A Portrait of the Artist: Naomi Arnold

If you have ever attended an art reception at Kentlands Mansion, you have enjoyed background music by local volunteers who do not hesitate to put their talents before the public. Naomi Arnold is one of these musicians. A classical pianist, she composes her own music and plays classic tunes and her talents even extend to jewelry making.

"Music has been my passion since I could walk and talk," said Arnold who was born in Sri Lanka.

Arnold grew up in a musical family. People referred to them as the Von Trapp family. Her father was a tenor in a pop group called Four Chords, and as soon as she had mastered singing, the artist gravitated toward the piano.

"I was instructed according to the British system which is very structured," she said. "I love classical music but I also fell in love with show tunes. The Sound of Music was one of my favorites. I learned to play by ear."

"Richard Clayderman, who plays classical with a twist, was very popular when I was young. I learned to play every song he performed and was inspired to become a musician myself."

Arnold did not stop at piano, although that is still her preferred instrument. She arranges and composes music for the flute and strings instruments. Violin, cello, viola, guitar and even saxophone are not foreign to her.

"Music is like second nature to me," said Arnold who shares her passion and innate ability by teaching piano classes for children and adults.

"All of them are piano students, ages 5 and up. They are fairly serious and we work on individual goals. I start them off with classical music and then let them take their own direction. Many of them are starting to compose their own music," said Arnold who has more than 30 students to whom she gives 30-minute lessons once a week.

At home she has her own recording studio, which she uses to study herself.

"I think of it as using technology as an aide. I record myself while playing in order to hear what my writing sounds like."

Arnold composes her own music on her baby grand piano and a few keyboards she has laying around.

"I don't plan for a particular instrument. I hear a part. It just comes to me. Often when I wake up in the morning I have music in my head and I sit down to record it."

On breaks, between compositions or recordings, Arnold loves to garden.

"I get to express myself through music. I am moved by life events, a particular story or even a flower," she said.

In performance, Arnold's music flows naturally.

"The piano is my passion. Every time I play one of my compositions I change it a little. I enjoy keeping the audience on its toes," said Arnold who finds it easy to improvise during performances.

"I like performing solo because I have free range."

Naomi Arnold performs both locally and nationally. She often plays at the Church of the Redeemer in Gaithersburg and Frederick, at Kentlands Mansion, the Arts Barn and local nursing homes and rehab centers, including Potomac Valley and Collingswood.

She also does concerts at Piano Company in White Flint Mall with an upcoming free performance this Friday, June 17, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. Her repertoire includes show tunes from "Phantom of the Opera," "The Sound of Music," and "Love Story," as well as classical and folk tunes and Christian hymns. She will also be playing various original compositions, including "Brady's Song," "Danielle's Song," "Moving On," and some of her latest songs.

Her jewelry line sells at the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg as well as at Bloomingdales trunk shows.

"I am a creative person with a can-do attitude," said Arnold who has been making jewelry for the past two and a half years. "I used to collect jewelry and spent a lot on it. So, instead of buying I started making my own."

Arnold's jewelry is available for sale on her website.

"I keep my music and my jewelry separate. They are two very different parts of me," she said.

Her music is available on iTunes and on her music website.