We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eric Kalver a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Eric, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

My background in the entertainment industry is pretty unique. My great-grandfather was an assistant and builder to Harry Houdini, my grandmother was a USO touring singer, my father has been a professional magician for over 50 years, and my mother was a theater teacher and a clown that did magic. Growing up with parents that made performing their full time career, I witnessed hundreds of performances on small stages, big stages, theaters, TV performances, and more. There were a lot of intricate details and experiences that I learned from observing them at such a young age that I carry with me today. You make your own unique stage presence and personality in a melting pot of inspirations from your life.

My first musical listening experiences were musical theater and Disney movies, so I was listening to the art of musical arrangements and orchestration as early as 6 years old. By 11, I started playing the drums throughout middle school and played in marching band, theatre pits, orchestra, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble, as well as joined the choir. I paid close attention to what the other parts of the orchestra and choir were doing, and then took music theory my senior year so I could be more than just a “person who played drums.”

This is what kickstarted the way I learned my craft as I entered Berklee College of Music. I was a kid from Rhode Island entering a world-renowned music college, and being another person who played the drums wasn’t going to cut it among the thousands of players. I had to wear multiple hats. I took classes in vocal and instrumental arrangement, orchestration, and conducting. I studied piano and music theory so I could be helpful to people in more ways than one. By having all of these tools, I could stand out among my peers.

While no obstacles stood in my way of learning music, I feel that I could have spent less time focusing on a performance degree and more time writing as much music as possible with the teachers and resources I had in college. When you graduate, you have to pay for that stuff and it’s no longer just payment in pizza. I had plenty of exposure playing drums with bands, and I learned more in these interactions than if I just stayed in a practice room all of the time.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a music director, music supervisor, drummer, and composer. I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 14 years and have dabbled in many facets of the music industry such as performance, songwriting, film scoring, sheet music publishing, music library pitching, music supervision for video games and advertising, and children’s music for television. My accomplishments include being the music director of the CoComelon franchise as well as the Little Angel franchise, winning a Guild of Music Supervisors award as the music supervisor for the video game Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2, music supervising the Call of Duty franchise, writing music that has been heard on Amazon, Disney+, and CBS, published some Star Wars percussion ensemble arrangements, and playing drums on the Netflix comedy special “Todd Glass: Act Happy.” My unique background wearing multiple hats in the industry is what I think sets me apart from others. I’ve had a lot of different points of view from both the artist side and the corporate side. I feel that all of my experiences in the music industry have made me a stronger creative and a better listener for what a client needs.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I didn’t necessarily “unlearn” this, but I believe it is THE most important lesson in my career that has driven my sensibilities as a creative. It came from a moment of simply listening to what someone needed when they didn’t have the same musical vocabulary that I did.

I was playing drums in a class for a vocalist who didn’t know how to describe a drum groove. I asked if she had a recording of the song with her, but she didn’t. Then, I asked if she could “beatbox it” to me as best as she could. Although she felt embarrassed, I told her that she didn’t have to be and I would try my best to mimic it. She did the best she could, I showed her what I thought it was, and she said I pretty much figured it out on the spot.

The lesson I learned was that someone could have easily retold the story and said “can you believe that person doesn’t know how to speak music?” but regardless of whether someone has any musical knowledge, they still have an opinion and it is my job as a creative to translate their idea as best as I can. Success in music doesn’t come only from having the MOST education in the subject; it’s about taking your combined experiences and connecting with others to create together.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’m extremely proud to be the music director of 2 very popular kids franchises that my toddler daughter enjoys. To me, it is exciting to be responsible for providing the soundtrack of my daughter’s generation and see how it helps them learn and retain musical nostalgia for the rest of their lives. My mission is to continue making music that brings people together for a combined experience!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.erickalver.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ewicdwums

Image Credits
Headshot by Billye Donya Photography