Songwriter sings what's in her heart
"I sometimes wonder what would happen if I lost my voice. Music has so shaped who I am. I'm sure I'd be a totally different person."
Music has always been there, she said. Family stories tell how she went along to her older sisters' dance lessons and then would go home and sing and dance the routines they learned. "My mother told me I was humming melodies on key before I could talk."
Her mother recognized Robinson's gift for music and encouraged it. "When I was 2 1/2, I took second place in a local talent contest. I've been singing from then on."
Robinson grew up in Coalville. She went on to major in music at Weber State, and she taught music in junior high school before turning to private lessons "to save my sanity."
In 1986, she released her first CD, "but then life took over. I got married, had children," and although she still sang and taught, her recording career was mostly on hold.
But now that her children are 10 and 14, she's back writing and recording. Her latest CD, "In Thy Hand," two years in the making, has just been released by Sounds of Zion/Inspirational Music Showcase.
Robinson's first two CDs were released independently, "and that's very hard. You have to be the creative person, the administrator, the promoter."
Still, she didn't want to give up total control on "In Thy Hand," and ended up co-producing the CD with Greg Hansen. "No one person can claim complete rights to anything. On every project, many minds, many hands, many hearts have to work together."
The CD contains mostly her own compositions some rousing anthems for women, some tender tributes, several songs that have received awards in music competitions as well as a few songs from what she jokingly calls "the sealed portion of the hymn book, the songs we never seem to sing in church."
They are mostly songs of praise and joy. "Music brings so much joy. It is a way of saying thank you. It makes you feel blessed and grateful. It touches a part of us that other stimuli don't. It evokes places we've been before. Regardless of our trials and I like to complain about them as much as anyone at the center are opportunities to grow." And that's what she likes to sing about.
She also enjoys teaching. "It's fun to be in contact with youth one-on-one. But what I love most about teaching is what they teach me."
Whatever gift you are given and everyone has gifts, she said "you make it better by sharing it." She loves the first time students realize what they can do with their voices. "The day their voice opens up, something wonderful happens. You watch the light come on. It's very, very satisfying." On the other hand, nothing is quite as frustrating as watching someone who has a gift not use it, she said.
Comments
- Germans win men's beach volleyball 12:13 p.m.
- Inmate stabbed in head during brawl 11:56 a.m.
- Cards' Pujols leads All-Star voting 11:52 a.m.
- Federer beats Roddick 11:51 a.m.
- Military ordered to turn back jet 11:44 a.m.
- US not stand in Israel's way on Iran 11:39 a.m.
- G-8 greeted skeptically by some 11:38 a.m.
- Deal on arms control expected 11:36 a.m.
- Yankees' Wang goes on DL 11:36 a.m.
- Swimmer Lezak skips Worlds 11:35 a.m.
- Stadium of Fire lights up the 4th
- Millsap not franchise player
- Utahn reunites with officer
- Can Jazz escape luxury-tax mess?
- The BCS sure won't fix itself
- Interest in Millsap dwindling?
- Jazz talked Kirilenko for McGrady
- Obama deprives Iran of scapegoat
- NKorea fires 7 missiles defying U.S.
- 'Tea party' protesters unhappy
- Boozer not opting out of contract
180 - Palin resigning as governor
101 - Lack of Obama photos concerning
99 - Don't listen to marriage cynics
93 - Utah leaner in too-fat country
91 - Palin's and Romney's roles in 2012?
88 - Editorial: A sad day for Utah
86 - Jazz plan to re-sign Millsap
81 - Jazz talked Kirilenko for McGrady
73 - Y. gets verbal from cornerback
69
About one out of three kids and teenagers today is overweight or obese.
You've probably read the news about South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford,...
I don't think Palin can win on the national scene, but Mitt has got a strong...
Last night was the first time I went to the Stadium of Fire and I failed to...
This trial was supposed to have taken place months ago, but no news source...
Joe: The last thing we need to worry about is human extinction. Why don't...
Kramer never got involved til after The Big 10 commissiner had already called...
"Did you guys hear something? Me neither. HEY! Look at that elephant climbing...
you must not only be a "sloanaholic" but someone that works in the front...
To "Loss OF FREEDOM" Whe you say "What we get with big government -- high...
Cleaning up after 8 years of Republican mess? Hmmm, let's see - the...
the title could use some sense review. Instead of "beat people up", why not...



You can be the first to comment on this story.