MuraMusic

05/03/2024

05/03/2024

03/17/2017

Beethoven was an extraordinary composer. His methods created a path for upcoming composers to break free from prescribed musical formats. The music history lessons about his compositions, created while deaf in his later life, have always astounded me. It has been called the "Beethoven Phenomenon".

More and more I feel that his abilities are not as impossible as they sound. I appreciate the writings of Dr. Caroline Leaf, "Who Switched Off My Brain", "Switch On Your Brain", "The Gift in You", and more that help us understand that we are propelled forward or limited by what we believe we can or cannot do; not by our physical abilities which include our five senses.

For example, have you ever experienced that continual musical loop in your brain? Even non-musicians know what that's like, but if you are a musician you not only mentally replay those melodies, but you can almost feel your fingers navigating the chord progressions and melodic intervals without even hearing them.

For all of you songwriters, here's a challenge; find your sanctuary, that place where you sit and feel inspired, where the creative juices most often are triggered. Grab your instrument or better yet, leave it behind and begin to rest in His presence; before the One Who is the source of all infinite beauty and creativity, the One who desires to whisper His sweet melodies to your heart. Be ready to write down your thoughts, notations or lyrics on paper and perhaps have a recording device nearby to secure the melodies with which He surprises you.

I just have to believe God must have been there in the "Beethoven phenomenon". He is definitely not limited by a person's lack of hearing or whatever (you fill in the blank) is limiting you from reaching your dream.

Keep dreaming and reaching out to the Ultimate power source of all creativity. He's just waiting to give good gifts to you.

02/18/2017

What an amazing day at the Valley Worship Arts Conference! Enjoyed a fantastic song writing session led by Dan Tinquist! Awesome instruction. Looking forward to getting back to my first love...songwriting. How I've missed you!
Finally ready to set aside time each day to once again create beauty with lyrics and melody. Discipline~Desire~Delight

Starts with discipline. 🎹🎼

01/16/2017

One of the best things that happened to me as a child was observing my brother's face when he received a guitar for Christmas. He immediately dived into the best music the late 60s and early 70s had to offer. After taking a few lessons he was totally pulled into the passion of playing guitar any time he had a free moment. He was even sweet enough to teach me a few lessons. So, as a fifth-grader a new world was opened up to me.

Very excited to begin my second semester beginners group class tomorrow and to hopefully inspire the same enthusiasm and excitement for music that was also gifted to me as a child.

12/14/2016

Welcome to MuraMusicND. You'll find us @

https://www.facebook.com/muramusic/

After spending 14 years in Sacramento at Capital Christian Schools and writing and directing MuraMusic musicals out of that location, Bette Murakami and her husband, Pastor Steve have taken on a new challenge. Late in June of 2016, they became the re-launch team for Renew Community Church-Larimore,ND.

For both Bette and Steve it was a return to the town where Steve taught vocal music for 18 years and where he met and married Bette (where she also taught Elementary music). They were married in the very church where they have returned as Steve assumes his role as lead pastor and Bette has committed to helping the re-launch.

Bette will also be exploring some of her other interests such as writing children's stories, special occasion poetry, songs for special occasion, and arranging a blend of new 'contemporary/traditional hymn-chorus' songs. Most of the musicals written by
Bette Murakami are available. Send us a message if you want Bette to work on that special song, poem, or message for that special occasion.

We are enjoying our new location with new friends, new possibilities in ministry, and new opportunities; we are undecided about getting used to the new sub-zero temperatures! Come visit us and like us at:

https://www.facebook.com/muramusic/

Bette and Steve Murakami

With a passion for songwriting and creating music, Mrs. Murakami enjoys sharing her knowledge with h

09/12/2016

Settled now into a new location and having fun decorating my studios. In this move I've learned how special music students become to their teachers. Typically a classroom teacher will impact a student's life for the nine months they are in their classroom. A student studying music, however, could be with their teacher for 10 years easily. The teacher should have a great impact on that student for that length of time, but what I've come to learn is that students also impact their teachers.

I'm missing my dear ones from the location in which I taught music for 14 years. Each one will always be in my heart. I treasure the sweet memories of those little ones whose feet could not reach the piano pedal as well as my 6 foot student who couldn't get his knees to fit under the bench. I can almost hear the enthusiastic beginner coming to lessons so excited to show me what they practiced during the week.

As I rebuild my list of students, miles and mile away from my last studio, it's with great joy because teaching music is truly satisfying to someone who loves teaching music. But there is grief as well. I wish for each one of the students I left that they continue loving music, sharing what they've learned and find a way to use their gift to make another person's life more beautiful.

09/17/2015

Nothing better than writing a new kid's song, teaching it one time and hearing your 4 year old granddaughter bounce around the house singing it. That's what puts a smile on my face. :)

Ok... another grinner for me is the comments my piano students make. Yesterday's winning comment was, "I love this song. I'm going to practice it every day this week. If I pass it by my next lesson I'm going to get $5 out of my piggy bank and pay myself." :) This is by the same student who said, "Wow! I didn't know I could play that. Someone should pay you something for teaching me how to play piano." Apparently he wasn't aware his Grandma was paying for his lessons. :)

09/17/2015

Working on writing the last of nine songs for my newest Christmas musical, "All Star News Report". For me, discovering the love of drama and songwriting has put a sense of purpose into my life. The other day, after finishing a song, I ran into the room where Steve was working and gave him one of those little-kid hugs. You know, like the "Sassy can't breath" kind that you see in the movie, "Incredible Journey", when the old dog makes it thousands of miles back to his home. I didn't intend to interrupt him, but I couldn't help myself. I was overcome with such an overwhelming feeling of peace, joy and contentment.

I am aware that there are people who perhaps never take time to find that one thing that makes them convinced it was what they were created to do during their time here on this earth. I go back about 13 years ago to when I read "The Dream Giver" by Bruce Wilkinson. It's the story of "Ordinary" who discovers a Big Dream that had been sitting there in a small corner of his heart. The Dream Giver brought it to life and Ordinary was never the same again. Reading that book brought me back to my youth when nothing sparked my brain and emotions the way experimenting with music and writing did.

Discovering our gifts and passion is a beautiful thing, but even more beautiful is the Dream Giver Himself. When we come to a place where we are willing to give the gift back to Him, surrendering to Him to do with it as He wishes, He then can shape and perfect it in His own way. We of course, have to be willing to put in time and effort, constantly learning more so we can develop this gift.

I'm convinced that when people pour their time, energies and passion into the gifts they've been given to share with others, the world will be a happier place. Someone needs to benefit from the gift you've been given, just as you benefit from the talents of others who are willing to share their gifts with you. Chase after that dream! If you're not sure what you're dream is, ask The Dream Giver. He'll show you! :)

09/15/2015

Loved teaching my 2nd graders today the meaning of Time Signature. I had them imagine that the Time Signature is the "boss" of each song. We pretended the song was a game and the numbers are the players who get to take turns being the boss (the Time Signature) and making up the rules of the game. If it's 4's turn to be the "boss", then that means each measure has 4 beats in it until the song is done and it's somebody else's turn. If was funny to see how particular they became in choosing appropriate notes to fill the measures, making sure each measure of the song followed the "boss'" rules. Fun day in music.... and that's how we played it today:)

09/11/2015

I'm so excited to have the MuraMusic page up and running. Music is such a passion of mine and here I can share the great events and cute moments of being a classroom music/piano teacher and song and drama writer.

This past week has been especially fun as I'm putting the finishing touches on our upcoming Elementary Christmas Musical, titled, "All Star News Report". I love it when the main character is in a dream. That way I can get away with creating all kinds of crazy events. In this case, we will have sheep talking!! :) What do you think? Not too baaaaaaaaaad???

09/10/2015

Yahoo. Proud of my wife for her music business MURAMUSIC! Has a nice ring to it.