Ken Medema
Encyclopedia
Ken Medema is a composer
–singer–songwriter
who has been performing in the United States
, Canada
, and Europe
for more than thirty years.
Ken Medema was born almost blind; his eyes let him tell light from shadow and look at outlines of major objects. He began playing the piano
when he was five years old, and three years later began taking lessons in classical music through braille music
, playing by ear
and improvising
in different styles.
In 1969, he majored in music therapy
at Michigan State University
in Lansing
, studying both piano and voice. Afterwards he worked as a music therapist in Fort Wayne, Indiana
and later at Essex County Hospital in New Jersey
.
In 1973, he began performing and recording his own songs. His lyrics generally provide social commentary on themes such as justice, hunger, poverty, homelessness, and Christian charity as it pertains to them. He has published a total of 26 albums, the first of which he recorded for Word and Shawnee Press, and then went on to found Brier Patch Music in 1985. Through Brier Patch Music he organizes and schedules his events, as well as publishes his music.
Performances regularly include songs improvised both musically and lyrically by accepting audience recommendations, sermon topics, or guest speaker stories as their basis. He performs in national and worldwide (church) congregations, campuses, youth gatherings, and annual assemblies. He lives in San Francisco, California
.
2008
2007
Ken Medema singing at a pre-school in San Francisco can be watched on You Tube (November 29, 2007)
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
–singer–songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
who has been performing in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for more than thirty years.
Ken Medema was born almost blind; his eyes let him tell light from shadow and look at outlines of major objects. He began playing the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
when he was five years old, and three years later began taking lessons in classical music through braille music
Braille music
Braille music is a Braille code that allows music to be notated using Braille cells so that music can be read by visually impaired musicians. The Braille music system was originally developed by Louis Braille....
, playing by ear
Learning music by ear
Learning music by ear is done by repeatedly listening to other musicians and then attempting to recreate what one hears. This is how people learn music in any musical tradition in which there is no complete musical notation...
and improvising
Improvisation
Improvisation is the practice of acting, singing, talking and reacting, of making and creating, in the moment and in response to the stimulus of one's immediate environment and inner feelings. This can result in the invention of new thought patterns, new practices, new structures or symbols, and/or...
in different styles.
In 1969, he majored in music therapy
Music therapy
Music therapy is an allied health profession and one of the expressive therapies, consisting of an interpersonal process in which a trained music therapist uses music and all of its facets—physical, emotional, mental, social, aesthetic, and spiritual—to help clients to improve or maintain their...
at Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in Lansing
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
, studying both piano and voice. Afterwards he worked as a music therapist in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
and later at Essex County Hospital in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
.
In 1973, he began performing and recording his own songs. His lyrics generally provide social commentary on themes such as justice, hunger, poverty, homelessness, and Christian charity as it pertains to them. He has published a total of 26 albums, the first of which he recorded for Word and Shawnee Press, and then went on to found Brier Patch Music in 1985. Through Brier Patch Music he organizes and schedules his events, as well as publishes his music.
Performances regularly include songs improvised both musically and lyrically by accepting audience recommendations, sermon topics, or guest speaker stories as their basis. He performs in national and worldwide (church) congregations, campuses, youth gatherings, and annual assemblies. He lives in San Francisco, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
External links
- Recording, live on stage
- Photo of the artist
- Ken Medema's Official web site
- Selection of his albums as shown at his webpage
- Content of his album "Sea Change" released in 2007
- Review of SEA CHANGE
- Content of his album "25 to Life" released in 2006
- Video file as shown at the artist´s webpage
- artist´s appearances at youtube
2008
- MAY 1ST, 2008: Video recording 20th annual Madison County/Huntsville prayer breakfast
- 2008 Northwest Ohio Synod conference
- Ken Medema receives CANDL Light Award 2008
- Review of his performance in Newburyport, April 2008
- Review of his performance at Kurn Hattin Homes, Westminster, VT, April 9, 2008
- "Jesus For President" You Tube, March 13, 2008.
2007
- "Speak out" You Tube, October 21, 2007.
- Radio interview at Gracematters, the Radio ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (July 22, 2007)
- Video file (recorded June 24, 2007) as available at YouTube
- Video file (recorded July 28, 2007) as available at YouTube
- Fund-raising activities for Evangelical Covenant Church in 2007
- Video file as available at YouTube, Artist´s song: "Come To This House"
Ken Medema singing at a pre-school in San Francisco can be watched on You Tube (November 29, 2007)