• • IC Junior displays enthusiasm and talent for music ~ lth the ability ro make the 88 keys on~a~aJ plano come rogether ~ --............ In a way that was pleasing to the ear, Junior Chris Jordan had become ""'" a marvel at his crafr, Yet, far from entertaining hopes and dreams of one day being a world-renowned musician, Jordan said he just loved [Q play, feel the music and entertain audiences. Jordan, who was from Fort Worth, Texas, had been playing piano since he was a little boy. Jordan said his f.unily always kept a keyboard around the house while he was growing up. and he would mess around on the keys without completely realizing what he was doing. It was nOt until rile fifth grade that he began taking lessons. "I rook one month of piano lessons, had one recital and then just sran cd doing my own th ing," Jordan said. Amajor curning point in his early piano career came while attending a music camp during high school. "I went to a jazz camp for drums the summer after my sophomore year," he said. "The drums helped me find the right rhythm, but I ended up sticking with piano. From this point on, 1began learning a lot more about blues." According to Jordan, blues was his favorite style to play. "Blues is an expression of a musician's creativity," Jordan said. "When I'm playing, I picture words with the notes I am playing. To me, blues is the most liberating style to play." Jordan carried this desire for self-expression into college. Jordan was seen playing spontaneously in the cafeteria as well as in dormitory lobbies. H e also played frequently at the Underground Coffeehouse as a member of the Underground House Band. During the talent show Feb. 25, 2006, junior Chris Jordan improvises on the piano. " He has an amazing ability to make up his own special arrangements to everyday songs and makes it enjoyable for anyone who is listening," junior Keri Stevens said. -Chelsea Roberson "I just love playing for a lalge audIence," Jordan saId "I feel like 1can JUSt be myself when 1 am playmg, and the audIence gets to see the raw Chris. "When I carne to Harding, I only knew a few songs, bm playing for people motivated me to learn more Stu/f." Combining his talent with friendly competition, Jordan entered the 2006 talent show, one of his proudest moments. "When 1 first got up there to play, I really had no idea what 1was goi ng ro play," Jotdan said. "Bm I just felt the music and played, and people teally seemed to enjoy ir." Yet, while Jordan had some high points in his life, he said his h;,,"" oo" accomplishment came in the summer of 2004 when he played in a show while on a cruise. Jordan said when he firsr stepped in fromof the audience of about 1 people, he did not know what he was going to play. "I just started playing what I knew, and before I knew it, the audience was singing and clapping; it was pretty awesome." Despite his desire to play piano and emertain audiences, Jordan said after college he wants to focus on using his degree in business management. "I never want music to become a job or obligation to make money, I just want it to be fun," Jordan said. "I dream of owning a jazz club one day." However, no matter what Jordan does in (he future, he said he hopes to still be playing the blues and getting better at his craft. ''I'll keep upgrading my keyboard, buy a piano for my house and JUSt keep on playing," he said. -Jordan Dyniewski
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