by Natalie Ledford
I guess I should explain more about my music experience. I took piano lessons and played trombone in band as a kid and sang for church occasionally and in school choir and ensemble. Then as a senior, God put it in my heart to play the cello. I could literally feel it in my arms and knew I had to learn to play it. I took lessons for a year and then jumped into three community orchestras including the Gonzaga Orchestra and Spokane Falls Community College Orchestra. I learned quickly and immersed myself in classical music. I transitioned to a master teacher and had my own concert like a senior recital. I then took advanced music classes like theory, composition and counterpoint at a training center in Indianapolis. The courses were short but concentrated.
Eventually, I burned out on classical music, after watching all the striving and perfectionism. I knew I could never achieve greatness or be happy striving like that. I totally quit for awhile. Then I moved to Coeur d’Alene, ID and God began to move in my heart to be reconciled with music and not shut my heart to it. I quickly joined a church worship team and the Cda symphony and northwest sacred music chorale and a bell choir. And jumped back in with both feet.
At that time, I was also praying about learning to play in the Spirit and began a journey into my new chapter of musical expression …learning to express my heart and tap into Heaven through prophetic worship and intercession. I joined a harp and bowl group in 2006 that combined prayer, scripture and music. It required letting go of fear/control and learning to listen to inner promptings and stepping out of my comfort zone but I made the jump and never looked back. I found my calling and was heavily involved with prophetic worship and intercession from then on. I remember so many heavenly moments where we experienced God in a tangible way. It was like nothing else!
In 2013 I got married and started a family and music took more of a backseat in my life for a while. I still occasionally played with a group called WaterFall and other groups at retreats and such. I started writing lyrics and poems after I was diagnosed with als and have decided to write songs and exercise to express myself musically in a new way, to share with others and not hide my light. Even though I had lots of music training, chords and scoring accompaniments is very difficult for me. I kind of feel like I’m missing a piece of the puzzle. On top of that, I can’t sing or play instruments anymore so I can only use the software to play back what I write. The music on my website is basically the melody with some chords added on some songs. I am looking for musicians to help me round out the sound and create accompaniment.
At this point, I have the makings of an album called Out of the Silence. It’s a bit eclectic and not a particular genre. I’m kind of an out of the box person and I don’t know if what I have would appeal to anyone but I am pressing ahead one step at a time to do this and learning in the process. Hopefully I will be able to share a more polished version of my songs soon. I’m planning to be healed and do a lot more music in the future as God directs but right now I am trying to be faithful with what I have been given and be a good steward of it.
If you are a musician and want to be involved or contribute in any way, I would love to hear from you. Let me know your background and what you do. You can let me know how much you are interested in helping and what your boundaries are. I don’t have a huge budget for this project. Donations are also welcome. If you just want to critique and give me some ideas that is fine too.
Blessings, Natalie
Having grown up in the Pacific Northwest, Natalie has a fierce independence and wild adventurous heart. Nat has always been a hands-on person with a love for life, beauty and celebration. She has a degree in horticulture and training in music, carpentry, interior design, floral design and life coaching. Natalie spent time as an intern at a church and went on several ministry trips to places like the Philippines, Japan and India. She was involved heavily in music over the years with several orchestras, choirs and worship groups. She has also dabbled in many things including beekeeping, welding, machinery operation, large quantity cooking and gardening. She loves learning and trying new things. She thrives by being in the outdoors and enjoys making music with friends, preparing and eating good food, contemplation and communing with God through prayer, worship, dance, and journaling, or as she calls it, musing. Right now she is writing music and poetry and is in the early stages of writing a book. She hopes to be healed so she can go on to do many more things…travel, beekeeping, starting a farm and training others in practical ways to become their best selves with life skills and inner freedom.
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