Nearer My God to Thee

I just moved and am still unpacking boxes, but wanted to let you all know of my latest adventures.  One song that I just arranged for a friend to play at her violin recital is on sound cloud if you would like to check it out.  The violinist is Lauren Kettle.  She is a senior in high school.  I had a great time working with her.  She is such a fantastic musician as well as one of the sweetest girls I have ever met.  :)

Nearer My God to Thee

Violin played by Lauren Kettle

Piano played by Catrina Baum

https://soundcloud.com/stream

Thousand Years

I put together this video to celebrate National Adoption month.  The song is Thousand Years by Christina Perri covered by the trio I sing with, One Horizon.  I arranged the piano, violin and vocal harmonies.  I hope you like it.  Can you tell what well know song is being played by the violin???  Please comment below if you have any guesses and I will tell you if you are right.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lhb6kx0kz_k

"Glorious" Cover Video Contest

Wow!!!  I just had another music rush this week as I decided to just "go for it" when I found out about a youtube music video contest with the song "Glorious" from the Meet the Mormons.  I arranged a three part harmony of the song and then put together a youtube video of me singing the song in less than 5 days.  I have never walked out in the open, through a bunch of trees singing my own musical arrangement before.  Can I tell you how weird that was.  But I did it!!!  WOO HOO!!!  Who needs theme parks when I've got adventures in sharing my music with the world.  If you would like to check it out click on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lomC7hcCkA

I would also like to give a shout out to my 11 year old son who helped with video taping of this "Glorious" music video using only a sony cybershot (point and shoot). He captured the footage used in this video in less than 30 minutes, came up with the ideas of how to angle the camera and where I should walk, touching the trees and nature... EVERYTHING!!!! One of my favorite parts of the video footage that he captured was the gust of wind that picked up for about 5 seconds. It was the only wind we had throughout the whole time we were filming. I don't think we could have timed it better. The wind rushing through my hair totally matched the lyrics of the song perfectly. I feel like it was the Lord letting me know he was with Dallin and I as we worked on this project and he was pleased with our efforts. That is the reason I put together this music in the first place, I really felt like it was important for me to try to contribute something to this beautiful collection of cover songs that were meant to uplift and bring people closer to Christ.

Believe

In anticipation of a very special event this weekend I have put together the following slide show.  I hope you enjoy it and most especially I hope you will join me in watching the October General Conference of 2014.

Click here to watch the "Believe" Slide Show:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ki94f83yjiuv23n/I%20Belive%20in%20Christ.mp4?dl=0

All pictures used in the video presentation come from a group still pictures that go along with a set of Bible videos called, "The Life of Christ Bible Videos".  To watch these videos go to lds.org or click the link below.

The link for the bible videos is:
https://www.lds.org/bible-videos/videos/shepherds-learn-of-the-birth-of-christ?lang=eng

To check out the October General Conference of 2014 just click on the link below:

http://bit.ly/1p8KEmB

Nothin' Better

I have just finished recording my latest song on garageband.  This song captures feelings I have had about the adventure my husband and I have taken ever since we first met.  I tried to find a picture that I could post with the song and fell in love with this one.   I hope you like the song.  It is called, Nothin' Better.

Image courtesy of panuruangjan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

https://soundcloud.com/catrinabaum-yahoo-com/nothin-better 

You've Got a Friend in Me

I just recorded my arrangement of the song You've Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman. This is part of a project that I have been working on with a trio I sing with called One Horizon (onehorizonmusic.blogspot.com). One of the other members, Carolyn Brady, has arranged a version that is a little more country and we hope to blend the two ideas for our upcoming Summer Concert program. Enjoy! 
PS The image I attached to this post is a picture of the three of us.

https://soundcloud.com/catrinabaum/youve-got-a-friend-in-me

I Feel Good

I am so excited to tell you about how I had the privilege of having Jacob Lutrell listen to two of my original compositions and give me feedback on what he heard.  Jacob Lutrell is a songwriter who has worked with well known artists such as Justin Bieber and Enrique Eglasius (this mispelling makes me laugh...this is how I thought it was spelled before I looked it up).  The song that I am most familiar with, that he wrote, is "Fall" sung by Justin Beiber.

I was a little nervous to have Jacob listen to my songs because I wasn't sure if my music was something he would be able to connect with, but after much pondering I knew he was the person I wanted to share my songs with.  I suppose some of my nerves came from performing it live in front of him as well.  It was such a rush to be able to do that.  He was very complimentary.  He liked the way the lyrics were so conversational and, my personal favorite, he said the song just made him "feel good".  This also, by the way, was my number one goal in sharing the song with Jacob.  It was so rewarding to hear him say how he felt when he didn't even know that I wanted to touch him and his life even more than I wanted his feedback.  

Jacob also had some valuable ideas that I have tried to incorporate into my writing.  He suggested to change some of the lyrics, because although they were very conversational some words were not very "singable".  AND, he thought that I could rework my chorus so that I could develop more of a hook.  SO AWESOME, Jacob!!  Thank you.

The song I have worked on the most, since Saturday, is "My Better Half".  What I decided to focus on the most is developing a better hook.  As a result I have changed the name of the song to "We Will Always Be".  I am pretty excited about the changes.  I, of course ran over to my sister's house, who happens to live next door, to get her feedback first.  She was awesome as always and helped me eliminate any remaining unnecessary lyrics.  Once I finished there I came back home and was able to play it for the piano tuner who just happened to be working on my piano.  I asked him if he could identify the HOOK after listening to it one time... and he did.  WOOHOOO!!!  Mission accomplished.  He also suggested I get it copyrighted right away.  SO, I will be doing that first before I put the recording on my blog.

That is all I have time for right now.  Stay tuned for more songwriting conference details.........