::Official Gariepy Music Website 2006::

Imaginations

Gariepy has the sound of music                                     
Pianist records own CD; producer compares his talent to George Winston’s

By HEATHER BAUGHMAN
Staff Writer

NAPOLEON - God speaks through 20-year-old Dan Gariepy when he tickles the ivories. And while 12 years of practice helps to make his piano playing perfect, he firmly believes that God has given him the gift of emotion and feeling when he performs.
	That gift is something that Gariepy shares with others when he plays at local restaurants and businesses, and now on his new CD, "Reflections of Christmas,' which is on sale at various locations in the area.  He recorded his first CD recently at
Sweetwater Studios in Fort Wayne.
	Since early fall, Gariepy played Christmas music on the upright piano in the basement of the home of his parents, Dave and Linda, trying to get a feel for the sound he wanted his CD to have.
	With his own spins perfected on holiday favorites such as "Winter Wonderland," 'Little Drummer Boy' and "Joy to the World," Gariepy sat down in the studio at Sweetwater and played and played and played.  Without the help of a single sheet of music, Gariepy says he poured out his heart and soul, with God as his partner.

“He (God) anoints my music.  I'm gifted in the fact that it's not just Dan Gariepy playing... It's higher thanme.”

“There are a million and a half people who play better than me,” technically, he admits.  Yet his talent is far greater than those million and a half other people because of “what God does through me,” Gariepy says.  “He anoints my music.  I'm gifted in the fact that it's not just Dan Gariepy playing... It's higher than me.”
	He says his music is “totally from the heart.  It's totally inspirational… Every single time I play, I want it (to be) emotional and inspiring to the listener.”
	While he knows the keys to play and the tunes to follow, Gariepy says he lets God take over and do the rest by giving him the emotion to glorify his music.
	Boosting his spirits while he was recording the CD, Gariepy's talent was reinforced by his producer, Larry Pester, who gave him one of the best compliments he's ever received.  Recalling the moment Gariepy held up one hand above his head the way Pester had and said, “George Winston is right here." Moving his hand down an inch, Pester said, "You are right here.  You can be here if you work at it" he says, moving his hand back to its original position.
Before realizing the talent that God had bestowed upon him, Gariepy says he was first inspired  by his older siblings, Jennifer, 27, and Mark, 26. When he was about 8, Gariepy was told by his parents, who he says "don't play a lick of piano," that he was going to take piano lessons, half an hour every day, seven days a week.  With a buzzer counting down the time, Gariepy says he would shave a few minutes off his practice by moving the hand on the timer whenhis mother left to run errands.  I thought I was sneaky, but in retrospect," he says with a laugh, "I think she figured me out."
	While he liked to cut short his practice time, Gariepy admits, "I was inspired by my brother and sister.  They were fantastic players."
Every few weeks, the Gariepy children would visit their grandmother at Northcrest Nursing Home and perform their latest pieces.  Gariepy, who could only play with two fingers in the beginning, was in awe of his siblings. “They were so intricate.  They propelled  me to the next level.  I wanted to leap ahead and catch up.  That’s what motivated  me.  I've been playing ever since.”
In the eighth grade, Gaflepy further advanced his piano skills as a student in a gifted and talented program at Bowling Green State University.  There, he studied for two and a half years under Luke Bartolomeo, who just recently opened his own music school in Perrysburg.
Through years of hard work, his desire to play like Jennifer and Mark, and his tutelage from Bartolomeo, Gariepy is finally seeing the fruits of his labor. Not only is Gariepy excited about having recorded his first CD, but he is also using this business venture to help finance his future.
The 1999 graduate of Pettisville High School also recently earned associate degrees in business and marketing at Northwest State Community College.  Now, before venturing off to Australia to finish his degree in international business at Bond University, Gariepy will sail the world for several months, departing on Jan. 21.  On this educational trip, which he says, “gives students more of an experience in the international environment”Gariepy will earn college credit and see the world at the same time.
	A firm believer in Carpe Diem, Gariepy asked himself, “When am I ever going to be able to do this again? Never.”
Always eager to see a vision materialize, he notes, “If I dream about it I have to make it happen,” which is how he managed to afford a trip to Germany as an exchange student when he was a sophomore in high school.
	He has since been back to see his host family twice.
	With playing piano at various locations throughout Ohio, working part-time at Bob Evans in Defiance and a scholarship that will pay for nearly one-third of his trip, Gariepy is hoping his CD sales will help him sail a bit further.
	To boost his sales, Gariepy has sent copies to the major networks and to famous talk show hosts such a Oprah Winfrey and Jay Leno.
	Taking hold of his future and his dreams, Garipey explains, “I have to do the possible before God steps in and does the impossible.”
	Dreaming another dream, Gariepy says he sees a couple more CDs in his future, with the next possibly being Christian music or a Christmas follow-up.
	Gariepy, who speaks German fluently and Spanish, hasa "gift for gab," is well traveled, and has an obvious talent for playing piano, says he is "wondering when God will have me converging on all my talents.  It's kind of exciting."
	With a future degree in international business, he wonders if he might have his own business one day and play piano, or if he will travel the world and do mission work.  "I don't want to eliminate any dreams," he says.
With new prospects presenting themselves daily, Gariepy says, “It's exciting to see what kind of doors God's opening for me.” He firmly believes that, “You need to believe in yourself and believe what God can do.”

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