New York Performers · Old School Rock and Roll · Personal issues and the Musical World · Street Musicians · Subway Entertainers