Meet Cory Robinson | Music Educator & Composer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cory Robinson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cory, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I wanted to create my own composition service that catered to the here and now in music education. In order to reach my students and get them engaged in my classes, I felt that there had to be a change in the type of literature that we were studying. This is a newer trend in Music Education. There has been a focus on creating space in the music classroom to teach popular music education at a younger age. I had attended professional workshops on the pedagogy of popular music and decided, “Hey I can do that! I can even incorporate my own compositions in my classes!” After testing out some of my songs and exercises for efficacy and student interest, I decided to create materials for others to use.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I got my start by writing music in high school actually. I have always loved music and how it was structured, in particular jazz and popular music. My initial compositions weren’t that great but they were building a future foundation of my love for music composition. I graduated from Georgia College and State University in 2013 with a BA in Music. This wasn’t an easy time for me, however. I dealt with the loss of my mother after high school, battled depression and anxiety throughout my college years and I was in poverty during my time in college. I struggled financially, trying to do things on my own and finding odd jobs to make my way through. I learned that it was okay to ask for help and to not be afraid to take risks and stand up for myself. Even throughout all of the challenges, I still held my head up and remained my amicable self. I accepted help from others and embraced their differences, with the intent to always pay it forward. I will never forget those who helped me during those times.

After graduating, I worked temporarily at a deli. It helped me to see the viewpoints of others and realize…it wasn’t for me! During this time I started applying to schools in my local area for a music teaching position. I was given an opportunity at Lamar County Schools where I taught elementary music. It was during this time that I began writing music for educational use. I used my jazz background to write and arrange short elementary songs that my students performed. I made sure to incorporate World cultures in my music to introduce students to new cultures. This lead me to my current role as a middle choir director that published my first book using all of my previous knowledge and personal touch.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my favorite places to hang around Atlanta are local spots like J. Christopher’s for breakfast, Slim & Huskies for lunch, and Hudson Grille or Ponce City Market’s restaurant for dinner. I would definitely make a point to show them to places like Ponce City Market, Krog Street, Little Five Points, Atlantic Station; some “safe” hot spots haha. I’m really more of a “check the vibe” type of person. We can be classy at TWO Urban Licks or the James Room, hipster at Jack’s Pizza and Wings or a little urban at Harold’s Chicken and Ice Bar on Edgewood. I low-key miss Joe’s on Juniper for their patio and drinks. Afterward, I would definitely hit up some of the nightlife at places like Mixx/Ansley Square, 10th and Piedmont or Friends. If it’s a Sunday afternoon, we definitely gotta hit up Piedmont Park and the nearby Beltline.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely want to shout out to God first in everything that I do! Even though I have always doubted myself, my friends, family, and students have always pushed me to be my best self.

I would also say that the love of music was instilled in me by my mother, Lorraine Robinson; who is in heaven’s choir.

Website: www.spenceroriginals.com

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