IVC graduate’s music heard in documentary

The music of Kate Morris Dickerson, of the Illinois Valley Central High School Class of 1997, can be heard in a 30-minute sustainable living documentary on WTVP. It aired in November, but can still be seen online at www.wtvp.org by clicking “The Grass Is Always Greener” link. The documentary features a remixed song from her first recording “The Star & The Seed,” which is available from Co-Op Campustown and online at Bandcamp, eMusic, CD Baby, iTunes or directly through her website.

In three sentences, tell us how you ended up in this line of work.
I’ve studied music for a long time, beginning with piano lessons here in Chillicothe and continuing through IVC’s band program with Mr. Dietrich.
I ended up getting a bachelor’s in music at (Western Illinois University) and just made creative connections throughout my life.
Earlier in 2010, I released my first recording and one of copies ended up in the hands of Bob Wojda at Water Street Media Works (thanks to my awesome mother-in-law, Debbie), who was working on the documentary “The Grass Is Always Greener” for PBS.

What are two memories from your career that stick with you the most?
A lot of experiences I’ve had as a musician have stuck with me over the years.
I remember my first electronic music class with Mr. Larson in grade school and my time in IVC, ICC, and WIU music programs.
I remember one of my first piano teachers, Mrs. Taylor, sending me a congratulations note when I got the scholarship to WIU. I have lots of great memories of playing with people in the area and learning from them.

What do you most like and least like about your work?
I like how challenging it is to translate what clients or colleagues want to hear along with their visual piece into music.
I also like how challenging it is to translate what I hear, see, or feel into music. It can be difficult to make things sound the way I first hear them in my head.
The neat thing about that is that sometimes it comes out better! You just never know until you sit down and begin working.

What makes your business unusual?
The hours — my hours — can be strange. I try to keep my laptop close by, just in case I get inspired in the middle of the night. I love that technology can do that for artists, be there to make it easier to capture ideas. In the middle of a given project, I am working all of the time, which can be pretty tiring. But it’s a good tired!

What advice do you have for someone who wants to go into a music career?
I think anyone can have a music career in different ways, participating on different levels. In my case, I like to keep an open mind and take opportunities as they come, because I enjoy it, and I suggest that someone who wants a career in music to do the same.
For me, it’s a life-long gift, and anything beyond that is just icing on the cake.

How do you go about creating music for something like this documentary?
I have great training from school and also since I graduated using software that has features really built for doing this kind of work.  
When I get sent a cut of the visual piece, I’ll download it and import it into my software and begin to record some ideas on structure and instrumentation in my home studio.

I’ll post it for Bob to download, and he often gives me more direction for the piece. After the composed piece is approved, I’ll cut it to hit visual cue points so the music and video are integrated as best as possible in the final presentation.

What sets you apart from other record labels?
I’d like to think that I offer something unique in the local area. I’m pretty accessible to people and their projects and try to participate locally when I get the chance. I also get offers from all over the world to work on projects with people through the Internet, which is very exciting.

The documentary is also very cool, because sustainability is a topic I enjoy. I was very honored to be even a small part of it, as it is part of a national project called Blueprint America. I think that WNET, the New York PBS affiliate, is hosting it on their website, if you want to find more information on it at www.PBS.org/WNET/BlueprintAmerica.