Today we’d like to introduce you to Martha Larson.
Hi Martha, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a lifelong musician who studied classical music throughout my childhood and into college.Upon graduating with an engineering degree, I began playing cello with various rock and jazz bands in Chicago. When a job change brought my husband and me to Northfield in 2010, I began to find connections within its vibrant arts scene. In 2015, my husband and I rented a small building on Division Street and started Hot Spot Music, which we dubbed “your local music incubator. “ it was intended to be a place where people could try out various music ideas and find space to cultivate their creativity. It has since become a beloved gathering space for music lessons, rehearsals, jam, sessions, performances woven into an organic web of musical connections. I’ve met some of my best friends there, and had many fulfilling musical experiences as a result. I currently perform with guitar/cello duo Over Yonder and funk quartet, Bad Mama.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s always a challenge to balance life as a working mom, not to mention having a small business on the side. Hotspot music is a labor of love, I wouldn’t be me without music. And it has served as a really valuable outlet for that. I’ll never feel like I’ve had enough time to explore all the musical avenues that I long to experience.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a cellist, I strive to explore and Incorporate multiple genres. Classical music forms the core of my sound and technique, but I enjoy weaving it within folk, bluegrass, jazz, and other music traditions. I’m especially attracted to dark, minor pieces and anything with good rhythm. I’m always up for doing something avant-guard and unexpected like incorporating percussive techniques, dancing with the instrument, or experimenting with guitar pedals. I’m proud of that open, adventurous spirit and willingness to experiment.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Getting started as the hardest part, but it pays to develop a meditative, consistent practice routine. Simply pulling the bow steadily across the string and hearing how the sound fills the room can be both good for your technique and good for your spirit. It also helps to find a set of pieces that really speak to you and then dedicate to learning them fully. Taking them all the way to a recording or performance allows someone to truly get to know them deep and feel the music rather than simply play it. Memorization deepen that connection. And stay open to noticing the dark before the dawn. Sometimes our hardest and most challenging, depressing periods – when we feel we can’t progress any further and success eludes us – often come about just before a major breakthrough.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hotspotmusic.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hot_spot_music
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hotspotmusicmn
