By Elena Coe McNamara
Staff Writer
Line after line. Verse after Verse. Costa Junior Shelby Strickfaden scribbles down lyrics to her new song as the lyrics come to her in waves of emotion.
Strickfaden has been singing since she was a toddler, but began seriously getting into her music while she was in middle school. Strickfaden writes songs about people and places that have affected her life and made her who she is today. Strickfaden usually writes in her room, but attends Idyllwild Arts Academy over the summer for their songwriting program.
“I attended Idyllwild Arts Academy for their summer songwriting program and wrote many songs there,” Strickfaden said. “But I am a home produced artist.”
Strickfaden loves to perform for close friends and family. She performs often and is a regular at In-House Arts. Shelby began performing in middle school, but has dedicated herself to pursuing her dreams now that she is in high school.
“As her friends, we always try to support her music. She’s never afraid to perform her new songs to the people she’s close with, and we love to hear her play music,” Allie Yamato, a close friend of Strickfaden’s said.
According to Strickfaden, she plans to base her life around her love for music. After graduating from Costa, she plans on attending Nashville’s Belmont University to major in music business and minor in songwriting. Shelby’s family and friends are supportive of her music career.
“Shelby’s entire family is extremely supportive of her passion for her music. We would love for her to make a career out of it,” Mrs. Strickfaden said.
Strickfaden learned to love music at a very young age. Ever since she was a young, music has been a large part of her life, due to her grandmother being a piano student and her mother being a dedicated artist. Strickfaden grew up with these two heavy influences on what she chose to do with her life.
“I realized that I had a very good ear for it and I could pick up instruments easily,” Strickfaden said, “and I excelled in more creative things and was naturally drawn to music at a young age.”
According to Strickfaden, despite how much she loves music, schoolwork has always taken priority over practices or writing new songs. Strickfaden attempts to incorporate music into her school day by joining both drama and choir. During her free time, however, Strickfaden is always writing and practicing on her own and with teachers.
“She does not practice everyday, for school and homework take up a lot of her time,” Mrs. Strickfaden said, “When she does have spare time, usually on weekends or breaks between homework, she is practicing and composing music.”
Strickfaden is a dedicated artist who plans on spending her entire life based around music. According to Mrs. Strickfaden, Strickfaden is a dedicated artist who sets an example for other Costa students that there is always something they can to to pursue their dreams.
“I’ve always loved music, dancing and singing since I was a toddler. My life is centered around it; listening to music, writing, performing and singing my own,” Shelby Strickfaden said.
Leave a Reply