The Man Behind the Music
An Interview with Ty Watson
Music is everywhere – the radio, the outdoors, concerts, TV and films. It has a way of drawing on listeners emotions, taking them to new places and times. A movie without the ‘creepy’ music during an intense scene loses impact. Through music, musicians and composers can take listeners on a journey. With each piece, Brampton, Ontario musician and composer Ty Watson aims to tell a story.
Ty’s musical journey began at age eight. Brought up in the Salvation Army, Ty first learned the cornet. For the past 20 years he has been playing trombone. Ty studied music education at the University of Toronto, and currently teaches music at Heart Lake Secondary School in Brampton, Ontario. “The Salvation Army is my first love,” says Ty, “so my inspiration, my passion for music comes from listening to Salvation Army music.”
“Musical composition brings to life emotion, curiosity, and insight to personal depths,” says Jon Brantingham, composer and owner of www.artofcomposing.com. “It transcends the limits of expression and provides a piece of art that is unique to each individual that interacts with it.”
In 2017, Ty wrote a piece for the Orillia Silver Band for Canada’s 150th celebration called A Life Well Lived. “I wrote a piece depicting my grandfather’s life,” says Ty. “My grandpa was just a regular guy that I think epitomized the hard work and dedication of Canadians.” Ty’s grandfather never had the chance to hear the piece played, having passed away at 102. “I was able to write that about his life and his work and representative of the common man in Canada.”
There are so many different types of music,
but when I write something, it’s very expressive and personal.
Music is constantly changing. Every performance is unique because of how the musicians perform, and different conductors will pull different aspects out of the music. “I really enjoy Ty’s creativity and imagination when he is arranging a melody,” says Ron Heintzman. Ron has been the band master of the Salvation Army Meadowlands Band for more than 20 years and currently plays soprano cornet for the Canadian Staff Band. As a player Ron enjoys the challenge Ty’s music offers. “The parts are always challenging, yet musically pleasing,” he adds. “Some of his music forces me to work way too hard!”
Compass Point is one of Ty’s most recent pieces. “It’s very personal, and I was able to write about a very difficult part of my life. I think this music draws out the emotions that the verbal wouldn’t,” he adds. “To get to the point where I can write at that level of expression is very important to me.” Ty is currently working on a tuba duet that’s going to be played in June.
At age 50, Ty is a few years away from retiring as a teacher. “What I’d love to do [after] I don’t even know exists, especially within the realms of the Salvation Army,” says Ty. “I think one of the top things especially, is finding good music for beginner groups. Beginner stuff – most people don’t [want to] do it. It’s hard to write something good with a 5-note rage, but I think kids deserve that.”
