DSC Ambassador to release first album
KC Christoffersen
Issue date: 4/29/09 Section: Arts & Entertainment
A Dixie State College student recorded his first CD and is in the process of releasing it to stores all over Utah.
Jon Vandermyde, a sophomore communication major from West Jordan, has played piano for as long as he can remember. His CD is all instrumental piano that he composed himself.
"We just always had a piano at our house, but we never wanted to take lessons," Vandermyde said.
All of his talent is self-taught, but it wasn't until his older brother left for his LDS mission that Vandermyde felt he had to step in as family pianist. His brother was good and Vandermyde said he had a lot to live up to, so that's when he really decided to develop his skill.
The main requirement that needed to be met by his brother's absence was accompanying in church and at church events.
"I've accompanied people for competitions, but I mainly like playing in events such as stake conference," Vandermyde said.
He recounted an instance where he played for a girl in the Tabernacle and didn't care for what was written, so he decided to spice it up a little.
Vandermyde is also a DSC Ambassador, and at the retreats he is known to be the entertainment.
Sarah Bibb, a sophomore from St. George majoring in biology, who is also an Ambassador, said: "The girls really like it. Vandermyde will start with cute stuff like the 'Little Mermaid,' and then he'll work into more popular soundtrack hits that everyone can sing along to."
Students will play songs or ring-back tones for him, and he'll listen to it for a little bit and be able to play it. He can read music, but he said he prefers to play by ear.
While on his mission, his mission president would ask him and his companion to travel around Brazil and hold musical firesides. That's where he recorded his first CD. It wasn't until a couple of months ago that he decided to do this again.
Vandermyde bought all of his own recording equipment and recorded all his music in his apartment.
"Why pay $100 an hour when I can buy the stuff myself and do it?" Vandermyde said.
He had always been complaining about how "sucky" the music on the radio was and wondered how some of it even got on the radio. He wondered if that stuff could get on the radio, why couldn't he?
His CD is called "A Tribute to Hymn." All the songs are his own arrangements of well-known LDS hymns. So far, it's in some stores in Salt Lake and it has been to distributors for Deseret Book.
"This stuff takes a long time, so I'm not sure exactly when it'll be out," Vandermyde said.
Visit his Web site at www.jonvandermyde.com to sample his CD. If you tag "/discount" to the end of the URL, you can get a $2 discount on the CD.
"My mom's whole life is music," Vandermyde said. "It's because of her that I love music so much."
Jon Vandermyde, a sophomore communication major from West Jordan, has played piano for as long as he can remember. His CD is all instrumental piano that he composed himself.
"We just always had a piano at our house, but we never wanted to take lessons," Vandermyde said.
All of his talent is self-taught, but it wasn't until his older brother left for his LDS mission that Vandermyde felt he had to step in as family pianist. His brother was good and Vandermyde said he had a lot to live up to, so that's when he really decided to develop his skill.
The main requirement that needed to be met by his brother's absence was accompanying in church and at church events.
"I've accompanied people for competitions, but I mainly like playing in events such as stake conference," Vandermyde said.
He recounted an instance where he played for a girl in the Tabernacle and didn't care for what was written, so he decided to spice it up a little.
Vandermyde is also a DSC Ambassador, and at the retreats he is known to be the entertainment.
Sarah Bibb, a sophomore from St. George majoring in biology, who is also an Ambassador, said: "The girls really like it. Vandermyde will start with cute stuff like the 'Little Mermaid,' and then he'll work into more popular soundtrack hits that everyone can sing along to."
Students will play songs or ring-back tones for him, and he'll listen to it for a little bit and be able to play it. He can read music, but he said he prefers to play by ear.
While on his mission, his mission president would ask him and his companion to travel around Brazil and hold musical firesides. That's where he recorded his first CD. It wasn't until a couple of months ago that he decided to do this again.
Vandermyde bought all of his own recording equipment and recorded all his music in his apartment.
"Why pay $100 an hour when I can buy the stuff myself and do it?" Vandermyde said.
He had always been complaining about how "sucky" the music on the radio was and wondered how some of it even got on the radio. He wondered if that stuff could get on the radio, why couldn't he?
His CD is called "A Tribute to Hymn." All the songs are his own arrangements of well-known LDS hymns. So far, it's in some stores in Salt Lake and it has been to distributors for Deseret Book.
"This stuff takes a long time, so I'm not sure exactly when it'll be out," Vandermyde said.
Visit his Web site at www.jonvandermyde.com to sample his CD. If you tag "/discount" to the end of the URL, you can get a $2 discount on the CD.
"My mom's whole life is music," Vandermyde said. "It's because of her that I love music so much."
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