My journey to Improvisation

I am originally from Orange County, California. A place that is more recently known for such music as Pop Punk, Ska, and Hip Hop. For as long as I can remember I have always loved listening to and making Music or Noise in general. 

Aimee and the instrumentorium

Through my parents, I was exposed to Jazz, Blues, Motown R&B, Gospel, various forms of Pop-rock from the 60's and 70's, Showtunes, Bluegrass, and Classical. Through my own explorations, I got into Free Jazz, Punk, Hardcore, Metal, Industrial, Post Punk, No-Wave, Electronic, Goth, Krautrock, Prog-Rock, Avant-Garde, Experimental and other music from various cultures.

I discovered at a young age that like my mother I possessed the ability to sing on key and the ability to find the harmony to any tune. I was lucky that the various Elementary schools in California I attended had a great Art & Music programs. We learned about all the master Artists. I participated in many plays by Singing & Acting.

I was known as the loudest Alto in my high school's competing Choir called the Choral Quintessence. My music teacher inspired us to dig deep into musical history from different cultures and eras. As far as instruments were concerned I used to have one of those Casio keyboards available in the 1990's. I figured out pretty young that I could figure out how to play a song by ear. I never learned to read music or had any formal piano lessons. I originally wanted to play drums but was talked out of it and I took Guitar lesson's while in High school. Figured out I could tune it by ear. Later I was a lead singer in a few unknown and short-lived Punk bands.

Fast Forward to 2017 the year of major life changes. I met Adam Naworal who I impressed with my knowledge and interest in much of the same music genres. We developed a friendship which quickly changed to something more. He made me aware that some of what I listened to fell into different categories I didn't know existed. I was also not aware that there was an Improvisation or Noise Scene here in Florida that he was long involved with. I had known there was a lot of improvisation in Free Jazz, I just never realized people still got together with traditional and unusual instruments and improvised.

So while I am an "n00b" to this particular scene I am not new to expressing myself musically. After Adam and I collected a few instruments together. We were invited to Join an Improvisational gathering at a museum. I was nervously playing a Melodica but by all accounts I was intuitive, it seemed like I knew just what to do. Unbeknownst to me at one point some of the other musicians paused a bit to find a complement to what I was playing. I learned that it is best to listen to what others are doing and not overpower when part of an Improvisational Group.

Next, we were invited to play at the Space Gallery and we started by joining the Orchestra Improvisation experimental jam at the beginning and branched off into smaller groups. I had fun playing my Diddley Bow while Adam played the Microbrute. We were joined by Aaron Abrams, Dan Kozak, and Reine Louise Hogue.

Most recently Adam and I (aka Tomokie's Cup) had our debut at Apartment Music 29. I played a Korg littleBits Synth Kit and Stylophone Gen X-1 while Adam played the Electric Phin. That was truly fun and I can't wait to have more opportunities to improvise.