Interview #2: Brandon Pieplow/Musician

(This is the second of a series of interviews that CDWM holds... interviewing young entrepreneurs and artists from all walks of life."

CDWM: “So, tell me a little bit about yourself."



"BWP: “I’m Brandon Pieplow (pronounced PEEP-low) and I live in northeast Ohio. I’m currently between 21 and 22 years old. I’m employed full-time in my family’s home printing business. The bulk of our work comes in the form of ‘print-on-demand’ orders sent by email from a large local company. Most of the items ordered are simple to produce, but the volume is relatively high. Thus it keeps me busy and thence comes my paycheck.

“I’m a Homeschool Alumnus enrolled part-time at Stark State College of Technology, and am taking the current (Spring) semester off. My [two-year] major there is something they call Commercial Music. Classes include music theory, audio recording/mixing, music synthesis, as well as more universal things like Psychology (which they tell me everybody takes,) and English Composition. So far, I’ve completed most of the classes I’m not looking forward to. :)


“I guess you could say I’m a bit of an amateur photographer. I purchased a Canon digital SLR camera last summer and am greatly enjoying my discovery of ‘real’ photography. Besides my dad, who stopped using his film SLR [it broke] earlier than I can remember, our family has only ever had point-and-shoot cameras (both film and digital.) I was always frustrated by – especially when taking indoor shots – either the flash utterly ruining the original lighting and atmosphere of the scene, or getting a blurry picture because the shutter speed wasn’t high enough. The Canon solves these problems (and more) and lets me take the pictures I want. Photography is an art which can be taken in many different directions; I strive to take pictures that are God-honoring and uplifting to others.


“My favorite hobby, by far, is making music – or, perhaps more accurately, making music ‘happen.’ I love doing whatever it takes to make music happen, whether it’s singing harmony or arranging a classical piece or hymn to play with friends or recording my own tambourine tracks. I call myself a multi-instrumentalist because frankly, I am one. God has (I believe) given me a talent for figuring out a few certain types of instruments with little or no instruction, and those which can play, I do fairly regularly.


“Aside from two large, orchestral, soundtrack-type pieces which I wrote about a year ago, I do not do much composing, per se. The area in which I feel more gifted (and which I am far more inclined to pursue) is actually arranging. That is (as I define it,) taking a preexisting melody and writing one or more harmony parts for it. In the past couple of years, I have arranged tunes for recorder duet, recorder trio, recorder quartet, string trio, string quartet, string orchestra with flute and piano, woodwind quintet, and more. Of course, several of these have never been off the written page – some, because I arranged them for myself to record and I haven’t gotten around to recording them yet, and some, because I just don’t know enough musicians.”


CDWM: “What first inspired you to learn music? Was there a specific event that spurred you on?”




(The Recording Studio...)



BWP: “Music has always been there. I don’t think I can point to a specific event as the inspiration for my entire interest in music. Rather, I can point to various aspects of my upbringing which I believe have largely influenced my musical tastes, both in listening and in making music. I have been exposed to what is broadly termed “classical”music practically my whole life and I have been exposed to musical instruments for almost as long – I have an old picture of me ‘playing’ my uncle’s ARP Omni synthesizer in which I couldn't have been more than a toddler.


“At an early age, I learned how to work the record-player (I distinctly remember Dad teaching me, though Mom insists that she did.) Some of the favorites were titles like “The Cambridge Buskers” (an exciting flute/accordion duo playing everything from Renaissance to ragtime,) “The Unusual Classical Synthesizer,”“Switched-On Bach,” an album of fife and drum music from Colonial Williamsburg, and an album of excerpts from Handel’s Water Music. Thus, early in my life, I was exposed to a varied mix of playing styles and ways to arrange and play ‘classical’ music.


“I think my parents have always striven to make music (in some form or other) a part of the education of me and my siblings – not just in making sure we did our music theory workbooks, or encouraging [several of] us to pursue formal music lessons, but in other things as well. Whether it was the [much-loved] series of tapes telling the stories of the Great Composers, or the Akron Symphony Orchestra kid’s concerts (and later, Tuesday Musical) or the ‘Music Day’ we hosted at our home (one of the highlights of which was getting to try out a carload of instruments rented from the local music store,) or the frequent play of the local classical music radio stations.”


CDWM: “What instruments do you currently play?”

BWP: “Currently, I play [soprano, alto, tenor and bass] recorder, bass Kelhorn (a reconstruction of a Renaissance reed instrument,) violin, viola, octave violin, and just about anything with a keyboard. These are the instruments I record with regularly. If I’m feeling adventurous, I might get out the accordion or the guitar and noodle a bit, but I don’t feel I can play these instruments ‘well enough’ to use them in a recording, nor do they fit the type of music I’m playing and recording these days.”

CDWM: “Is there a specific style or time period that you specialize in? If so, what do you find particularly interesting about it?”



BWP: “For about the past year, the music of the Renaissance has been my staple – both in terms of listening and playing. I primarily record English and German vocal music (madrigals, hymn-settings &c,) and dance music. What I’ve found greatly interesting about this music is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s astounding to me how the composers could write parts which are so seemingly simple on their own, but when played together, interlock and form something much more beautiful. Not to say that other music is not like this. But in most Renaissance music (unlike music of later periods,) the parts are generally limited in range and usually‘fit’ so well on the instruments that after only a couple of read-thoughs, I’m ready to record. (No practicing for days and days to get a part tolerable!) There’s nothing quite like recording one line at a time and hearing the piece take shape as each new part is added.



“I have also become quite fond of English Country Dancing and ECD music. While most folks tend to associate ECD with the Regency period and Jane Austen, it actually had its origins in the Renaissance. The fact that the tradition was so long-lived (it spanned no less than three musical eras) and the fact that it is still so relevant and loved today gives the music a timeless quality. To me, it almost requires its own genre. Dance music was almost always published as ‘melody-only.’ This tells us that the musicians who played at ECD balls were used to arranging the music themselves and improvising their own harmony parts, &c.


“Moreover, the music was played on whatever happened to be available. (I read of one early American ball that was accompanied by a single musician playing a natural horn!) These facts are particularly liberating to a guy like me who uses Baroque counterpoint on a Renaissance melody and combines finger-cymbals with violins. It all works because it always has worked. Certainly, as the music of ECD has come down to us, attitudes, playing styles and even instruments have changed drastically, but the music itself has weathered the winds of change and has come out the better for it. My recordings of ECD tunes draw upon [at least] three centuries of musical aesthetic. I try to include elements – souvenirs, if you will – from each of the eras through which ECD has passed. For example, a particular recording might include an iteration of the tune arranged for recorder consort – a Renaissance sound, to be sure. Then a Bach-like version for solo harpsichord – Baroque, of course. Next you might have a clarinet solo (the clarinet was introduced in [roughly] the Classical period.)"



CDWM: “I’d love to hear some examples of your work – is there a place online where we could find some?”


(Playing the Kelhorn at our state Homeschool Alumni event)




BWP: “There is, in fact: http://www.macjams.com/artist/LonePineMusic”



CDWM: “Do you have any pieces you are currently writing/recording at this time?”


BWP: “Yes. I’m currently in the middle of recording a medley of Renaissance dance pieces by John Dowland.


Dowland, an English composer, was revered as the greatest lute-player of his generation. He wrote a great many pieces for the lute, including dance tunes and lute-songs (pieces for soprano voice accompanied by a lute – a hot genre in those days.) These pieces were hugely popular not only with lutenists, but with other musicians as well. Composers (including Dowland himself) took the lute intabulations (the equivalent of what guitarists would call TAB notation today) and ‘exploded’ the music onto separate staves for use by a four- or five-voice consort of viols, recorders &c. The pieces I am recording are of this type.”


CDWM: “Any advice or anecdotes that you’d like to share?”


BWP: “How about a piece of advice and an anecdote? :)“If you buy a second-hand [violin] case, be sure it latches properly. My dad (who also took violin lessons during the same period I did) learned this the hard way after very cheaply obtaining just such a case. Upon arriving home after lessons one wintry day, he proceeded to pull his violin (in its case) from the back seat of the car. Without warning the unworthy case sprang open, unceremoniously dumping its contents onto the snowy gravel! Thankfully, aside from some tuning issues (which are to be expected from such a jarring), the instrument itself was unharmed.”

CDWM: “If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?”


BWP: “Eclectic.”

CDWM: Thank you so much! I really enjoyed this interview!

Interview: Dave Custer/Blacksmith

This is the first of what I hope is a series of interviews - there are so many interesting people, young and old, and hopefully it is an encouragement to them!
And now, may I introduce: Dave Custer

(Dave and his sister, Kayla Custer > )

"So Dave, can you tell me a little about yourself?"

Hi there! My name is David Edward Custer.
The first and most important thing about me is that I am a born again Christian. I am an independent Baptist and I believe that the Authorized King James Bible is God's perfect word for Christians today. As a Baptist, I adhere to the doctrine that the bible is the sole authority for faith and practice. Upon that one belief stands our entire faith!
I was born in middle Georgia in 1992, which makes me 18 years of age. The first 16 years of my life were spent on a small, 17 acre farm in Zebulon Georgia, a little town fifty miles south of Atlanta Georgia.
For the majority of those 16 years, I worked at farming with my family. We raised our own meat: beef, chicken, and pork. We also kept chickens for eggs, cows for milk, and grew a large portion of our own vegetables.
When I was not working with the animals, I learned many different aspects of construction working with my dad on the various projects we had on the farm. These included rough framing, finishing, electric, plumbing, masonry, and more!
Of course I had schooling to do as well. I was homeschooled from day one, and the only time I have ever been in a school class room was as a teacher!
At an early age, probably around nine or ten, I developed an interest in the War Between the States, more commonly known as the Civil War. As a middle Georgian, my sympathies always lay with the boys in grey!
At twelve, I joined the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a Southern history organization. I spent three years as an active member, helping to improve Confederate cemeteries around Barnseville Georgia by replacing the old headstones with new headstones. In many cases we were able to use hospital records to trace soldier's names and provide them with a proper headstone when they had previously been labeled only as "unknown." My other work in the SCV included speaking throughout the state of Georgia on different subjects such as the CSS Alabama, a Confederate navy ship; the first battle of Manassas junction Virginia; and the Confederate infantryman's uniform. I also taught students in living history days and even in the classroom!
Also around the age of twelve I became interested in being a Confederate reenactor. This dream was not realized until I turned fifteen. At that age I "took the field" as a Civil War infantryman, and spent the next three years portraying that branch of service with an occasional excursion to artillery! As a result of my experience in reenacting, I learned the tactics and drill of the 1860's military.


"How did you first become interested in blacksmithing?"

That is a good question! I know that somehow I took an interest in the art of blacksmithing before the age of thirteen, but I am not sure where this interest developed. Searching my memory, I think the interest must have developed from seeing a blacksmith at a reenactment. This would have been as early as the age of 10-12 years.
The first real spark of interest in blacksmithing that I can remember clearly, came at the age of thirteen. Our family took a trip to Stone Mountain Georgia and I saw a blacksmith demonstrate there. His name was Trent, and he is part of Purgatory Iron Works. He did a short leaf-making demo, and afterwards gave me the leaf, as we were his only spectators. I was quite taken, and started doing a little research on smithing. In the winter of 2005 I got my first anvil, blower, homemade forge, and a vice.
From there, with the aid of "The Blacksmith's Primer" by Charles McRaven, I began to teach myself how to work metal. By the spring of 2006, after smithing for less than six months, I did my first public demonstration. This took place at the Nash Farm Battlefield just south of Atlanta Georgia. The demonstration was part of a living history event, held for around 500 middle school students.
And so began my career as a blacksmith!

"What do you specialize in making?"

My specialty in blacksmithing? Hmmm! Well, you see, that is the very thing about blacksmithing! There isn't any one thing a smith really specializes in. Professional blacksmithing is composed of designing and creating custom artistic iron work for the client.
As a traveling smith I do have a varitey of stock items that I make reasonably large quantities of. These include things such as triangle dinner bells, J-hooks, hat racks, fire pokers, "roses of love," leaves, and too many more items to list! At craft fairs, I sell many of each of these items, so I have to be able to produce them somewhat quickly and consistently in shape and size. My best seller of stock items by far would be the dinner bell.
However, it would be extremely difficult to make blacksmithing a profession by selling dinner bells and J-hooks alone. No indeed! Blacksmithing is much, much more!
So to say what I specialize in making:
I create iron work of beauty and functionality, according to the need and desire of the client, using traditional techniques that provide higher quality and asthetic value to the piece. My work consists of solid materials, resulting in a stronger product than the mass produced items that are primarily constructed of cheap pipe and tubing.

I've always been really impressed by everything you've made ~ if you could pick a favorite piece, what would it be?

That question there is dificult simply because of the last question's answer. Of course I enjoy making the stock items I do, but after spending a day making 20 dinner bells, all nearly identical, that part can get a bit monotonous.
At the same time, it is difficult to have a favorite piece out of custom work! Every piece is different with special work, so it's hard to pick a favorite from that.
I think maybe my favorite pieces to do are heart hooks and hat racks. The heart hook requires advanced techniques like forge welding (a process used to fuse two pieces of metal into one,) and incorporates precise hammering to manipulate the metal just right to keep the heart even!
The hat rack that I do utilizes metal texturing and playing with light reflection on metal. Each set of hooks that I do for the hat rack come out a bit different which requires them to be mounted differently each time.
So the hat racks and heart hooks provide a little challenge with each individual piece.

You are interested in old-time music, are you not?


Yes that is correct! I am a traditionalist all of the way around! Old church hymns and old Scotch-Irish tunes are my favorites.

Do you play an instrument?


Yes I do! I play a traditional mandolin. My mandolin was chosen for its traditional appearance and mellow sound that seems as if it just stepped out of a misty Scottish glen. While my main interest and devotion is to the mandolin, I also play around with the harmonica. One of these days I'd like to get around to learning the bagpipes as well! One of these days!

Have you ever done any performing or do you plan too?

Yes! My sister and I played twice on stage with the Cherryholmes family band at the Hoofers Gospel Barn in Lagrange Georgia. Other than that, our family has played for a few churches.
I think it would be neat to do some singing and finger picking on the guitar for churches. I enjoy singing very much and to do so for the Lord would be a privilege indeed.

Working on the family farm sounds like a whole lot of fun. Is that what you plan to do ~ farm, or something else?


Working on the family farm is a lot of fun! I enjoy working with animals and raising a garden. Unfortunately our society has become removed from their food, and I am afraid that if there were a sudden food shortage in the United States there would be many people who would starve to death, simply because they would have no idea how to provide for themselves. We have become a dependent people. If we are dependent it means we are no longer independent. But I am getting away from the question and talking politics! I do not plan to grow a garden or raise meat animals as a source of of income. I hope that blacksmithing and metal fabrication will be my living through which, Lord willing, I will be able to provide for a family.
Nevertheless, I still wish to keep a small, self-sufficient farm......perhaps raise a cow, a couple of hogs, and a score or two of chickens for the use of myself and family.

If someone was intererested in smithing, what are some resources you would suggest?


http://www.iforgeiron.com/
The above link is a GREAT resource for beginner blacksmiths. Over 12,000 smiths worldwide!
There are some great books out there that have been really helpful. These include "The Blacksmith's Primer" by Charles McRaven. It is an excellent source and shows a new blacksmith how to use cheap sources to make a good forge! It instructs the new smith on how to find metal sources, anvils, and other tools.
"The Backyard Blacksmith" is another good instructional book for a beginner. It has many good step-by-step projects with clear color pictures. It is fun reading and just a great book!

If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?


Eccentric!
Thank you so much, Dave!

~ If you are interested in following more of Dave's doings, visit him at his blog and be sure to drop him a note! (And by the way, make sure you check in his shop. I have a couple of his pieces - they are amazing! ~