Stephen Weber

Story

Dr. Stephen Weber is professor of music and interdisciplinary studies and chair of the arts and humanities division at The University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, where he teaches a variety of subjects: piano, composition, World Thought and Culture, Senior Seminar, music technology, and piano accompanying. He is a published composer and performer of "art" music, has performed concerts as pianist or organist in 7 countries, and has completed several recordings, two on the Opus One label, and others available commercially through a variety of vendors and streaming sites (YouTube, Amazon, GooglePlay, iTunes, Apple Music, CDBaby, Spotify, etc.). He is a member of The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publisher. Many of his written compositions are available through Sheet Music Press. He just loves to create, whether it be music, art, photography, fractals, cuisine, landscaping, or creative writing. He has a blog on Word Press, where he writes about a range of subjects, often in humorous style. He sees music as the universal language that can be a vehicle to bring beauty, unity, and change to our world.

Profile

Instruments

Genres

Influences

Equipment

Languages

What is music to you? What does it give you?

Music is my life. I'm a music professor. Music drives me, fulfills me, moves me, touches me, calms me. It's the universal language.

What is your music dream?

I'd like to do a film score. I've done some large-scale projects, but the multidisciplinary aspect of film really ignites me. It brings together music, language, literature, acting, lighting, design, art.

If you could change the world - what would you start with?

Beauty. We all need beauty in our world.

Which is the most memorable song from your childhood?

That's a tough one. My brother and I huddled for hours around a cheap record player spinning our 45s. Probably the one song from a 45 that touched me early on was "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack. It's hauntingly beautiful and emotive.

Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?

Another tough one. I research heavily to find true artists, not just people that make music. I honestly can't narrow it down to one band or even five bands. I can't even narrow it down to one genre. I'm a classical musician with an appreciation of music from all epochs and styles. My favorite band is probably the one I've chosen to really listen to at a given moment in time for a purpose specific to that moment.

What inspires you to make music?

I want the world to stop and REALLY listen. I've been blessed with some musical gifts and I want to share that, and I want to fully realize what I've been given. I can't not make music. The irony is that I have sever tinnitus and significant hearing loss, but with hard work I've been able to learn to live with those and make do with what I have.

What is the message you want to send with your music?

Beauty. Thought. Art. Stop. Listen. Reflect.

How do you feel when you perform in front of an audience?

I don't perform any of my commercially released music live since they are spontaneous creations that require technology (and I'm not in a band, nor can I ever be with my hearing disability). The only performing I do is "art" music in the form of piano concerts and organ concerts (yes, I'm also a church musician and church composer).

How do you see the musicians’ reality nowadays? What could be improved?

There's nothing wrong with musicians. It's the general public. They're trained to just "have music on" and not really approach listening with an appreciation for artistry.

What do you think of Drooble?

Brilliant. Great concept. Musicians need a supportive community, one in which they can share ideas, get feedback, and make connections.

What frustrates you most as a musician?

An uneducated and undiscerning society. An industry built on image and profit, not always talent.

Do you support your local scene as a fan? How?

Yes, I go to concerts all the time at my university (where I'm a member of the music faculty) and in the community, probably 40 concerts a year.

What qualities should a musician nowadays have in order to get their music heard by a larger audience?

Talent. Artistry. Imagination. Those would be the ideal qualities, but not ones that would reach a larger audience. Sorry, I didn't answer that question. I suppose the quality that would get you a larger audience is the ability to make the right connection with the right people.

Share some awesome artists that we’ve never heard of.

Well, that's tough because I don't know the breadth of your listening. Maybe you haven't heard of Hauschka? There's a talent. How about Johan Johannsen? He's got a gift (or had). There's so much music out there by true artists, but it doesn't get the attention of a non-discerning listener.