Alyse Hokamp

Blog archives

  • [Pan-Tones] 1st dance night, TCC, tuba recital, duo, gear

    We got ourselves a fresh photo! Pan-Tones dance night I had this idea several months ago, and Robert pushed me to make it happen sooner rather than later. It was so much fun! Recently, I’ve been stepping more into my identity as a dancer, and this was a creative way to combine my interests and Read more

  • 7 things you need to book a new musical act

    The musician’s catch 22: How do you book a gig before you’ve had a gig? How can you prove that your musical act is “real?” Shift your thinking to a sales approach. Before you hold a product in your hands, how do you know you want to buy it? Essentially, you buy into the packaging Read more

  • [SATS] The Girl from Ipanema, L-O-V-E

    Here are two simple videos I made for my Japanese project, Satomi and the sound. I’m not big on making videos. For me, it takes a disproportionate amount of time to film and edit, and I’d rather focus on music. Yet for many platforms, to share audio, video is often required (or strongly preferred). I Read more

  • The one thing that makes you successful as a musician

    Success in music = artistic collaboration. You must be a good… no, outstanding artistic collaborator. Investing in your artistic relationships isn’t a quick fix for anything. Building and maintaining relationships in general isn’t quick, and won’t result in immediate cash or status. But- it will make you feel successful. There is nothing more rewarding than Read more

  • How to build an audience, and why you should care

    It is your personal responsibility to bring people to your performance. Large organizations, like orchestras, have divorced many classical musicians from this responsibility. The marketing team is in charge, and musicians don’t notice the consequence of a small audience, nor the benefit of bringing in a larger audience. It simply doesn’t affect them one way Read more

  • Preparing to the best of your ability

    It sounds incredibly obvious that we should prepare to the best of our ability. However, in reality, things aren’t that simple. We procrastinate, we get sick or need to take care of someone that got sick, or we forget to consider we won’t have as much time to practice during spring break/family visits/etc. Procrastination vs. Read more

  • All about over-practicing

    What is over-practicing? 1. Practicing more than usual (your personal usual) as a performance approaches.-Results in mental and/or physical fatigue, and diminishes performance. 2. Practicing to quiet self-criticism and neuroses.-Are you practicing to move forward with a skill or a goal, or to placate fear and self-punishment? 3. Practicing with pain.-Do not ignore your body’s Read more

  • 7 things I learned about performing, as a dancer

    I don’t remember my first performance at all. I started ballet at four (and a half), so I was probably five. I took ballet rather seriously throughout elementary and intermediate school- two to three classes a week, and several productions a year. When I was eleven, I began playing the flute in band. As my Read more

  • Brb, riding a wave

    Creativity and inspiration comes in waves. When it hits, it can be pretty overwhelming. It keeps me up at night, then wakes me up in the 3 o’clock hour in the morning. I’m exhausted, but also exhilarated. Even my stomach gets kind of upset- my whole body is running on hyperdrive. It’s definitely an unsustainable Read more

  • Valentine’s Day 2025

    Musicians Alyse HokampRobert HokampSteven HarlosAustin CrumrineGreg Beck Donations/tips: Venmo @Alyse-Hokamp, PayPal hokampmusic@gmail.com Music You’d Be So Nice to Come Home ToL-O-V-E Venus C’était charmantProezas de SolonI Wish You Love Apple Blossom Time Romance cumbiaCan’t Help Falling In Love No Other Love Chopin Nocturne in Eb Major, Op. 9 No. 2 I Could Have Danced All Read more