Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Kramer.
Hi Sarah, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I feel I was born a musician. I’ve always felt at home with music. It has always felt natural and has always lured me into it. It resonates to my core and has been my compass, so to speak.
Growing up, my mother would always hum melodies and my father was always tapping rhythms in his lap (or on his steering wheel, etc.), all just randomly, but consistently, as we’d all go about our lives. My father had a really great record collection, which I stumbled upon as a teenager, and is where I first heard, and became interested in, Jazz (and blues). Miles Davis and Leadbelly were some of my favorites in his collection.
I was born in Germany, but grew up in New Jersey. At age 9, in the public elementary school I attended in West Orange, N.J., we had a great music program. We were blessed with both a wonderful chorus and orchestra teacher(s). Everyone got to choose an instrument and had access to borrow one to get started on. I chose the trumpet. At a young age, I already was aware of stereotypes and sexism, and knew I didn’t want to play the flute for those reasons, but also, something drew me to the trumpet, and right away, I could make a sound out of the mouthpiece. I found my voice in it, and loved playing parts, melodies and harmonies. I remember treating my horn like it was my child, carefully placing it back into the case after playing it, as if putting it to bed.
As my work-study job, I was an assistant teacher at the nursery school on campus. No matter all of the (very many) other jobs I’ve had in life, I’ve always kept both music and working with young children (Early Childhood Development) going in some way.
After Bard, I lived in Taos, New Mexico, performing in various bands/music ensembles, as well as performing my own songs, and was teaching music at a private high school. I also worked construction, built an adobe house and worked on an Earth Ship (architect Michael Reynolds is such an inspiration, ahead of his time, and right on point in today’s climate, look him up!). I eventually moved to New Orleans, to be where the music and musicians are at, and I lived there for almost a decade. What a beautiful city and culture, and such a blessing to have been there in that music community all of those years. The music and culture there, is both rich and generous. I was also a nursery school teacher there, among many other things (survival has never been easy). I’ve been living in Los Angeles for more than 20 years now, with a stint in NYC (Brooklyn) in 2006. I continue to perform and record (sessions) as a trumpet player. I released two self-titled albums of original material as a singer-songwriter and currently, am about to release an album with a trio I have going with Joe Berardi and Jorge Calderón, called Royal Flux. It is such an honor and joy to play with them. They are both incredible and creative musicians and we all listen well to each other and travel places within the music. It’s all instrumental improvisation. Joe plays drums, percussion and other sounds, Jorge is on bass and some percussion, and I play trumpet, flugelhorn and a variety of percussion and other random instruments/sounds. It’s a lot of fun! We each have so many layers to what we do in the music world, but in this case, I like to call it collective composing. The dream would be, to get to score a film and/or a TV show(s), whether live or pre-recorded, have song placements and perform festivals and mini tours overseas. We’re the soundscape or soundtrack you didn’t know you needed! I haven’t been doing much singing or performing as a songwriter as of late, so for now, my trumpet remains my voice. Being an artist of any kind is such a struggle (unless you come from fame and/or fortune), and I’m lucky to have a second passion, working with young children and families. I feel gifted in that way and have much to offer.
I’ve been a nursery school teacher, a playgroup founder and facilitator, and have made myself available for private childcare and consultation as well. It’s nice to live with a sense of purpose, and to have a hand in lifting and supporting others, especially since I never got to have a family of my own. Children are the future, indeed. It can also feel like a roller coaster, the way work comes and goes… children grow so fast, are ready for their next step after what feels like a brief amount of time, and it’s on to the next.
While I love working with infants, my forte is the toddler, and I feel that I deliver my own brand of care and expertise. I’ve wished that I could have my own official space/property to run a program, and I’ve certainly made it happen several times, in temporary settings, but neither of my chosen professions afford much beyond survival. I’ve done my best to offer myself in a variety of ways, with my whole being. In many ways, I feel underutilized in life. So much of everything is about opportunities and/or budget. I do try and count my blessings.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Survival is the biggest struggle. The cost of living is so high. Not everyone has generational wealth, or a spouse, and not all jobs pay six figures, which more and more, seems necessary for quality of life here. I’ve been living in the same 1-bedroom apartment for more than twenty years, no parking, no storage. I do love my neighborhood and try to remain grateful. Everyone should be able to afford time and tools and have a way to build a life that reflects who they are and were born to become. Music gigs pay the same as they always have, it’s been the same rates for decades. It’s similar with working with children/families, there isn’t really any upward mobility. I’m lucky to have my health, but some years ago, the Hollywood Arsonist blew up my car (total loss) and that really set me back. The pandemic has been hard too (is it even over?). Having a catalytic converter stolen (twice), or any other hardship is so magnified for those without the means. There’s nothing to fall back on, no break.
Also, without getting all heavy into it, I’ll just make mention, that sexism is a real drag, especially in the music industry.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m most proud of this forthcoming Royal Flux album. Of all the music I’ve played and/or recorded in my life, this feels the most free to be me, in human expression and “voice”, all delivered instrumentally. I feel I’ve always had a good sense of melody, groove and tone. It’s those elements I have to offer, and what I hope people are looking for if/when they hire me. It’s taste, it’s vibration, It’s space.
Miles Davis spoke about space, between notes, and I once had a dance instructor, that used to describe dance, as the movement between the steps. I love that, it’s so true in both cases, it’s the between just as much as the landing. The best players are the best listeners.
I also paint, watercolors. I wish I had more of my own time to pursue that.
How do you think about luck?
Being grateful, in its own way, is like feeling lucky. In that way, I feel lucky for the many opportunities I’ve had to work/play with many all time greats, such as Leonard Cohen, Bo Diddley and many others, both well known and more obscure. I also feel lucky for all of the children and families I’ve been part of and for the joy they’ve shared with me. Bad luck is living at the poverty level. The worst luck, is not having a family of my own. To elaborate on what I might consider bad luck, would probably come across as complaining or self-pity, so I’ll spare you.
Contact Info:
- Website:
- Instagram:
- Facebook:
- Other/Bandcamp:
Image Credits
Jorge Calderón
(main image of Sarah, silver hair and jean jacket)
Zee Amer (promo photo, face with trumpet)
All other photos, Sarah Kramer
