MANISTEE -- Music is unique among the many arts that exist in the world because it includes so many different styles that can be performed and enjoyed by the public.
There seems to be something for everyone across all walks of life with rock and roll, jazz, classical, country, folk, bluegrass, rap and more that all have a strong following of people playing and listening to it. It is something that is just as true for people from Manistee, where everyone seems to have their own particular niche which they love.
For Manistee resident Eric Kimm, that niche is classical music, which he enjoys playing and performing on the piano. Kimm has been studying and playing classical piano since 2007 when he graduated from high school.
"Before that time I started basic piano lessons at the age of 9," he said. "I have always had a love for classical music since elementary school."
Over the years, he worked with several piano teachers. Among them were Julie Renzema, Susan Brooks, Adrian Cole and John Clements. For the last four years, Kimm has been advancing his classical music studies under the guidance of noted pianist and instructor Carrie Selbee.
Playing the piano was something Kimm took to with a real zest at a young age. Kimm expanded that love of music when he began to participate in various music festivals with the encouragement of his first music teacher.
"I just continued liking it and after my first teacher moved away, I resumed my classical training lessons in 2007," he said.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on the opportunity for many musicians to perform in public. Much to his disappointment, Kimm found his opportunities limited in the last two years as a result.
Prior to that time, he was making a strong name for himself in the area with performances in several venues. His natural skill and ease at the keyboard caught the attention of many local classical music lovers.
“I have performed at Hardy Hall in the Ramsdell (Regional Center for the Arts) and at the United Methodist Church where they have been nice enough to let me use their sanctuary and their baby grand piano,” he said. “I am thinking about going back to performing again later near the end of this year, but not in the immediate upcoming months.”
Kimm said the music of the Romantic and Contemporary eras are some of his favorite musical compositions to perform.
“Lately I have been enjoying the music of Melody Barber, and her music is more for people who are just starting to build their piano technique to become a good pianist,” he said. “When I look for more of a challenge I also like to play Manuel Corona who is a Cuban composer.”
Kimm said Barber created some colorful and beautiful pieces of music that is very expressive, while Corona has an upbeat style that is fun to perform.
“Corona has more of a Cuban appeal to it and some would say his music is somewhat similar to Chopin,” said Kimm. “There are also pieces by him that have an obvious Cuban feel to it. He uses lots of Cuban rhythm in the music itself. It is more music with an Afro-Cuban kind of Latin sound to it.”
Kimm said the music is heavily syncopated in style and a lot of his work would be more moderate to fast paced in its style compared to other work.
“He also composed a few slow pieces as well like his waltzes and love pieces,” said Kimm.
Kimm said during his performances he relies heavily on muscle memory and sometimes that helps him in not having to remember the music.
“What is important in doing that is if you lose yourself, then you have to either return to where you remember the music or you are done performing it,” said Kimm.
His hopes are to continue playing well into the future as he has a real love for the piano and playing music. In the meantime, Kimm continues to work at improving his craft under the watchful eye of Selbee, who he credits with helping to expand his skills.
“I still take lessons from Carrie Selbee, and she is very good as she was a college professor,” he said.
Kimm said he has a Facebook musicians page called EricKimm that he hasn’t updated much lately, but it contains information on him and he welcomes people to check it out.
https://www.manisteenews.com/local-news/article/Eric-Kimm-takes-classical-approach-to-love-of-16997017.php
2022-03-13 09:23:53Z
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