Jon Schmidt
// composer & pianistJON SCHMIDT is a composer and pianist from Salt Lake City, Utah. He is global recognized for his music work with The Piano Guys. “August End” (1991), “Walk In The Woods” (1993), and “Day In The Sunset” (1994) are all available from Aubergine Records, “Jon Schmidt Christmas” (1997) is available from Shadow Mountain, “To The Summit” (2000), “Winter Serenade” (2004), and “Hymns Without Words” (2006) are all available from JSP Productions. He has also released seven piano books containing transcriptions of original arrangements. Jon Schmidt is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon), and describes his style of music as “New Age Classical”, influenced by Beethoven, Chopin, Mozart, Mannheim Steamroller, and Billy Joel.
Website: www.jonschmidt.com
Photo: Jon Schmidt / JSP Productions
Interview:
I believe that we are all children of God. My faith teaches that we all lived with God who is our literal Father before coming to Earth. This Earth life was provided by God as a temporary time to learn, grow, and make our own choices free of Godly pressure. God has taken Himself out of the picture just enough for this purpose. For true choice and growth to occur in this Earth state, an environment of opposition in all things was necessary. For example, happiness and misery, health and sickness, good and evil. In essence, there are two opposing forces influencing us. We are free to pursue either or both. We are also free to develop individual spiritual gifts that allow us to harness and spread spiritual influence into the world. Godly spiritual gifts will spread any of the following influences: peace, love, joy, goodness, clarity of thought, and many others. Music is one of the most powerful of these spiritual gifts. Music can remind and teach us much about the character traits of God. Music can be a very effective vehicle to spread His influence throughout the world. One of the most rewarding aspects of performing and writing music is when I sense the effects of this Godly influence upon me or the listener. It is especially rewarding to get feedback from listeners that my music or performance has had a good influence, made them happy, brought them clarity, gave them peace, or helped them feel God’s love or Spirit in a time of need.
“Music can remind and teach us much about the character traits of God. Music can be a very effective vehicle to spread His influence throughout the world.”
– Jon Schmidt, composer and pianist
