CHAYAREI BALDONADO

Music & YouTube

Bachelor of Architecture ‘22 at The City College of New York.

Inspiration

What inspired you to pursue music?

I have loved music since I was very young. It is my passion. I used to take piano lessons, and I have played for about 5 years. I stopped attending lessons during my freshman year of high school. I attended LaGuardia High School where I became a vocal major and learned more about music. Using that knowledge, I have continued to practice what I've learned to further develop my skills.

YouTube Thumbnail for My Go-To Makeup Look. Image courtesy of Chayarei Baldonado.

Writing Songs and Experimenting and Playing the Piano. Image courtesy of Chayarei Baldonado.

Time Management

How did you manage to maintain your time?

While practicing architecture, I use music and YouTube to escape when things get very overwhelming. I usually use music to help me unwind or express my emotions, whether it is singing, writing music, or playing the piano. I want to continue to grow as a musician, even though I have chosen to pursue architecture. So it is still a huge part of my life. Since YouTube is more time consuming, I find the balance between my architecture work and filming and editing. I fit YouTube into my schedule as best as I could.

Resources

What are the bases to start music and YouTube?

I use my piano at home to practice and to experiment. I use my laptop to make music on Garage Band and I edit videos on Premiere Pro. I simply use my iPhone to record videos. I use my own knowledge on how to edit videos and make music, and I do my best to create. I usually just experiment and learn along the way. For YouTube videos, I watch tutorials and other videos for reference or inspiration. I was my own influence as I tried to find new things to do and new ways to express myself.

Senior Year Open House at LaGuardia High School - Courtesy of Chayarei Baldonado.