Thanks for joining me!

What do you call a musician with problems? A trebeled man.

heheh

Hello all!

   Before you begin reading, here is a favorite song of mine. There’s nothing better than music to get a feel for someone’s personality, and this is one I connect with very much. It is originally by the Beatles, but I really enjoy listening to this version sung by Rufus Wainwright. “Across The Universe” is one of those songs that has stuck with me for quite a while, both the lyrics and the music itself gives me goosebumps, makes me very thoughtful, and I find it fun and relaxing to sing along to. A huge goal of mine right now is to learn how to play this song on the guitar eventually:

   My name is Payton Rifley. I am a 20 year old Fairbanks Alaskan girl, and I am attending UAF , working, and trying to find out where life is going to take me! I have a major travel bug, I love to draw and paint, I love many different genres of music, dancing, singing along in the car, and I would like to learn how to play guitar. I have lived in Fairbanks my entire life so far and I am itching to get out, but I know I will miss my home once I leave. I am the kind of person who can go from listening to rock music, to Disney songs, to rap, to solo piano and strings, to country, to Christian music, to Spanish music, to oldies music, and so on… I can go on and on about music and I find that sharing and swapping music with people is one of my favorite things. I feel like I can learn a lot about a person by their taste in music. Bonus points if we like the same kinds of songs!

   Life is kinda weird and tends to get me down from time to time but I always, without fail, find an escape in listening to some of my favorite songs and in exploring new music. I adore live music, especially rock or country, but I really do love any kind of live music environments. My grandfather very recently gifted me his old acoustic guitar and I desperately want to learn how to play, so I look up youtube tutorials when I find the time and try to pick it up and learn something new. I was on a high school latin, ballroom, and swing dance team for three years, and I found dancing to be a passion of mine. Pairing music with such fun and graceful movements really gave me an excellent way to express myself and to enjoy music side by side with a fun activity. I have found time and time again that music brings me joy in some of the hardest of times, and I am incredibly impressed with how easily music brings people together and brings happiness to so many.

Thanks for reading! 

Here is a photo of the dance team I was on, (The Lathrop High School Ballroom Dance Team) In the final pose from one of our routines to the Disney song, “That’s How You Know”. One of my favorites! You can find me on my partner’s shoulder on the far left.