Performing Arts with Amythyst

Transcript

Okay, everyone. Now it’s time to slow things down for a second. We are so excited about an ETSU alumna who’s gonna inspire you all. Her name is Amythyst. Her song was nominated for a Grammy and her passion for writing, recording and performing music is simply unbelievable. Amythyst studied bluegrass, old time and country music right here at ETSU and she’s excited to share her story with all of us right now. Amythyst, please take it away.

– Hey everybody. So my time here at the bluegrass old time country music program played a pivotal role in being able to connect with the wider music community and to be able to make a career being a full-time musician. My very first encounter here at ETSU is with a man named Jack Tottle. He was the founder of bluegrass old time and country music studies and he was also teaching a bluegrass guitar class at the time.

I had a short stint of playing classical guitar in high school but I decided that I didn’t wanna pursue it in college just because I really was annoyed by having to learn classical form ’cause I’d always learned how to play music by ear. So when I called Jack to ask about the class one of the first things that I asked him was if I was gonna have to sight read or have to use any sheet music to take his course. And he laughed, which I wasn’t expecting. He said, no, this is an oral tradition. This music is passed down from person to person, from knee to knee.

For me, that was the beginning. I was finally gonna be able to be in an environment where I can study music and also have my way of learning music be appreciated. ♪ I wanna jump the fence and wash my face in the creek ♪ ♪ But I’m black myself ♪ Earlier this year I got nominated for a Grammy for a song that I wrote called “Black Myself” and it was nominated in the best American roots song category.

And I wrote that song for a project that I was a part of called Songs of Our Native Daughters and it was alongside Rhiannon Giddens, Leyla McCalla and Alison Russell, four amazing artists. This program really gives you all the tools that you need to be a professional musician. There are instrument instruction classes. There are different sections of band and there’s recording engineering classes. There’s a live sound class. And there’s these amazing classes on culture and history as well. In my opinion, that’s the best way to become a well-rounded, confident and educated musician.

If you are coming to ETSU and you’re interested in getting experience performing, there are plenty of opportunities in this region to be able to do that. My entire time at East Tennessee State University I was able to perform at festivals, farmers markets, venues, and concert series all over the region. And I even got a chance to intern at the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, which is in Bristol, Virginia. I was a member of the content curation team. That’s just one example of the many things that you’ll be able to do and access here if you want to be able to perform. And with that, that’s my story. And I’m gonna send it back to you, Alex. ♪ Black myself ♪

– Amythyst, wow. That was awesome. I am so glad you followed your passion for music at ETSU and that you’ve had such an incredible success in your music career since graduating. Thank you for sharing your incredible experience with us. We can’t wait to see one of your upcoming performances real soon. Cheers Amythyst.