We recently connected with Ariel Bui and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ariel , thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
Teaching, creating and playing music brings me a joy that keeps me tethered to them for life.
AND, simultaneously, there are so many realities that threaten to undermine that happiness–complicated taxes, financial instability, burnout, imposter syndrome, and all the human aspects of the existential question- “What is happiness?”.
I do often wonder what it would be like to have a “regular job” with a reliable salary, benefits, and a 401K.
BUT all it takes is playing a fun show or seeing my music students’ faces of joy when they learn a new song. Then, I couldn’t imagine it any other way. As one of my piano students and I decided together after initially saying ‘music is fun’ but then remembering it is often challenging:
“Music isn’t always fun, but it’s so rewarding.”
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Ariel Bui, and I am a musician and music educator.
As an educator, I run Melodia Studio, where I offer piano lessons to students of all ages from preschoolers to adults both in-person and online. My approach is fun and light-hearted, where music is there to enrich our lives and make us well-rounded. I have also worked with many arts education non-profits offering program coordination and music education. For more info about music education with myself or any of the teaching artists I support at Melodia Studio, visit melodiastudio.com
As a musician, I’m a guitarist-singer-songwriter who blurs the line between genres from folk to indie rock and everything in between. In recent years, I have composed and recorded original music for sync placement in TV & film, while continuing to perform live both solo and with bands. I have had the honor of working with stellar name-droppable producers, musicians, and studios, and received praise from likewise name-droppable publications and stations. My entire discography can be found via arielbui.bandcamp.com, my pro studio albums can be streamed everywhere else, and my latest album Real & Fantasy can be found via Audio Network for video, tv & film content.
Music is a gift that I believe is meant to be shared, and because I’ve benefitted from it so profoundly in my life, it is something I want to continue to share with my community in a way that makes it sustainable for myself and others to do so. Whether you are a music listener, an aspiring musician, teaching artist, or in the music & film industry, I hope that there is something I can offer you as a musician or educator that will help you along your journey.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a musical artist and creative, for me, is the ability to turn dreams into reality.
It feels like magic–taking thoughts, feelings, and ideas and turning them into something tangible like songs, albums, videos and performances. It’s satisfying to create something of balance and beauty, with wit and artistry. The process of writing, the act of performing, and the process of recording can all be so much fun. And collaborating with other talented creatives takes making art to another level and brings dreams to life in a whole new way.
Something special happens in the process of synthesizing thoughts, feelings, and emotions into art that provides a kind of release and healing. And though the creative process is often a deeply personal one, you ultimately hope it translates into connection with and healing for others. It’s so rewarding to see your creations make their way out into the world and have an effect on others. It is extremely validating to earn the respect of others with your art, especially the respect of people who’s art you admire.
Lately, it’s been fun knowing that my music has made it into TV & film especially internationally. It’s abstract and cool to know that there are people all over the world hearing my music and trying to imagine who they are, what they think, how they feel. I’ve long dreamed of being on the soundtracks of others’ lives, and now it’s happening in reality. It’s very abstract and strange, but it’s happening and it gives me hope.
If I can turn those dreams into reality, well, what else is possible? I dream of traveling and touring with a band for fun, I dream of making more authentic music for cinematic settings, I dream of processing not just the hard stuff but the joyful stuff too. I dream of building a self-sustainable, Earthship-inspired artist retreat. On a grander scale, I dream of love and peace, human rights and equality, environmental sustainability, and so much more.
There is hope in turning dreams into reality, and that is, for me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist and creative.
How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?
When the pandemic hit in 2020, schools had just let out for Spring Break, and I had one week to pivot Melodia Studio’s music education programming quickly. I was managing a number of teaching artists and our students, and within a week, the world and our studio switched to virtual programming. We created a mutual aid scholarship fund, where families could opt to pitch in towards the tuition of students whose families had lost jobs, and no one had to discontinue lessons due to the pandemic. We also addressed how to return to in-person lessons, by matching teachers with students according to their individual health needs and comfort levels regarding social distancing, masking and vaccinations.
During a period of great uncertainty and isolation, I found that being able to offer one-on-one music lessons virtually and even host recitals online, offered a pertinent source of connection for our students and teachers. Being able to not only maintain those weekly lessons, but to be able to assign musical activities that could provide a healthy outlet for mindfulness and expression in between those lessons, was invaluable for our community, especially when in-person school and extracurriculars were cancelled. Many students even ended up starting to learn second instruments during this time as well.
Though many were skeptical if virtual lessons would work, not only did they work, they also offered other silver linings. For example, after the pandemic some families have chosen to continue with online lessons so they don’t have to drive in rush hour during the homework/dinner/bedtime crunch time. Another benefit of normalizing the option of virtual lessons, is that now, when my students might be sick, they will opt for an online lesson rather than come to their in-person lesson contagious. Lessons can also continue if anyone travels or lives in a different city or state.
I’m proud of the way we were able to pivot and continue sharing the gift of music and music education during a global pandemic, and get through it together as a community.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.arielbui.com & www.melodiastudio.com
- Instagram: @arielbui & @melodiastudio
- Facebook: facebook.com/arielbuimusic & facebook.com/melodianashville
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arielbui
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/arielbui
- Youtube: youtube.com/arielbui & youtube.com/@melodiastudio615
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/arielbui
- Other: arielbui.bandcamp.com & all the digital streaming platforms
Image Credits
Jonathan Kingsbury, H.N. James of Punk Rock Photography, John Lewis of Zonoscope Pictures