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CV grad moves to Denver to pursue music
Trusts God for ultimate guidance
Contributed photos Clearwater Valley High School graduate Jason Schuster recently moved to Denver to pursue his music career.
Lorie Palmer - community editor, ICFP
July 28, 2011
DENVER, Colo. -- Jason Schuster has been mulling over his options for about six months. That's after spending nearly a lifeÿtime living and breathing music.
"As for a career and where music will take me, I finally came to the conclusion I had two choices: I could stay put and have the life I currently have or I could trust in God and step out on faith and see where He takes me," Schuster said.
Schuster decided to take that step and moved from Lewiston to Denÿver, Colo., the end of June to pursue his music career.
The 1999 graduate of Clearwater Valley High School said his love of music began early though he never really considered it a "love."
"It was just part of my life. I remember my parents singing in church as a very young child, and when I was in second grade -- attending Kamiah Elementary School at the time -- my class would sing 'My Country' Tis of Thee' after saying the Pledge of Allegiance each morning," Schuster recalled. "I heard it and then began playing it on the piano for our class to sing to."
It was around this time when Schuster's parents, Mark and Jo Schuster who now live on the Middlefork near Kooskia, realized his potential musical talent.
"I realize I was born with a God-given talent of being able to play music by ear. I could just play what I heard, without reading music," Schuster explained. "I can rememÿber being in church as a kid, coming home and plinking out some of the songs we had sung that morning."
It was in the second grade he tried piano lessons, but the ability to play by ear "just made reading the notes very tedious, so it didn't last long," Schuster said.
Schuster's family moved to Three Rivers and he began attending Clearwater Valley. By fifth grade he still played the piano, but also added the trumpet, which he played all through high school, as well.
"I still couldn't read music, but I would memorize the songs by ear. I can remember sitting next to Isaac Elam the entire way through school, asking him to play it for me first, so I could hear it, then I could play it back when called on by [band teacher] Mr. Larry Paul," Schuster smiled.
For the past 13 years he has served off and on as a church pianist.
Throughout the years, Schuster said he continued trying to take piano lessons.
"It would only last for a few sessions before I would get bored with it and decide not to do it anymore," Schuster said. "Today, I still can't read music, and it's something I wish I could do. It's much harder to learn it now than it would have been then."
Schuster continued to play the piano for some weddings and variÿous other events, but while he accepted some of these engageÿments, he also turned many down.
"Simply because of stage fright," he said.
Schuster recently had his first singing debut in front of a crowd,other than his family, at church.
"I am very self-conscious and shy about singing in front of peoÿple, but I started writing songs last November, and putting them on YouTube, so my confidence is slowly growing," he said.
After graduation from CVHS, he attended the University of Idaho and graduated with a degree in finance. He then started with ATK (formerly known as Blount/CCI/SPEER).
"I loved this job," he emphaÿsized. "I traveled all over the counÿtry and a number of times to Europe and Canada." He continued to work as a sales manager there until recently when he gave his two-week notice.
"I was so hesitant -- I wrote my resignation letter and then had a hard time pushing the button to send it," he said. Three affirming texts from friends came in at the same exact moment, giving Schustÿer the encouragement to follow his dreams. "I sent it and put into action my plans to move to Denÿver."
Last year, Schuster had met a Juliard-trained musician while visÿiting a friend in Colorado.
"We talked and made a connecÿtion and I ended up playing for him," Schuster mentioned. "He said to me, 'I understand you. When you listen to a piano, you don't just hear the piano part -- you hear an entire symphony.'"
"That was it exactly," Schuster said. The man said he had also played by ear and then learned to read music, so he felt he will be able to teach Schuster to read music. "I'm excited for this opporÿtunity and know it can only help me in my musical endeavors, including songwriting."
"I'm not pursuing my music because I think I'm good enough, but because I feel that is where God wants me," Schuster stated. "There are plenty of struggling musicians out there, and my goal isn't to be rich and famous. I'm just doing what I feel I am being led to do, and taking advantage of the opporÿtunities He has put in front of me."
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Lorie Palmer - community editor, ICFP
July 28, 2011
DENVER, Colo. -- Jason Schuster has been mulling over his options for about six months. That's after spending nearly a lifeÿtime living and breathing music.
"As for a career and where music will take me, I finally came to the conclusion I had two choices: I could stay put and have the life I currently have or I could trust in God and step out on faith and see where He takes me," Schuster said.
Schuster decided to take that step and moved from Lewiston to Denÿver, Colo., the end of June to pursue his music career.
The 1999 graduate of Clearwater Valley High School said his love of music began early though he never really considered it a "love."
"It was just part of my life. I remember my parents singing in church as a very young child, and when I was in second grade -- attending Kamiah Elementary School at the time -- my class would sing 'My Country' Tis of Thee' after saying the Pledge of Allegiance each morning," Schuster recalled. "I heard it and then began playing it on the piano for our class to sing to."
It was around this time when Schuster's parents, Mark and Jo Schuster who now live on the Middlefork near Kooskia, realized his potential musical talent.
"I realize I was born with a God-given talent of being able to play music by ear. I could just play what I heard, without reading music," Schuster explained. "I can rememÿber being in church as a kid, coming home and plinking out some of the songs we had sung that morning."
It was in the second grade he tried piano lessons, but the ability to play by ear "just made reading the notes very tedious, so it didn't last long," Schuster said.
Schuster's family moved to Three Rivers and he began attending Clearwater Valley. By fifth grade he still played the piano, but also added the trumpet, which he played all through high school, as well.
"I still couldn't read music, but I would memorize the songs by ear. I can remember sitting next to Isaac Elam the entire way through school, asking him to play it for me first, so I could hear it, then I could play it back when called on by [band teacher] Mr. Larry Paul," Schuster smiled.
For the past 13 years he has served off and on as a church pianist.
Throughout the years, Schuster said he continued trying to take piano lessons.
"It would only last for a few sessions before I would get bored with it and decide not to do it anymore," Schuster said. "Today, I still can't read music, and it's something I wish I could do. It's much harder to learn it now than it would have been then."
Schuster continued to play the piano for some weddings and variÿous other events, but while he accepted some of these engageÿments, he also turned many down.
"Simply because of stage fright," he said.
Schuster recently had his first singing debut in front of a crowd,other than his family, at church.
"I am very self-conscious and shy about singing in front of peoÿple, but I started writing songs last November, and putting them on YouTube, so my confidence is slowly growing," he said.
After graduation from CVHS, he attended the University of Idaho and graduated with a degree in finance. He then started with ATK (formerly known as Blount/CCI/SPEER).
"I loved this job," he emphaÿsized. "I traveled all over the counÿtry and a number of times to Europe and Canada." He continued to work as a sales manager there until recently when he gave his two-week notice.
"I was so hesitant -- I wrote my resignation letter and then had a hard time pushing the button to send it," he said. Three affirming texts from friends came in at the same exact moment, giving Schustÿer the encouragement to follow his dreams. "I sent it and put into action my plans to move to Denÿver."
Last year, Schuster had met a Juliard-trained musician while visÿiting a friend in Colorado.
"We talked and made a connecÿtion and I ended up playing for him," Schuster mentioned. "He said to me, 'I understand you. When you listen to a piano, you don't just hear the piano part -- you hear an entire symphony.'"
"That was it exactly," Schuster said. The man said he had also played by ear and then learned to read music, so he felt he will be able to teach Schuster to read music. "I'm excited for this opporÿtunity and know it can only help me in my musical endeavors, including songwriting."
"I'm not pursuing my music because I think I'm good enough, but because I feel that is where God wants me," Schuster stated. "There are plenty of struggling musicians out there, and my goal isn't to be rich and famous. I'm just doing what I feel I am being led to do, and taking advantage of the opporÿtunities He has put in front of me."
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