Ragon Linde
Ragon (they/them) is a professional musician working as a solo performer and recording artist, music teacher, recording engineer, radio DJ, and supporting musician. On top of their solo recording and performing work, they also play in four Portland bands. Ragon wishes to use their skills as a musician, teacher, and organizer to connect with people, enrich lives, and make a difference in their community.
What age were you when you first started taking music lessons?
8 years old
Tell us about an early music lessons experience that helped shape you as a musician or teacher:
Two music lessons experiences shaped my view as a musician and teacher. One was in college studying drums and another as an adult voice student. In both cases my teachers worked with me to understand the physical movements of producing sound and how to access and embody those muscle memory sensations.
What are your favorite bands or musicians?
Over my lifetime I have been influenced by musicians working in the areas of Prog Rock, Jazz, and EDM – Rush, Yes, Chick Corea, and Depeche Mode to name a few. Those influences have helped me to try and develop sound scapes, progressions, and melodies that are dreamy and futuristic in nature.
Do you have a highlight of your music career so far that you would like to share?
The recent completion of my latest album, Homer, I would say is the culmination of what I have been working towards nearly my entire life. Comprised of 13 original songs, “Homer” has challenged me to write from a truly honest and authentic place. I tackle the topic growth and rebirth within the context of the systems that our natural world gives us to observe. In preparation for the tracking stage of this project, I took a class on MIDI and used these techniques extensively on this album. I was largely influenced by the work of Depeche Mode and wanted to infuse Electronic Pop with Prog Rock. This project has helped me to grow in my use of synth sounds as well as finding dark chord progressions, modal melody lines, and dance beats.
Describe your ideal student.
My ideal student is one who is curious about music and their chosen instrument. A student who has some favorite artists or songs and maybe even influences gives me some context into what motivates them to play.
Describe what your students should expect in their first few music lessons.
In the first few lessons I like to understand what types of music a student is interested in, understand their goals such as reading music, playing in a band, writing music, or learning their favorite songs. I also want to understand their learning style so I can best communicate with them and provide resources that will actually use in their practice.
Why did you want to become a music teacher?
I want to use my skills as a musician, teacher, and organizer to connect with people, enrich lives, and make a difference in my community.
Want to take lessons with Ragon? Follow this link to get started!