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(December 20, 2023, Allentown, PA) Lily Kubala, an adult guitar student of Joe Wagner, wrote and recorded a Christmas song in the recording studio here at Community Music School. The original lyrics and arrangement for “The First Gift of Christmas” are based on the traditional tune of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. Lily began learning to play guitar and writing the song as a “covid project” back in 2021 and, with guidance from Joe Wagner at CMS, was able to release the song as a holiday gift for her family and friends.
Lily shared, “I’ve heard a Christian version of ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas,’ but I felt there was room for improvement in the lyrics.” She penned her own Christian version of the classic using the titles of Christmas carols to create a “musical manger scene”. “I wanted to remind us of the real meaning of Christmas, but make it something that all faiths can relate to… love, joy, and humanity.”
“Lily started in-person guitar lessons with me at CMS last spring (2023),” said Joe Wagner. “CMS welcomes learners of all ages and abilities, but there is something special about working with our adult students who have returned to music after many years.” In addition to teaching guitar and leading the CMS House Band, Joe is the resident audio engineer and recording teacher here at CMS. He is an experienced composer and recording engineer for TV and film soundtrack projects.
Joe explained the songwriting process: “Lily brought in a song she was working on, and we worked on the arrangement and did a few drafts of the lyrics during her guitar lessons. Then we tried different keys, tempos, and chords until we found the right mix. When we recorded in the studio at CMS, my idea was to keep the recording and processing simple to get a sound not tied to any specific era of music.”
The final recording features Lily on vocals with a Neumann microphone and Joe on a C.F. Martin acoustic guitar with a Shure condenser microphone, run into a Neve Preamp. Joe explained, “This combination of mics, guitar, and preamp has been used on countless albums for decades, so I think it gives the track a timeless sound.”
Lily described the recording studio at CMS as “a wonderful community resource” and the songwriting and recording process with Joe as “a joy”. “It is amazing that such a state-of-the-art resource is available here in Allentown for such a reasonable fee. Where else in the valley do you have access to the digital version of the Abbey Road studio?” she said. “Joe was able to use his expertise to take this little old lady’s song and make it come to life!”
In 2021, Community Music School received a generous grant from The Presser Foundation to help fund the construction of and technology for this state-of-the-art audio and video recording studio. “Working with the latest state-of-the-art equipment to record music is incredibly rewarding, but even more important, this studio gives a voice to those whose music might not otherwise be heard, and that is something I’m very proud to be a part of,” said Joe. The audio and video recording studio at CMS features three unique recording spaces and a nine-iMac education lab with the latest technology, equipment, and software found in professional recording studios. Students, age 12+, can gain hands-on experience with industry-standard recording technology, including Logic Pro, Final Cut, Sibelius, Waves, Allen and Heath, Neve, and Neumann, through a variety of recording classes.
When she isn’t practicing guitar and writing music, Lily works as a hospice chaplain. She is a lifelong musician, having earned her B.A. in music and religion from Millikin University. In addition to learning guitar and composing, she is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Liberty University.
“The First Gift of Christmas” by The LJs was released through CDBaby and is available on all streaming platforms, including:
About CMS: Community Music School (CMS) – Lehigh Valley & Berks is a non-profit charitable organization that provides the inspiration and opportunity for anyone in our diverse community to achieve excellence in music education and appreciate the transformative power of music. CMS employs 25 professional teachers who provide private lessons and group classes to over 300 students of all ages, from toddlers to seniors, in piano, strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, voice, and recording technology; both in-person and online. CMS offers introductory group classes, such as Kindermusik, Kids Choir, Modern Band, Intro to Piano, and Intro to Recording that provide music fundamentals, while Jazz Band and House Band ensembles offer collaborative free performance opportunities for intermediate and advanced students.
Thanks to support from our philanthropic community, for over 40 years, CMS has provided students in the Lehigh Valley with the life-long benefits of a quality music education and free performance opportunities. CMS is proud to fund over $90,000 annually in financial aid, merit scholarships, and outreach. Over 50% of students under age 18 receive financial assistance funded by generous donors.
Located in the former Lehigh Valley Social Club at historic 1544 Hamilton Street in Allentown, CMS offers 12 lesson rooms of varying sizes, a unique parent lounge, early childhood room, music library, administrative offices, state-of-the-art recording studio, and a 150-seat recital hall. Learn more at http://cmslv.org/.
Information provided to TVL by:
Lisa Hopstock Kulp, Assistant Director
Community Music School Lehigh Valley & Berks
