As the first week of June comes to a close, the celebration of Pride and the LGBTQ+ community starts as Open Eye Theatre presents “Ode to Walt Whitman,” created and performed by Bart Buch and Company. 

This puppet performance is dedicated to two well-known queer poets, Walt Whitman and Federico García Lorca, and will run until Sunday. The show provides the audience with an interpretive experience through different sets and scenes depicting Whitman and Lorca interacting with one another in a world outside of the one they knew.

The show features a live score performed by multi-instrumentalist Martin Dosh, and sold out New York City’s HERE Arts Center in 2009, according to Open Eye Theatre. 

The performance is set in an online dating app among many other dreamlike sets, but uses no words. The different puppetry art styles, lighting and shadow play, as well as immersive music, allow for the audience to observe the emotions rather than be told exactly how the characters are feeling. 

Martin Dosh said audiences can expect a wide variety of emotions to play out throughout the show as well as within the music itself. 

“Melancholy, joy and wonder — those are emotions that naturally come with a lot of my music and that mapped out really nicely to the actual story and parts of it are really quite funny too,” Dosh said. “So it’s like humor, beauty, wonder and obviously sadness.” 

Dosh mixed organic and electric sounds to give an air of wonder and uniqueness, unlike other forms of music. The creator of the show, Bart Buch, said the music and the show were a perfect match for one another. 

“I feel like the imagery I put out there and the music he puts out there are a really sweet match that was sort of made to be,” Buch said. “I’ve done puppetry to a lot of different kinds of music, but his is the best.” 

Buch said the inspiration for the show came from Lorca’s own “Ode to Whitman,” as Lorca had just visited the United States at the time of the stock market crash in 1929. Lorca wrote his poem to honor Whitman but also to criticize the urbanization and industrialization of New York City, disagreeing with some of Whitman’s hopeful ideals. 

“So that conversation really intrigued me, and I wanted to enter the conversation in my own way,” Buch said. “I started out as an artist, as a poet, and I write word poetry sometimes too, but I was really called to be a puppet artist, a puppeteer. So that was the most natural way for me to enter the conversation.” 

The show is immersive and hypnotizing at times, calling out the modern world we live in today. 

Jane Henson, co-founder of the Jim Henson Foundation, attended the premiere in New York City more than once and said the show deserved to be seen twice. 

“This show is a good poem, and good poems need to be read twice,” Hensen said. 

Open Eye Theatre said the show is a reminder of the tension our world faces today and represents the hope of a more connected future for us all. 

“In a moment of rising anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, censorship, and cultural division, ‘ODE TO WALT WHITMAN’ speaks with renewed urgency,” Amy Danielson, the theatre’s marketing and public relations manager, wrote. “Lorca’s grief over a dehumanized America and Whitman’s dream of a nation built on love and comradeship mirror today’s tensions between isolation and connection, fear and hope.”

The Northeast Vintage Block Party returns to Minneapolis this Saturday, after a successful first event last September. 

The block party will feature food, music, art and more than 30 different vintage clothing vendors to cultivate a sense of community, according to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association.  The event lasts from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is held at Fifth Street NE and Hennepin Avenue in the parking lot behind the vintage shops. 

The fastest way there for students is the bus stop at Tenth Ave SE and Eighth Street SE and take the four bus route to First Ave NE and Fourth Street NE. 

The block party was started last year by vintage store owners Carrie Martenson from Olio Vintage and Yana Pietras from Moth Oddities. More vintage shops and businesses on the Northeast Vintage Block joined to help support one another and their community, according to Martenson. 

Now, the event is hosted by Moth Oddities, Olio Vintage, The Golden Pearl Vintage, Twelve Vultures and Gardens of Salonica along with guest artists and vendors. 

Martenson said the event is for giving back to the community that surrounds the block, as they have supported the small businesses participating in the event. 

“It’s amazing to see the community come out and support small businesses,” Martenson said. “I think people were really happy to be able to do that, to have an event that caters to a specific neighborhood, not just Minneapolis in general.” 

DJ Jake Ryan, who provided music for the event last year and is returning this year, said he is a fan of events like the block party and thinks they are great for supporting a local community. 

“I personally really love these events, I make it a point to stop at little creative markets as much as I can and buy things from people,” Ryan said. “I think it’s great for the community, especially if you have a small business.” 

Martenson hopes visitors this year have a positive experience similar to last year and wants to provide a sense of community and belonging as well as some fun items for visitors to bring home with them. 

“I hope we can provide some fun, unique items for them to take home, but also a sense of community and belonging so people feel welcomed and a part of the community,” Martenson said. “The whole idea is we’re trying to build the community and get people to think small and come together on a hyper local level.” 

Sophie Radvan, one of the featured artists at the event this year, specializes in aura photography. Aura photography is a kind of photography that focuses on self-reflection and exploration through photographs and conversation. 

Radvan said, similarly to her own craft, the event is focused on representation and reflection of self through the clothes we wear and the community we support. 

“Small independent companies, especially local businesses, are the backbone of culture,” Radvan said. “They are the backbone of what makes your city, your zip code, your neighborhood, unique, special and rare.” 

Martenson hopes to grow the event after this year with  community feedback in the future. 

“We would love feedback from people about whether there is something we’re missing, or something people would be really interested in having that we’re not doing right now,” Martenson said. “We would love to see this continue and grow and be as successful as it was the first time around.”

The Northeast Vintage Block Party returns to Minneapolis this Saturday, after a successful first event last September. 

The block party will feature food, music, art and more than 30 different vintage clothing vendors to cultivate a sense of community, according to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association.  The event lasts from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is held at Fifth Street NE and Hennepin Avenue in the parking lot behind the vintage shops. 

The fastest way there for students is the bus stop at Tenth Ave SE and Eighth Street SE and take the four bus route to First Ave NE and Fourth Street NE. 

The block party was started last year by vintage store owners Carrie Martenson from Olio Vintage and Yana Pietras from Moth Oddities. More vintage shops and businesses on the Northeast Vintage Block joined to help support one another and their community, according to Martenson. 

Now, the event is hosted by Moth Oddities, Olio Vintage, The Golden Pearl Vintage, Twelve Vultures and Gardens of Salonica along with guest artists and vendors. 

Martenson said the event is for giving back to the community that surrounds the block, as they have supported the small businesses participating in the event. 

“It’s amazing to see the community come out and support small businesses,” Martenson said. “I think people were really happy to be able to do that, to have an event that caters to a specific neighborhood, not just Minneapolis in general.” 

DJ Jake Ryan, who provided music for the event last year and is returning this year, said he is a fan of events like the block party and thinks they are great for supporting a local community. 

“I personally really love these events, I make it a point to stop at little creative markets as much as I can and buy things from people,” Ryan said. “I think it’s great for the community, especially if you have a small business.” 

Martenson hopes visitors this year have a positive experience similar to last year and wants to provide a sense of community and belonging as well as some fun items for visitors to bring home with them. 

“I hope we can provide some fun, unique items for them to take home, but also a sense of community and belonging so people feel welcomed and a part of the community,” Martenson said. “The whole idea is we’re trying to build the community and get people to think small and come together on a hyper local level.” 

Sophie Radvan, one of the featured artists at the event this year, specializes in aura photography. Aura photography is a kind of photography that focuses on self-reflection and exploration through photographs and conversation. 

Radvan said, similarly to her own craft, the event is focused on representation and reflection of self through the clothes we wear and the community we support. 

“Small independent companies, especially local businesses, are the backbone of culture,” Radvan said. “They are the backbone of what makes your city, your zip code, your neighborhood, unique, special and rare.” 

Martenson hopes to grow the event after this year with  community feedback in the future. 

“We would love feedback from people about whether there is something we’re missing, or something people would be really interested in having that we’re not doing right now,” Martenson said. “We would love to see this continue and grow and be as successful as it was the first time around.”

The Northeast Vintage Block Party returns to Minneapolis this Saturday, after a successful first event last September. 

The block party will feature food, music, art and more than 30 different vintage clothing vendors to cultivate a sense of community, according to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association.  The event lasts from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is held at Fifth Street NE and Hennepin Avenue in the parking lot behind the vintage shops. 

The fastest way there for students is the bus stop at Tenth Ave SE and Eighth Street SE and take the four bus route to First Ave NE and Fourth Street NE. 

The block party was started last year by vintage store owners Carrie Martenson from Olio Vintage and Yana Pietras from Moth Oddities. More vintage shops and businesses on the Northeast Vintage Block joined to help support one another and their community, according to Martenson. 

Now, the event is hosted by Moth Oddities, Olio Vintage, The Golden Pearl Vintage, Twelve Vultures and Gardens of Salonica along with guest artists and vendors. 

Martenson said the event is for giving back to the community that surrounds the block, as they have supported the small businesses participating in the event. 

“It’s amazing to see the community come out and support small businesses,” Martenson said. “I think people were really happy to be able to do that, to have an event that caters to a specific neighborhood, not just Minneapolis in general.” 

DJ Jake Ryan, who provided music for the event last year and is returning this year, said he is a fan of events like the block party and thinks they are great for supporting a local community. 

“I personally really love these events, I make it a point to stop at little creative markets as much as I can and buy things from people,” Ryan said. “I think it’s great for the community, especially if you have a small business.” 

Martenson hopes visitors this year have a positive experience similar to last year and wants to provide a sense of community and belonging as well as some fun items for visitors to bring home with them. 

“I hope we can provide some fun, unique items for them to take home, but also a sense of community and belonging so people feel welcomed and a part of the community,” Martenson said. “The whole idea is we’re trying to build the community and get people to think small and come together on a hyper local level.” 

Sophie Radvan, one of the featured artists at the event this year, specializes in aura photography. Aura photography is a kind of photography that focuses on self-reflection and exploration through photographs and conversation. 

Radvan said, similarly to her own craft, the event is focused on representation and reflection of self through the clothes we wear and the community we support. 

“Small independent companies, especially local businesses, are the backbone of culture,” Radvan said. “They are the backbone of what makes your city, your zip code, your neighborhood, unique, special and rare.” 

Martenson hopes to grow the event after this year with  community feedback in the future. 

“We would love feedback from people about whether there is something we’re missing, or something people would be really interested in having that we’re not doing right now,” Martenson said. “We would love to see this continue and grow and be as successful as it was the first time around.”

The Northeast Vintage Block Party returns to Minneapolis this Saturday, after a successful first event last September. 

The block party will feature food, music, art and more than 30 different vintage clothing vendors to cultivate a sense of community, according to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association.  The event lasts from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is held at Fifth Street NE and Hennepin Avenue in the parking lot behind the vintage shops. 

The fastest way there for students is the bus stop at Tenth Ave SE and Eighth Street SE and take the four bus route to First Ave NE and Fourth Street NE. 

The block party was started last year by vintage store owners Carrie Martenson from Olio Vintage and Yana Pietras from Moth Oddities. More vintage shops and businesses on the Northeast Vintage Block joined to help support one another and their community, according to Martenson. 

Now, the event is hosted by Moth Oddities, Olio Vintage, The Golden Pearl Vintage, Twelve Vultures and Gardens of Salonica along with guest artists and vendors. 

Martenson said the event is for giving back to the community that surrounds the block, as they have supported the small businesses participating in the event. 

“It’s amazing to see the community come out and support small businesses,” Martenson said. “I think people were really happy to be able to do that, to have an event that caters to a specific neighborhood, not just Minneapolis in general.” 

DJ Jake Ryan, who provided music for the event last year and is returning this year, said he is a fan of events like the block party and thinks they are great for supporting a local community. 

“I personally really love these events, I make it a point to stop at little creative markets as much as I can and buy things from people,” Ryan said. “I think it’s great for the community, especially if you have a small business.” 

Martenson hopes visitors this year have a positive experience similar to last year and wants to provide a sense of community and belonging as well as some fun items for visitors to bring home with them. 

“I hope we can provide some fun, unique items for them to take home, but also a sense of community and belonging so people feel welcomed and a part of the community,” Martenson said. “The whole idea is we’re trying to build the community and get people to think small and come together on a hyper local level.” 

Sophie Radvan, one of the featured artists at the event this year, specializes in aura photography. Aura photography is a kind of photography that focuses on self-reflection and exploration through photographs and conversation. 

Radvan said, similarly to her own craft, the event is focused on representation and reflection of self through the clothes we wear and the community we support. 

“Small independent companies, especially local businesses, are the backbone of culture,” Radvan said. “They are the backbone of what makes your city, your zip code, your neighborhood, unique, special and rare.” 

Martenson hopes to grow the event after this year with  community feedback in the future. 

“We would love feedback from people about whether there is something we’re missing, or something people would be really interested in having that we’re not doing right now,” Martenson said. “We would love to see this continue and grow and be as successful as it was the first time around.”

The Northeast Vintage Block Party returns to Minneapolis this Saturday, after a successful first event last September. 

The block party will feature food, music, art and more than 30 different vintage clothing vendors to cultivate a sense of community, according to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association.  The event lasts from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is held at Fifth Street NE and Hennepin Avenue in the parking lot behind the vintage shops. 

The fastest way there for students is the bus stop at Tenth Ave SE and Eighth Street SE and take the four bus route to First Ave NE and Fourth Street NE. 

The block party was started last year by vintage store owners Carrie Martenson from Olio Vintage and Yana Pietras from Moth Oddities. More vintage shops and businesses on the Northeast Vintage Block joined to help support one another and their community, according to Martenson. 

Now, the event is hosted by Moth Oddities, Olio Vintage, The Golden Pearl Vintage, Twelve Vultures and Gardens of Salonica along with guest artists and vendors. 

Martenson said the event is for giving back to the community that surrounds the block, as they have supported the small businesses participating in the event. 

“It’s amazing to see the community come out and support small businesses,” Martenson said. “I think people were really happy to be able to do that, to have an event that caters to a specific neighborhood, not just Minneapolis in general.” 

DJ Jake Ryan, who provided music for the event last year and is returning this year, said he is a fan of events like the block party and thinks they are great for supporting a local community. 

“I personally really love these events, I make it a point to stop at little creative markets as much as I can and buy things from people,” Ryan said. “I think it’s great for the community, especially if you have a small business.” 

Martenson hopes visitors this year have a positive experience similar to last year and wants to provide a sense of community and belonging as well as some fun items for visitors to bring home with them. 

“I hope we can provide some fun, unique items for them to take home, but also a sense of community and belonging so people feel welcomed and a part of the community,” Martenson said. “The whole idea is we’re trying to build the community and get people to think small and come together on a hyper local level.” 

Sophie Radvan, one of the featured artists at the event this year, specializes in aura photography. Aura photography is a kind of photography that focuses on self-reflection and exploration through photographs and conversation. 

Radvan said, similarly to her own craft, the event is focused on representation and reflection of self through the clothes we wear and the community we support. 

“Small independent companies, especially local businesses, are the backbone of culture,” Radvan said. “They are the backbone of what makes your city, your zip code, your neighborhood, unique, special and rare.” 

Martenson hopes to grow the event after this year with  community feedback in the future. 

“We would love feedback from people about whether there is something we’re missing, or something people would be really interested in having that we’re not doing right now,” Martenson said. “We would love to see this continue and grow and be as successful as it was the first time around.”

The Northeast Vintage Block Party returns to Minneapolis this Saturday, after a successful first event last September. 

The block party will feature food, music, art and more than 30 different vintage clothing vendors to cultivate a sense of community, according to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association.  The event lasts from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is held at Fifth Street NE and Hennepin Avenue in the parking lot behind the vintage shops. 

The fastest way there for students is the bus stop at Tenth Ave SE and Eighth Street SE and take the four bus route to First Ave NE and Fourth Street NE. 

The block party was started last year by vintage store owners Carrie Martenson from Olio Vintage and Yana Pietras from Moth Oddities. More vintage shops and businesses on the Northeast Vintage Block joined to help support one another and their community, according to Martenson. 

Now, the event is hosted by Moth Oddities, Olio Vintage, The Golden Pearl Vintage, Twelve Vultures and Gardens of Salonica along with guest artists and vendors. 

Martenson said the event is for giving back to the community that surrounds the block, as they have supported the small businesses participating in the event. 

“It’s amazing to see the community come out and support small businesses,” Martenson said. “I think people were really happy to be able to do that, to have an event that caters to a specific neighborhood, not just Minneapolis in general.” 

DJ Jake Ryan, who provided music for the event last year and is returning this year, said he is a fan of events like the block party and thinks they are great for supporting a local community. 

“I personally really love these events, I make it a point to stop at little creative markets as much as I can and buy things from people,” Ryan said. “I think it’s great for the community, especially if you have a small business.” 

Martenson hopes visitors this year have a positive experience similar to last year and wants to provide a sense of community and belonging as well as some fun items for visitors to bring home with them. 

“I hope we can provide some fun, unique items for them to take home, but also a sense of community and belonging so people feel welcomed and a part of the community,” Martenson said. “The whole idea is we’re trying to build the community and get people to think small and come together on a hyper local level.” 

Sophie Radvan, one of the featured artists at the event this year, specializes in aura photography. Aura photography is a kind of photography that focuses on self-reflection and exploration through photographs and conversation. 

Radvan said, similarly to her own craft, the event is focused on representation and reflection of self through the clothes we wear and the community we support. 

“Small independent companies, especially local businesses, are the backbone of culture,” Radvan said. “They are the backbone of what makes your city, your zip code, your neighborhood, unique, special and rare.” 

Martenson hopes to grow the event after this year with  community feedback in the future. 

“We would love feedback from people about whether there is something we’re missing, or something people would be really interested in having that we’re not doing right now,” Martenson said. “We would love to see this continue and grow and be as successful as it was the first time around.”

The Northeast Vintage Block Party returns to Minneapolis this Saturday, after a successful first event last September. 

The block party will feature food, music, art and more than 30 different vintage clothing vendors to cultivate a sense of community, according to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association.  The event lasts from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is held at Fifth Street NE and Hennepin Avenue in the parking lot behind the vintage shops. 

The fastest way there for students is the bus stop at Tenth Ave SE and Eighth Street SE and take the four bus route to First Ave NE and Fourth Street NE. 

The block party was started last year by vintage store owners Carrie Martenson from Olio Vintage and Yana Pietras from Moth Oddities. More vintage shops and businesses on the Northeast Vintage Block joined to help support one another and their community, according to Martenson. 

Now, the event is hosted by Moth Oddities, Olio Vintage, The Golden Pearl Vintage, Twelve Vultures and Gardens of Salonica along with guest artists and vendors. 

Martenson said the event is for giving back to the community that surrounds the block, as they have supported the small businesses participating in the event. 

“It’s amazing to see the community come out and support small businesses,” Martenson said. “I think people were really happy to be able to do that, to have an event that caters to a specific neighborhood, not just Minneapolis in general.” 

DJ Jake Ryan, who provided music for the event last year and is returning this year, said he is a fan of events like the block party and thinks they are great for supporting a local community. 

“I personally really love these events, I make it a point to stop at little creative markets as much as I can and buy things from people,” Ryan said. “I think it’s great for the community, especially if you have a small business.” 

Martenson hopes visitors this year have a positive experience similar to last year and wants to provide a sense of community and belonging as well as some fun items for visitors to bring home with them. 

“I hope we can provide some fun, unique items for them to take home, but also a sense of community and belonging so people feel welcomed and a part of the community,” Martenson said. “The whole idea is we’re trying to build the community and get people to think small and come together on a hyper local level.” 

Sophie Radvan, one of the featured artists at the event this year, specializes in aura photography. Aura photography is a kind of photography that focuses on self-reflection and exploration through photographs and conversation. 

Radvan said, similarly to her own craft, the event is focused on representation and reflection of self through the clothes we wear and the community we support. 

“Small independent companies, especially local businesses, are the backbone of culture,” Radvan said. “They are the backbone of what makes your city, your zip code, your neighborhood, unique, special and rare.” 

Martenson hopes to grow the event after this year with  community feedback in the future. 

“We would love feedback from people about whether there is something we’re missing, or something people would be really interested in having that we’re not doing right now,” Martenson said. “We would love to see this continue and grow and be as successful as it was the first time around.”

As the school year comes to a close, students who live on or near the University of Minnesota campus year-round should be aware of upcoming changes to hours for University buildings and services. 

Most buildings and services at the University will officially transition to summer hours within the coming days, as fewer students will be on campus. However, most buildings will be available to students and staff during the summer months to ensure services are still available. 

Buildings and services will be open for fewer hours during the day as demand lessens. 

The summer session usually starts in early June, allowing students to earn more credits toward graduation outside of the normal fall and spring semesters. Last summer, the University had over 11,500 students enrolled in the summer session, according to the University’s enrollment data. 

For students still on campus studying, here are some key services that will be reducing their hours this summer. 

The University’s Recreation and Wellness Center will be starting its summer hours on May 10, open 5:45 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

On Saturdays, the RecWell will open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and it will be open from noon to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

RecWell hours will return to normal on August 30. 

International Student and Scholar Services will be open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for Tuesdays when it will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Starting June 2, its services will be remote on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 

Boynton Health will be open depending on which clinic students are looking to visit. Information about Boynton summer hours can be found here. 

The Boynton Health Nurse Line will answer phone calls every day, 24 hours a day, from students, staff and faculty of the University, according to the East Bank Clinic’s website. 

The University’s food halls will also be on their own schedules. Information about hours for each food hall can be found here by adjusting the current week at the top of the page. 

The University’s parking and transportation services information can be found here. 

Students looking for a specific building’s hours can use this link to go to the facilities management page. Once there, click on “Public and University Hours Schedule” in the gold box on the right to be taken to a spreadsheet with information about the University’s building hours. 

In a statement to the Minnesota Daily, the Office of Student Affairs said it will be available to support and provide services to students on campus over the summer. The Office of Student Affairs will be closed on Memorial Day, Juneteenth, the Fourth of July and Labor Day.

As the sun takes longer to set, the music scene in Minneapolis is starting to wake back up, and University of Minnesota students in bands are ready.

With many bands scattered throughout the cities, it is not uncommon for house shows or gigs at bars to pop up, allowing students to take the stage. From playing shows on the weekend to taking exams during the week, these students juggle their passions for music and pursuing their academic careers.

Many such students started playing instruments when they were younger and joined up with other musically-inclined friends and peers to play music together and entertain their audience.

Students like Jack Urtucuastegui and Isaac Schroeder started playing together in high school and now play gigs around the city under the name APHID.

The group plays alternative rock music inspired by bands like Dinosaur Jr. and Superchunk.

Both students are in their first year in college and said playing in and around campus has been great for APHID because of the city’s healthy and encouraging environment for up-and-coming bands.

“We’re super fortunate that a bunch of house venues in Como and Dinky have started to pop up this year,” Schroeder said. “So, it really all stems from that. We talk to other bands and make relationships, they’re our friends.” 

Urtucuastegui said the bands they met have all been supportive and want to see success for each other. 

“When I’ve met people that have new bands at house venues or other venues, I’ve never heard somebody put another person down for the music they create,” Urtucuastegui said. 

Ethan Neid, a fourth-year student studying cinema and media culture, plays the drums for the band Honey Tree. Honey Tree has played in and around the city for more than four years, and Neid said he has enjoyed seeing the Minneapolis music scene evolve over that span. 

“We’ve kind of seen the music scene really come back because it didn’t really come back until 2022 or 2023 after COVID lockdown,” Neid said. “It’s been interesting to see the sound change and what bands are more prominent and what sound is more prominent, even though there is kind of a consistent sound for the metro area for younger bands.” 

Another essential component of Minneapolis’ music scene is the energy the crowds bring to shows. 

Thomas Schroeder, a fifth-year student at the University, said the fans and their energy are a big part of what motivates his band, Polivon, to play well. 

“Seventh St. Entry is a rocking venue,” Schroeder said. “There’s this energy about the place, as soon as you get called to play, it’s the most exciting thing because it’s at First Avenue and that means all your fans are going to want to catch that one show. As soon as they come out, the energy is there, the music really thrives in that room and we got to do that.” 

The members of APHID said that if there are students considering starting up or joining a band, they should do so. They added APHID is currently looking for a drummer.

“Make music you want to play,” Schroeder said. “If you like what you’re playing, chances are someone else is going to like it too. Don’t try to be anyone else, just have fun doing it.” 

Urtucuastegui said the most important part of starting up is having fun and putting your effort into becoming a better musician. 

“One of the best pieces of advice I got when I first started out as a musician was even if you’re playing the most out-of-tune chord, no one cares as long as you look like you’re having fun,” Urtucuastegui said. “So have fun and do something that is fulfilling to you and work hard. Put your effort into it.”