We recently connected with Chase Chandler and have shared our conversation below.

Chase, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

My recent risk in the field of music has been taking my first cruise contracts. Leaving behind my private music studio was one of the more difficult things I’ve had to do – not only because I care about each of my students, but also because I’ve not been teaching. Taking this performance contract with Atlas Ocean Voyages was my first time accepting a lifestyle that included only performing. And honestly, after 12 years of teaching privately, I couldn’t stay away very long and began teaching a few crew members on board.

One of the biggest reasons I accepted this contract was because it was no ordinary cruise ship. This company specializes in luxury, expedition-sized ships that travel to Antarctica and the Arctic and everywhere in between. My first experience with cruise ship work led me to Ushuaia and Antarctica. The opportunity to see penguins while playing piano every day is one of the biggest highlights of my career. It’s not every day you can play the piano with glaciers and icebergs behind you.

Building a private studio takes time and it really wasn’t until 3 years in that I began drawing enough students that my studio was fully booked. Leaving this behind was not an easy choice, but there are few opportunities in life to sacrifice everything to experience a traveling job like a cruise ship position. Teaching will be a big part of my life from here on out and knowing this led me to realize it was time to try a performance lifestyle before settling into teaching for the rest of my life. My goal was to try something different and a little scary before committing myself to teaching fully. Something I am very grateful I did because I have learned a tremendous amount from my recent travels.

Performing every day has taught me new lessons I did not fully expect. My skill at the piano has increased dramatically and the second-nature musicianship that comes along with playing so much has only strengthened. I find myself doing things at the piano that leave me a little shocked, “Was I really able to do that just now? That was really good.” It is funny how ingrained playing the piano can become when playing and performing multiple hours every day for months at a time. My hands began translating what my mind was wanting before I was consciously aware. The speed at which creative musical ideas came to mind started increasing as well. Overall, I think the foundation of my ability at the piano has solidified in ways that will last the rest of my life. I enjoyed my experience so much, I decided to return for the Arctic season.

During this very interview, I’m on the same ship as we sail toward Svalbard after visiting northern Norway. One of the most educational parts of this experience has been meeting so many different kinds of people. For every cruise, we have about 150 or more passengers aboard. In Antarctica, there were 14 cruises which means there were over 2,000 passengers I played for and had a chance to meet. Because it’s a smaller-sized ship, there were many opportunities to get to know people too.

Chase, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

The music industry is a special one, not because it has quite a variety of creative uses of music, but mainly due to the interesting people you meet along the way. There have been some amazing mentors, friends, and colleagues that I’ve met who quickly become lifelong friends. It’s a culture of inspiration as well where we inspire each other to dig deeper and reach farther in our particular crafts. Most of the successful people I know are extremely humble, intuitive, and conscious of their effect on the world around them.

My journey into the music world started at the very young age of 3, playing piano with a private teacher. From there, I started trumpet in 4th grade and then voice in college with a bit of self-taught guitar on the side. All of these I have continued and still perform on the cruise ship today. It’s quite fun and engaging to switch between different instruments – the challenge keeps me entertained! Live performance of music has always been rewarding, but the digital production of music has also been a passion of mine since middle school. Creating albums, burning CDs of original music, etc., has always been a favorite of mine.

Emotional intelligence can be seen as a crucial factor in today’s technologically-connected society. For me, composing and sharing my music is a way to aid in pulling the listener into a world that allows for their emotions to blossom. While most of us who can access the internet may not have to worry about their physical survival, there’s quite a new challenge for staying emotionally stable in a world where everything is out to affect you one way or another. Marketing is about engagement and this often comes with a pull of emotions to add a personal layer of value. There are many ways in which those connected to social media, email, and the modern world, are influenced by several emotionally influential things. I believe the next goal for our general well-being is gaining self-awareness and emotional stability. Music can help bring out these deep emotions by giving space for the subconscious to roam. This happens when you’re listening to music and suddenly you notice you’re teary-eyed or you get chills, maybe happiness takes over or even anger, either way it’s a safe emotional playground to observe how you feel in the boundaries of the music. To me, this is one of the most priceless gifts you can offer someone – the chance to discover themselves on a new level.

As a teacher, I can provide one-on-one guidance to those wanting to express or create. Emotional intelligence often goes hand-in-hand with musicianship, so many of my students become encompassed in a new way of thinking in order to bring out the most musical performances. Once a student begins trusting their own emotional instincts, their abilities blossom and they continue to grow even without my guidance. The reward is priceless knowing they might positively influence so many others to do similar things.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Supporting artists, creatives, and nurturing a flourishing creative ecosystem requires a holistic approach that embraces the essence of human expression and innovation. Here’s my perspective on what society can do to best uplift the creative community:

• Recognition and Appreciation: Let’s begin by acknowledging the immense value of art and creativity. Embracing a diverse range of expressions and genres and celebrating artists’ contributions can instill a sense of validation, encouraging them to continue pushing boundaries.

• Accessible Education: Infusing arts education from an early age cultivates a lifelong appreciation for creativity. Schools and communities should nurture young minds, providing them with the tools to express themselves and fostering a love for artistic endeavors.

• Financial Support: Providing financial stability allows artists to fully dedicate themselves to their craft. Grants, fellowships, and initiatives that alleviate financial constraints enable artists to experiment, innovate, and create without worry. This investment in artists’ well-being translates into a vibrant and ever-evolving creative landscape.

• Cultural Spaces: Establishing and sustaining cultural spaces – galleries, studios, theaters – offers vital platforms for artists to exhibit their work, connect with diverse audiences, and engage in meaningful dialogues with their communities. These spaces become hubs of collaboration, fostering the exchange of ideas and nurturing artistic growth.

• Intellectual Property Protection: Robust copyright laws and intellectual property rights safeguard artists’ creations and ensure they receive fair compensation. Such protection not only upholds the artist’s rights but also acknowledges the immense contribution they make to cultural enrichment.

• Public Art Initiatives: Infusing public spaces with art – be it murals, sculptures, installations, or performances – makes creativity accessible to all. It bridges the gap between artistic expression and daily life, inspiring curiosity and igniting a sense of wonder among people of all ages.

• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Encouraging collaborations between artists and professionals from various fields sparks innovation and opens new avenues of creativity. Interactions between artists, scientists, technologists, and others can lead to groundbreaking ideas, fostering a culture of multidisciplinary exploration.

• Promoting Diversity and Inclusion: Embracing diversity and promoting inclusivity within the creative realm enriches the artistic dialogue and ensures a more comprehensive representation of human experiences. Encouraging artists from diverse backgrounds to share their narratives enriches the creative tapestry.

• Supportive Policies: Governments and institutions can play a pivotal role by implementing policies that offer tax incentives, grants, and resources tailored to support artists and their creative pursuits. These policies create an enabling environment for artists to thrive.

• Cultural Exchange: Facilitating international cultural exchanges promotes the sharing of artistic traditions, techniques, and perspectives across borders. Exposure to different artistic practices encourages the birth of innovative ideas and fosters a deeper understanding of global cultures.

By embracing these pillars of support, society can create an environment where artists and creatives can flourish, contributing their unique voices to a vibrant and diverse cultural landscape. Through recognition, financial backing, spaces for exhibition, and a commitment to inclusivity, we can pave the way for a thriving creative ecosystem that enriches the lives of all.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

At the core of my creative journey resides a profound driving force, an unwavering mission that infuses every brushstroke, melody, and written word. It’s a journey centered around cultivating connections – intricately weaving the threads of imagination and reality, sharing a tapestry of diverse human stories, and invoking a palpable sense of togetherness through the medium of my creative expressions.

Imagine my art as a storyteller, a conduit that reaches into the depths of our emotions. I hold a firm belief that stories, whether they find life on canvas, resonate through melodies, or take shape in written narratives, possess an incredible ability to dissolve barriers, uniting individuals from all walks of life with a shared emotional chord. Each stroke of color, every musical note, and each thoughtfully chosen phrase is akin to a fragment of my heart, an open invitation for others to engage with their own emotions and reflections.

What propels me forward is an intrinsic fascination with the alchemy of blending – the art of melding diverse concepts into something fresh and invigorating. It’s akin to harmonizing different musical genres, experimenting with visual techniques, or crafting narratives that seamlessly interlace reality with a dash of the fantastical. This endeavor seeks to demonstrate the transformative power of embracing diversity and embracing a mindset that stretches beyond conventional boundaries, ultimately giving rise to creations that resonate as profoundly exceptional.

Moreover, an ardent desire within me is to ignite inspiration and elevate spirits. In a world that can at times feel overwhelming, I aspire for my work to be a wellspring of joy and awe. I want individuals to encounter my creations and experience that flicker of curiosity and wonder that sparks their imagination into a vibrant dance.

In its essence, my creative odyssey is about making my distinctive mark upon the vibrant tapestry of human expression. It’s a fervent endeavor to contribute my unique brushstroke to the collective canvas, joining the ranks of artists and storytellers who have indelibly shaped our cultural narrative over the course of time. Through my artistic endeavors, I strive to foster a sense of profound connection – to transcend temporal and spatial confines – crafting creations that resonate with the universal human experience, weaving together individuals from every corner of the globe in a shared, resonant narrative.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chasechandlermusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasechandlermusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChaseChandlerComposer
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasechandlercomposer
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ChaseChandlerMusic
• Other: https://musicalgrowth.com/