Inside Voice – The Self-Advocate’s Perspective
“Musical expression” by Todd Oseki
My name is Todd Oseki. I live in Richmond with my mom and dad. I started taking singing lessons about 18 years ago. My parents thought it would be good for me because I have a rare seizure disorder that affects my memory. Singing is a great way to exercise your brain and to help the parts of the brain that contain memory, so the lessons were a kind of therapy for me. I love my singing lessons!
I have to admit that singing was a learned skill. When I started, I couldn’t hold a note to save my life. Through singing I got interested in writing songs. I took a course at night school through continued education with Cherelle Jardine and Doug Smith who are two local singer/songwriters. That was about 10 years ago. Before taking that course, the people I met through the music industry were pretty much doing their own thing and not so interested in me as a person.
That changed when I met Cherelle. I took the course and started writing songs. Cherelle invited me to come to a community music evening that she produces every month called Musical Expressions.
Musical Expressions is an evening of music played by local musicians, with different ones every month. I have met so many people because I go to that event. My circle of friends has grown, especially lately.
For the last few years, I have been concentrating on my health and getting stronger. I am finally feeling better and can go back to these wonderful evenings. I see old friends like Cherelle and always go out for coffee afterward with them.
Cherelle remembers me as a feisty kid when I took the course, and that I was really eager to learn. After that course I collaborated with a songwriter to create a couple of songs and have recorded one of them on a CD.
I think all the music in my life and the people that are part of that have helped me to get healthier in the last couple of years.
My facilitator from CLBC, Jennifer Wheadon, helped to connect me with the Vancouver Adaptive Music Society (VAMS) and that was great. She knew about my love of music and songwriting and she found out about a new recording studio that VAMS has created. I had a tour of it and also met some really old friends there. It was great to reconnect.
My ultimate dream is to write songs for the movies. I love rock and roll and I love Cherelle’s music. She continues to encourage me to pursue my passion, that is a good friend.
Like my mom says, it takes time to make the right connections and a lot of trust, but it is worth it.
You can find out more about Cherelle’s music at www.cherellejardine.com or www.thejardinesband.com.
The lyrics to Todd’s song “There is Nothing Wrong with Me”
It’s definitely not rare
It’s common yet unknown
Been around for centuries
It’s time to know
There’s no need to be afraid
It’s time to take a stand
Let me tell you what I’m feeling
Help you understand
No more terror
No more fear
The storm is over now I’m here
I’m not going to hide from you no more
Disease, disorder
What can it be
There’s no need for sympathy
Disease, disorder, epilepsy
There is nothing wrong with me
Now the word is spreading
And people understand
Acceptance is the answer
And knowledge is the plan
No more terror
No more fear
The storm is over now I’m here
I’m not going to run from you no more
Disease, disorder
What can it be
There’s no need for sympathy
Disease, disorder, epilepsy
There is nothing wrong with me
No more terror
No more fear
The storm is over now I’m here
I’m not going to hide from you no more
Inside Voice is published in each issue of The Citizen. If you are interested in writing for this column, please call Chris Rae at 1-877-660-2522 or e-mail editor@communitylivingbc.ca to discuss.
