We had the good fortune of connecting with Anastasia Canfield and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anastasia, what matters most to you?
Several come to mind, but related to my music business the primary one is community. I have felt that I found myself through the community of music in various spheres — from my piano studio growing up to joining band and marching band, spending summers marching drum corps with now life-long friends, and continuing to work with other musicians and artists in various capacities (music therapy, etc) and performance, there is no greater community-building than creating something beyond ourselves — together.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a musician both my trade and education having achieved a Master of Music degree that informs my songwriting, improvisation, and approach as a musician. I am classically trained, but my work as a music therapist leads me to be proficient in many genres on many instruments. It is difficult to answer the question of “was it easy?” because I don’t see music as “easy” or “difficult”. It takes time and concentration and care. It takes my commitment which some could equate to difficult, but I see it as my release. It is necessary. It’s like committing to breathing or eating.

I don’t like to sum up my work as a musician because I think that conversation often leads to the projects I’m working on or the bands I play with or the genres I gravitate toward. I see my musicianship as dynamic and the previous topics are static. As I change, my music changes. And as my music performance, composition, and songwriting changes, so do I. It is part of my spirit, my soul; an immeasurable part of me. I make music and it helps me make a living, but I believe that seeing music as only “my job” is reducing its worth which is beyond what any dollar amount can be attached to it. It transcends this world in so many ways.

I am a professional musician and a child of music — living in wonderment and joy, commitment and creation.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
It would depend on the friend, really, but Colorado has everything! There’s outdoorsy adventuring we could do as well as plenty places for the foodies. For the introverts and Neurodivergents like me, there are numerous bookstores and libraries. There’s also always live music I would definitely bring a friend to check out (probably one of my bands would be playing during the time they would be visiting!)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many important people who have helped me along my journey to where I am now. Numerous instructors and colleagues including, but not limited to: Diane Jones, Leslie Boerger, Dr. Angela Winter, Dr. Richard Shuster, Dr. Joni Jensen, Dr. Alie Farley, Angie Berktold, Elizabeth Linder, and more.

Website: www.anastasiarosemusic.com

Instagram: instagram.com/anastasiarosemusic

Twitter: twitter.com/anarosemusic

Facebook: facebook.com/anastasiaandthemusic

Youtube: youtube.com/c/anastasiarosemusic

Other: www.creativeremediesllc.com

Image Credits
Alyssa Montano (Rocky Montano Photography) Gab Kaplan Anthony Ring Chris Tracy

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