Today we’d like to introduce you to Cassie Baker.
Hi Cassie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve been a musician my whole life, drawn to sounds, ways they can be manipulated, and used to express emotions and thoughts.
I grew up with an amazing instructor in school, who taught and inspired, and I carry that passion with me now with my students and projects.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I grew up with undiagnosed neurodivergencies. This made staying on a career trajectory extremely difficult. and, after my first unsuccessful try in music school, through the years I have been a server, a salesperson, a live television A/V tech, a bicycle taxi driver, brand ambassador, and many more things, but through all of these, I remained a musician.
My senior year of high school, I received accolades, scholarships and awards that I collected through my pursuits in music in high school, and at the end of the year, my local community held a graduation ceremony celebrating the achievements of the seniors. I overheard a mother telling a younger girl who was also in my music program, “If you work hard, this will be you one day!” while standing over my collection of achievements. For years after I dropped out of music school, I would think about that table and that girl, feeling I was continually letting myself and her down.
Finally finding a diagnosis in my early 30s, getting therapy, and doing the work to self-actualize my life’s purpose was difficult but so worth it. I no longer feel guilt for not being able to live up to the challenges that were before me. I know how to ask for help, how to navigate setbacks, and what’s more, I am able to use this experience to help the young students I teach who are experiencing similar setbacks. I think that’s the most rewarding part of all.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a performing, educating, and creating musician. I specialize in percussion, and enjoy manipulating found sounds, and using unconventional electronics and pieces of physical media to produce music and sound effects.
I run a private music lessons out of my home where I mostly teach drum set/percussion/guitar/ukulele, but also teach introduction to music courses for younger students, as well as what I like to call “follow the dopamine” classes for kids who are interested in music, but have a hard time sitting down and focusing on traditional music lessons. For me, my journey with music was not a straight line, and I think it’s important to encourage exploration and be honest about the multi-faceted nature of developing creativity and skill, which has ups and downs, and does not follow a straight path.
Just graduated with an Associates of Arts in music composition at Austin Community College, and am starting on my Bachelor’s in music and teaching certification at A&M Central Texas in the Fall.
Current works/projects:
– Film composition, “Musical Memories” in which I scored a piece using foley, percussion, flute and french horn to a vintage cartoon about a couple’s life together (dedicated to my partner and to my family who suffered several losses during the writing of the piece)
– “The Lombo Combo”, a compositional collection of electronic movements by Church of the Friendly Ghost resident musician, Nick Lombard, in which a group of percussionists will perform live with custom rigs along to the tracks. Mine includes a bowed welded metal cowbell, a doorstopper mounted on a piece of drywall connected to a contact microphone, a sheet metal manipulated for its sound properties, and other found sounds.
– Mystic Drumz: For six years in Central Texas I’ve been performing this children’s show that introduces kids to percussion sounds from all over the world in a fun, educational, and unique play format.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was extremely hyperfocused on music and making it. I didn’t have a lot of friends, but hid out in the school’s band hall, the only place I ever really felt comfortable and somewhat accepted. I didn’t have a lot of tools to talk to and relate to my peers. I would make electronic loops on my computer, taught myself guitar, and took any opportunity to learn more about music.
I found the punk scene in my teens and never looked back from there. Like most misfit kids, I spent my time listening punk, going to shows, and writing angsty songs. Once at a punk show, I found myself in a smokey room… I didn’t quite understand why everyone was hanging out in the back. But I saw a young kid playing with a guitar in the corner, and spent the rest of the time teaching him how to tune and play power chords, which I think says a lot about my social skills and personality at the time, haha.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cassiebakermusic.com
- Instagram: @cassiebakermusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbdrumsatx
