Interviewee:
Shira Moss (She/Her/Hers)
In your own words, tell us about your business, organization, or initiative.
My name is Shira Moss and I am a teaching and performing artist. Although my skills span into visual and movement arts, my main initiative in joining Creative Collective is to promote my musical projects for which I am the drummer/percussionist. I am looking for more opportunities to share the music of these projects in my local communities.
Tell us a bit about you and why you do what you do. Share your passions for your business, organization, or initiative.
Back in 2012, after a fifteen year tenure as a K-8 Visual and Performing Arts teacher, I decided to redirect my purpose toward growing as a percussionist, left the school, became a personal trainer and eventually found myself teaching again, but this time as a self-employed free-lance teaching artist in the area of drums and percussion.
Along the way, I’ve continued to sit with my own teachers, improve and expand my repertoire and have had the honor and opportunity to play with gifted and well-educated master instrumentalists, some of whom have become long-term band mates.
About 7 years ago, I was marching in the drum line of a parade band, playing the bass drum in a July 4th parade in Rockport and met Steve Tapper, who was playing piccolo. We struck up a conversation which has evolved to this day into my three main projects, our Flute and Percussion Duo, Obscure Notation and Seawitch, two bands that Steve brought me into along the way.
The three bands represent a range of music, from the World Music repertoire of the Flute and Percussion Duo, to the Jazz Blues Fusion of Obscure Notation to the Rock, Folk, Pop and Blues tunes of Seawitch.
Music is a multi-modal expressive language that we all share. It has defined our human experience throughout time and continues to hold the power to inspire, empower, empathize and motivate, especially when experienced live. Every performance is a unique opportunity to enliven the gifts of music in all of us.
What is the last thing you read, watched, or listened to that had an impact on you?
Always reading, watching or listening to something good, so it’s hard to choose! Recently watched the movie Sinners, which was a brilliant film with a deep and provocative message about music. Also recently watched a beautiful movie called Remarkably Bright Creatures, narrated from the perspective of an octopus named Marcellus, who lives in an aquarium, his commentary on humanity and his relationship with and impact on the night cleaning lady, played by Sally Fields.
What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about you or your business?
I’m not sure if I have any surprises. I pretty much put it all out there!
What is Creative Collective?
Creative Collective delivers comprehensive business services – marketing promotion, technical assistance, business consulting, and advocacy at all levels – for Essex County entrepreneurs, creators, and innovators. We support the whole person, not just the business, through a collaborative community where members learn from each other, not just from us, because we know thriving businesses are built by thriving humans supporting each other. Learn more and join Creative Collective at www.creativecollectivema.com/join
