We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elizabeth Rose a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Elizabeth thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
At 5 years old I remember wanting to sing for everybody. My parents had a madrigal group that used to meet at our house in Queens, NYC. I was able to read and sing the soprano parts and blend in with the other singers. When I was 7 years old, my mother took my brother and me to
be in the audience for the TV quiz show, “Name That Tune” It was in a Manhattan TV studio with a live audience. My uncle, Ted Raph, was the conductor and arranger of the band every week. It was a very popular show. She also took us to the live TV quiz show, “Stop The Music” which Uncle Ted also conducted. I remember being in the audience at “Name That Tune” We sat close to the stage. I sat there, bubbling with expectant energy, saying to myself, “When are they going to call me up on the stage to sing with the band?” “Don’t they know I can really sing?” “Are they going to put the spotlight on me next?” A fantasy. But, we got to go backstage after the show, meet the host and get a hug from Uncle Ted. Uncle Ted was also in our home madrigal group. We also had monthly chamber quartets & quintets in our house. My father played cello. And, as my uncle and cousin were arranging for & playing in the Broadway pits, we’d celebrate our holiday dinners on Mondays, when the shows were dark. After dinner, gathering around the piano, we’d pick up our instruments and sing and play together. I always knew I wanted to sing and play on stage. One more tidbit: the first jazz concert my mom took us to as children, was The Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band at Webster Hall, NYC. My cousin, Alan Raph (Ted’s son) played bass trombone in this brilliant ensemble. But, because Mr. Mulligan spoke very quietly, I didn’t think they’d want me to sing with them:). it’s all so funny to remember this. That little girl still lives inside of me. I absolutely love to make music every day!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
As noted, I grew up in a family of commercially successful musicians. I’ve already mentioned my uncle, Ted Raph. A Julliard grad and trombone player, arranger & conductor who came up in the big band era. He created the first written arrangements for the Tommy Dorsey Band. His son, Alan, also a trombone player, was a studio player who worked with some of our greatest artists including Quincy Jones, Gerry Mulligan, Diana Ross, Mel Torme.. My brother, Bob Rose, has been a NYC studio star guitarist whose long resume includes the Dave Letterman Band (morning show), Barry Manilow, and, notably, the “Deep Throat” soundtrack. So I got into the music world by being born into this amazing family. And, like all the musicians before me, I developed facility in many styles of music. As a pre-teen, I memorized every note of Broadway show albums. The producers of a Broadway show picked me to audition for it when I was in 8th grade. (I didn’t get the part, btw). My mother was a comedic actress & sang opera. So did I – as well as – Pop, Rock, Jazz. Before I was 13 years old I played piano, accordion, violin, flute and guitar. I had an all-girls band at 17. And, like my mother, I was a musical and comedic performer. I wrote my first song when I was 12. My one-woman musical comedy, “Relative Pitch” was produced Off Broadway at The Cherry Lane Theatre in 2012. I wrote all the songs, the story and did 8 – 70 minute shows a week. Just me & 5 guitars on stage….and a stage manager :)
I’d like folks to know that I’m facile as a writer/performer in many genres. And, I love being a creative coach. So I teach. I also love creating educational and advocacy programs for the members of The Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL). I’m on the SCL’s Board of Directors
and I’m the Chair of the SCL Song Arts (East Coast). I’m also co-host of Songwriters Night: NYC at The Bitter End every 3 months. Energizing other’s nascent creativity and creating a highly supportive, uplifting and energetic environment for folks to get their voices heard is a gift
that keeps giving. I’m also a Grammy voter and every year I submit my new releases for a nomination. It’s fun to be in the game.
What am I proud of? My comedic music video, “Leave Me Alone” filmed at my mother’s assisted living, was honored by Emblem Health’s Caregiver org. “YoMiz! (One Teacher + 25 Schools = One Wacky Year)”, my teaching memoir, won 3 indie awards). I wrote and recorded a song with blues legend Pinetop Perkins, of the Muddy Waters Band. I’ll be releasing that one soon. I’m very proud of the recording and music video of my song “The Set Aside Song” which features great musicians including drummer Steve Gadd (Paul Simon, Steely Dan), bassist Tony Levin (Paul Simon, Peter Gabriel) and other session luminaries. Contributing to my students’ successes gives me great joy. Building our songwriting community in NYC is a thrill. I guess I’m more appreciative than proud. I get to create. I get to serve.
I’m a performing songwriter, lead guitarist, keyboard player and singer. I’ve toured with my blues band and on keys with members of the Broadway cast of “Beatlemania” My current band is “Callicoon Station” We will be posting live performances in the next months. And, I consider myself your “cheerleader” because I want your creativity to surface and thrive! Also, my team and I love to create bespoke music for your ads, events, streamers, films and games :)
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Daily meditation.
Jolt my morning brain with coffee and Duolingo (Italian)
Journal, Practice, Write, Play
Eat wisely. (dark chocolate = IN)
A quick glance at the headlines then shut off the talking heads (except for the
homonymous band)
If I get caught up in fear, for example, I seek another thought that will bring me a better
feeling. Like, gee, I like this pillow.
Allow my intuition to have the mental mic.
Don’t do stuff unless it feels good. Stop doing it if it feels crappy.
Call a friend if I need help getting to feeling good.
Lie down when I’m tired and watch silly stuff on my ipad.
Laughter is my drug of choice.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I’ll take a little issue with this question that asks “Is there something I think non-creatives will struggle to understand about my journey as a creative?”
“Non-creative…?” Hmm.. Every field allows for creative thinking. What gets in the way, is when folks are told, often early in life, that they…sing off key, can’t play, can’t join the band, choir, get a part in the school play, are too short to play basketball the upright bass…or not smart enough, period. This is damaging. When I teach, I like to undo these neuropathways. Shout out to neuroplasticity!
Creative energy is always available – but it’s often blocked by thinking resistant thoughts: I can’t, I’ll make a fool of myself, I’m afraid…yada yada.
So letting go of the specific and going general – meaning: if I’m trying something new and it’s not working, take a nap, go for a walk, call somebody who’d enjoy hearing from you. That moves the resistance aside and allows the creative energy in. I’ve been practicing this for a
while so, I encourage you self-defining “non-creatives” to allow your creative impulses a chance to breathe through you.
And sometimes, I enjoy making a fool of myself :)
Contact Info:
- Website: Website: elizabethrosemusic.com
- Instagram: Instagram: @erosemuse
- Facebook: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.rose.9083477
- Linkedin: Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/eroseiserose
- Twitter: @erosemuse
- Youtube: Youtube: @ElizabethRoseyomiz
- Soundcloud: SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/gXGrzeJ2GvSUUFAJ9
- Other: The Society of Composers & Lyricists – Board of Directors/ Chair SongArts (East Coast) : https://thescl.com/leadership-team/elizabeth-rose/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2hZZyWHEDefQdtcmD3ZRKO Twitter: @erosemuse
Image Credits
Patrick Sasso, loopseven.com