The student musicians of Kirkwood Community College are often practicing their instruments, collaborating with fellow musicians, or performing in a campus event. Santiago Kaiz-Vera took time away from his artistry to provide insight into what drives him as a student musician.
Can you tell me your name, year and what your major is?
My name is Santiago Kaiz-Vera. This is my third year at Kirkwood, and I’m a music major.
What instrument do you play and for how long?
I play the guitar. I’ve played for two and a half years.
What made you want to start playing?
I always wanted to play growing up, but I never got a chance to. Once I got the opportunity, I ran with it. A leap of faith one might call it. I’ve been doing it ever since, and I love what I do.
Do you see a future in playing the guitar? Does that matter?
I’m going to transfer to University of Northern Iowa to get my Master’s in Jazz Studies and also a degree in education to fall back on. Though the dream, obviously, is to make money gigging. It’s definitely my zen, something that I look forward to every day. Even if I didn’t find success or notoriety, I’d still play.
Would you say that it’s a part of your identity?
At this point, yeah. I used to play bass, but I hated that. I had to play bass for a whole semester, and it was awful.
What’s the impact that the guitar has had on your life?
I’ve met a lot of people through being a musician, which is one of the best parts of being a musician, the social aspect. I’m constantly networking with others and working on collab projects. On the other side of things, it’s a nice outlet to destress oneself.
How has attending Kirkwood supported your artistry?
The best part is that I’m constantly challenged as a musician and am always learning something new and looking at music from a different angle. Attending Kirkwood has definitely improved my musicality. We also just got a new instrumental director, Christopher Navarrete. He’s a pretty good guy. He tries really hard to challenge the students constantly, and he’s awesome for that.
What do you think makes someone an artist?
I would say anybody who creates. I don’t think there’s any real parameters for it. As long as you’re going out there and making something.
Who supports your art?
My parents, my siblings and my girlfriend are all great. Everybody can support me, but it’s important that I push myself to continue improving my ability.
How much time do you practice?
Sometimes I get three to four hours a day. You hear stories about these jazz cats practicing fourteen hours a day. I wish I had that time to sit down and perfect my craft.
Who inspires you musically and personally?
Musically, I would say that Carlos Santana, the guitarist, inspired me. If you haven’t checked him out, you should. He’s awesome.
Personally, my dad works really hard for what he has. Growing up, he was not rich by any means, but he worked hard to get what he has in life, and I aspire to be like that.
Categories: Art & Life
