What's your earliest memory of wanting to be involved in music? How long have you been involved in music?
Anne: I never "wanted" to be involved... I was born involved! Stage managers & supernumeries were my baby sitters, and not at home! Usually on location at one of my parents rehearsals, concerts or shows.
David: Essentially all my life. When I was ten years old (early sixties), the Beatles arrived. I wanted a guitar. My parents were okay with getting me one as long as I didn’t want drums too. I even took a few lessons - but they seemed too slow for me - so I decided I’d tackle learning the guitar on my own. I’d spend days learning the chords and different parts of each song. I remember writing songs and playing them for my mom while she was cooking dinner. In middle school band, I played the mellow-phone and french horn for a season. My parents couldn’t afford lessons at the time, so it was up to a “disaster” to change my interest. I inadvertently left the french horn case open at home at the top of the stairs and while running upstairs fell and bent the bell of the horn with my knee. I think that was the end of the french horn for me. Some of my best memories in high school came while I sang in the a cappella choir. I just loved the magnificent vocal choral chords represented in the songs! When I was on active duty with the Air Force on assignment in Alaska for a year and a half, some friends and I put together a rock band. I bought a brand new gigantic amplifier and Fender Stratocaster guitar and had them shipped up to our base near Fairbanks (Eielson AFB, AK). In the band, I played all the guitars and sang lead as well. Probably our most distinguishing attribute was that we played loud. Ironically, it was during the late 70s when the Alaskan oil pipeline was being built and during the day you could hear (and feel!) dynamite going off in the distance. I love music.
What instruments do you play? Are there particular instruments you like to include in your compositions?
Anne: I play piano and I sing. I really can't get enough banjo or guitar.
David: Guitar, bass, harmonica, keyboards, computer mouse and frisbee. With the way we write (mostly on computers), we can use any instrument we have a synthesized sound for - strings, horns, anything. Since I really like to compose in a wide variety of styles for our MK8 projects, I use a lot of different instruments. What a great time to be alive and be a composer!
Are any of your family members involved with music? Tell us about them.
Anne: My parents are both retired music professors and performers. Mom played principle french horn with a big orchestra out east for many years as well as being Dean and Provost of a Conservatory of Music. Pop was an opera conductor and a University educator. His compositions earned him some distinguished recognition. My eldest brother lives in NYC where he is a sought after french hornest and conductor. He also teaches brass lessons & classes at a private school in Brooklyn - cheering on the next generation! My middle brother played baritone horn all through school, but in college went with engineering. He worked for NASA for many years, but eventually decided to be involved in the publication of Music K-8 Magazine. He does layout (and probably many other things) at press time. My sister ... well, I'm sure you know her and her talented companion. They started this music education periodical/resource back in '88.... My youngest brother is a fine pianist and composer too. He is another familiar name throughout the pages of MK8... and a familiar voice on recordings... Lastly, and definitely the dearest are the people I live with. You can read David's story next to mine on this site, but let me say here he is the true inspiration and visionary in my life... in music and in all other ways. Then there are my children, for whom I live and breathe and shall be eternally grateful for and in awe of.
David: My sister plays guitar and violin. My younger brother plays guitar but I can’t vouch for how much he practices. My dad sang all four years in high school chorus (early 40s) and in many different church groups including the choir and plays piano. My grandfather played honkey tonk piano in bars (early 20s) in Minnesota - self taught!
What other musical groups are you involved? Are you involved in any solo work?
Anne: I freelance at a recording studio for several other publishers; choral, solo and production. When you are a stay at home mom, freelance is the way to go!
David: Not presently, but I have some ideas that will only work as solo projects.
What considerations do you take in composing for such a young audience? What is your favorite part of composing and why?
Anne: Melody, rhythm and range are always uppermost in my mind when we compose for children. David does all the other cool stuff. We mutually decide on topics. My favorite part of composing? Getting to sit next to my best friend the entire time and encouraging each other through the whole process. From frustrating head scratching at the start to big smiles at the end of the mix... it's a blast!
David: The biggest consideration for our compositions is probably that they be upbeat, simple and that they be FUN. A somewhat secondary consideration is that our songs teach good things - be it a self image issue or something practically simple like washing your hands or covering a sneeze. I tend to come up with silly twists on themes in an effort to amplify the “fun” level. For example, we wanted to come up with a tune for the holidays, but wanted to do something silly as well. We came up with What’s a Yule Log? It helps to have young kids living with you for this. Observing them is an unending trove of ideas. Our kids were imitating animal sounds and movements, so we wrote “Monkey Around”. My favorite part of composing is the invigorating feeling of creating something new and exciting. My next favorite part is the mixing part as that's where the tune comes together in the studio really for the first time.
What are your favorite styles of music? Do you incorporate these styles into your compositions? What are your favorite songs you've composed for MK8?
Anne: I enjoy ALL styles of music, if done well. My favorite song is always the one I'm currently working on.
David: I suppose I love to write rock the most - remember “upbeat”? But I also love country, jazz, and classical styles. We even came up with a irish jig (Joggin’ Jig) back in Volume 11. My favorites are the ones we’re currently working on probably because they have my energy focus invested in them. You should know that sometimes our original thoughts on a particular composition change a LOT from concept to finished product. The studio process Teresa and Paul have created over the years brings quite a lot of extremely talented musicians, producers, and engineers together to bring the music you hear to light. I’m always amazed!
Are there other things about you that you think others might like to know?
Anne: I really enjoy reading and taking care of my home. I am also quite smitten with my orange and white tabby tom, "Crookshanks".
David: We’re genuinely tickled that our own children have been able to sing on many songs that are part of MK8 in the past few years. They really sound great! Also we're infinitely grateful to Teresa and Paul for creating Music K-8 Magazine.
