May 31, 2021 • 41 mins
Rhythm and blues pop singer-songwriter Christopher Marciano inspires change through his music. His song "Runaway" features emotional lyrics addressing significant issues. Writing aids his healing from stress, and he hopes to promote recovery in others.
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Christopher Marciano (00:00):
I hope through this, we could reach more people
and encourage them to do the samebecause we need authentic positivity
out there in the world to makepositive imprints, everywhere.
Listeners, don't forget toenter the live show contest.
You could win one of twohoodies or you could win both.
(00:20):
All you have to do is listen to thelive episode that was just released
called ""healing and recovery, usinglyrics" with R and B artist, rowdy,
James and R and B pop artists.
Christopher Marsianno.
All you have to do is answer one oftwo questions for one chance to win
one of the hoodies, or answer bothquestions for two chances to win.
(00:45):
The questions are easy.
All you have to do againis listen to the live show.
First question, what song doesRawiri James consider his theme song?
And the second question, what isChristopher Marciano's tagline for
his mental health awareness movement?
You can learn more informationfrom my homepage on my website,
YourPositiveImprint.com there's an easyform for you to just fill out the answers.
(01:10):
Or you can email them if you'realready emailing me or using Facebook
or Instagram, use that platform.
I'm happy to receive your answers.
The deadline is June 2nd and thetwo winners will be announced during
the episode on June 7th, the firstperson to be drawn will receive
the unlock, your potential hoodie.
And the second name drawn willreceive the I sing, my pain.
(01:33):
I sing my happiness hoodie.
Enter, you could win two fabulous hoodies.
Again, the deadline June2nd, your positive imprint.
What's your P.I.?.
Positive stories are everywhere, people and their positive
(01:54):
actions inspire positive achievements.
Your PI could mean the world to you.
Get ready for your positive
Catherine (02:03):
imprint.
This is Catherine with Your PositiveImprint the variety show podcast,
featuring people from all over theworld whose positive, inspiring
imprints are inspiring the world.
These exceptional peopleare rising to the challenge.
And today I have one of thoseexceptional people here on the show.
(02:25):
Christopher Marciano.
Hello, Christopher.
Christopher Marciano (02:30):
Thank you.
I'm so excited to be here.
Catherine (02:34):
So thrilled to have you here.
And you are one of the youngestassistant principals over in Florida.
You could, you were born in and I'mjust going to give a quick introduction
here and we can talk about you.
So you were born in west Africa andyou moved over to the states, which
we will learn more about and yourEnglish as a second language struggles.
(02:56):
And you compose yourown songs, your lyrics.
And so you have genre that you dive intothat you share with your students as an
outlet to help them understand the worldaround them, which I think is so awesome.
I can't wait to hear about thatand to hear about some, some of the
music that you have out now and yeah.
(03:19):
You have brought in that music,not only as a person, not only as a
teacher, but as assistant principal.
And now you're sharing your music with theentire world and you're a reading coach.
Which is literacy for those listenerswho don't know what a reading coach is.
We're just going to hearso much more about you.
(03:40):
So thank you so much forbeing here, here on the
Christopher Marciano (03:42):
show.
Oh, it is my pleasure.
Catherine (03:45):
Yeah.
So let's start out first with westAfrica, you were born out in west Africa.
What part
Christopher Marciano (03:53):
so I wasn't born in west Africa.
I was actually born in RhodeIsland which is up north.
It's a very, very small place.
I was born Pawtucket.
My family's from west Africa.
I had the opportunity of traveling thereand they're from Cape Verde islands.
Not many people know what capeVerde islands consists of but it's
(04:13):
actually little bits of islandsoff of the west African coast
and it's absolutely beautiful.
It's very rural.
I wouldn't go there too oftenbecause of just how rural it is,
but it's, it's a beautiful placeand they have phenomenal waters.
So my family, a little by little migratedfrom there, uh, in order to just find a
(04:35):
better place to raise their children andfind a better place to live their lives.
My mother is actually from IvoryCoast, Africa, and, uh, her
family migrated over as well.
So as I was just surrounded by somany different cultures in Africa.
And I acquired differentlanguages, such as Cape Verdean,
(04:57):
which is my first language.
My mom spoke.
I know my mom spoke fluent French.
My mom speaks by the way, just, justto add that little tidbit, my mom
speaks five different languages.
Good for her.
Good for her bad for me, becauseI grew up like a little confused.
And when she was upset, she knew howto say it in five different languages.
(05:21):
So that that just caused a strugglefor me going to school because
of just natural language barrier.
Tell me about
Catherine (05:28):
that language.
Like, can you, do you still speak it?
Christopher Marciano (05:31):
Oh, yes.
Catherine (05:32):
Oh, well, say your positive imprint.
Christopher Marciano (05:37):
Well, (Cape Verdean language.) . So I said, I
just very happy to be here and Iwant to say, thank you for having me.
And I
Catherine (05:49):
heard the obrigada.
Portuguese for.
Thank you.
Christopher Marciano (05:53):
You are amazing.
You are awesome.
So, Cape Verde, I'm just gettinginto like a whole history lesson.
Cape Verde was actuallycolonized by the Portuguese.
Yes.
So my language is composed ofPortuguese and African dialect, so
I could understand Portuguese, butwhen I speak it, it's a hot mess.
Catherine (06:16):
Oh, interesting.
Can you read Portuguese?
Christopher Marciano (06:20):
I can, I can read Spanish pretty well.
I'm not quite sure how that happenedand I could speak Spanish pretty well.
Not sure how that happened either.
But Portuguese it's, it's very similarto my language so I could read it, uh,
grammatically, they, they moved theirwords differently than, the accent is a
little bit more predominant pronounced.
(06:40):
So, uh, but I could, I couldunderstand that pretty.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So
Catherine (06:43):
now you were living in Rhode Island, which is where you schooled.
Christopher Marciano (06:47):
Yeah.
So I went to over 12 different schools.
I know I moved around quite quiteso many times and when I was in
school or naturally, because I wasn'tconsistently in school, they put me in
a speech class because I was just very
quiet younger child.
And they thought they werehelping me by doing that.
(07:08):
But I actually felt a littledisconnected from my classmates
because they were pulling me out ofclass to work with me on my language
and then putting me back into class.
And when I came back, I just didn'thave the opportunity to develop
relationships within the classroom.
So that caused me to shutdown a little bit more.
(07:28):
And that's when I turned into writing,instead of expressing my emotions
through my words, I wrote it downjust so that I could get that outlet.
And that's where my writing began.
Catherine (07:41):
I really appreciate that you talked about how you felt in school
Christopher Marciano (07:47):
there's some cases where students will have to,
you know, receive services, whetherit's an exceptional education.
However, I feel like the relationshipbetween the teacher who is pulling out the
student and the actual classroom teacherneeds to be very tight because together,
you established that comfortable feelingwhere when the student comes back, we're
(08:12):
able to communicate and welcome thatstudent into their classroom family
where they, they don't feel left out.
Because when I went to a stranger,I was never introduced to them.
Didn't know their names.
I'm working with this personwho is pulling me from
class and I don't know them.
Whereas with me, when I was ateacher, I introduced those people
(08:35):
to my students and made sure thatthey knew, Hey, we're working
together to give you what you need.
I'm so excited to have youback in 30 minutes, we're
going to be here ready for you.
So that just made them feel comfortable.
And I felt like that's what, that'swhat was missing when I was younger.
Oh, that's
Catherine (08:52):
great now.
I mean, not great that that wasmissing, but that's, that's so
great that you recognized it.
You were able to implement that.
So how did, when you were readingcoach, how did that fall into place?
Did the teachers accept your openness.
Christopher Marciano (09:09):
Oh, of course not all the time.
I mean, I I'm very personable, soI have great relationships with
my teachers, but of course youhave certain situations where some
students are the ones I call them
the ones that need the most love theycould trust some limits, but we just
(09:29):
have to find creative ways to like musiccreative ways to really reach them.
So when I was a reading coach, Iabsolutely love it because I was
able to go into the classroom andmodel how we could do that and with
my background as being the Dean andbehavior and academics go side by side.
So I was able to come in regularlyand with a student and show them,
(09:51):
Hey, If you try these strategies, thestudent may be able to be a little more
comfortable and understand the conceptthat you're trying to deliver to them.
So it's all aboutthinking outside the box.
And really getting to know thestudent and reaching them and their
interest level in a inappropriate way.
Catherine (10:10):
Yes, definitely the interest level.
And so you mentioned you wereDean also, what grade level were
you working with with regard?
Was it still element
Christopher Marciano (10:19):
the whole school.
It was pre-K to fifth grade wasthe toughest year of my life.
Pre-K to fifth grade.
And I had we had a unit,several units at my school.
So several exceptional needs students.
I learned the most, it was myfirst year out of the classroom.
I lasted the entire year and I developedan amazing amount of relationships with
(10:45):
these kids and the teachers and parents.
I was very close with my parents becauseyou need to have parents by your side.
And that just really molded me.
into the leader that I am now soit's something I keep thinking of.
It's very rewarding.
Catherine (11:01):
Awesome.
When you decided to go into teaching,how old or did you always know
you wanted to go into teaching?
No, you're shaking your head.
Christopher Marciano (11:11):
Every my family, my mom still is just like, I can't believe
you went this route because here I am aCape Verdean boy, who has grown up going
to so many different schools strugglingin school and I become a teacher.
I always loved school.
Don't get me wrong.
I loved going to school.
However, I went to school for biology.
(11:31):
I was going to be a doctor.
I always knew I wasgoing to be pediatrician.
I've always loved kids.
So there was that connection.
I took my prerequisites for med school.
I got all of that done and Iwas ready to go and be a doctor.
And unfortunately I had a tough situationwhere and I don't talk so much about
(11:52):
this, but you are just a positiveperson, so I can definitely share it.
But I worked at a resort where I didactivities with the kids . , a little one
who was swimming in the pool with her momand dad, and went under the water and.
Didn't drown, but was unconscious.
(12:12):
So I pulled her out of the water andtilted her to the side and the water
came out of her mouth, but I wasapprehensive about giving her CPR.
So a guest in the water gave her CPR.
But since that moment, I kindof, you know, was hard on myself
because I said, if I couldn't
give her CPR in that moment,how can I be a doctor?
(12:33):
And even though they built me up somuch, because they said, if you didn't
tilt her to the side and the waterdidn't come out of her mouth, you did
what you were supposed to do, but Istill felt like I should have done more.
And she's alive.
She's well, like, you know, thanks to God.
But in that moment I waslike, oh, I can't be a doctor.
So I went home.
And I opened the college catalog and I waslike, what else can I do in this world?
(12:57):
And just fell on the elementary education.
I was like, why I like kids.
I could be a teacher.
And I literally that following day I wentto my university and changed my major.
Elementary education.
Wow.
Catherine (13:11):
What a story?
Oh my goodness.
And yet don't be hard on yourself ourminds do different things in our actions.
We do different things at different
Christopher Marciano (13:21):
moments.
Yeah, exactly.
I mean, if we, if we could all goback in time, there'll be one thing
by, we just take what happenedand then learn from them and grow.
Absolutely.
Catherine (13:32):
That was kind of a long time
Christopher Marciano (13:33):
ago.
Yes, I was.
How old was I?
Probably around 16, 17.
Nope.
It was 1718 around there.
So that's what I was some time ago.
Catherine (13:44):
So you were, you were just a teenager
Christopher Marciano (13:48):
But that day haunts me so much because you know, you always
have those thoughts and, and I'm not toohard on myself now,but it took quite some
time for me to find a positive positivitysomewhere else to assure myself, okay,
you did and what you could in that moment.
So you
Catherine (14:07):
did.
Christopher,.
Thank you for sharing that.
And I know that that was hard for you,so that brings you to elementary ed.
. Christopher Marciano (14:16):
I was given so much responsibility my
first year and aren't we all?
Oh my gosh.
I mean, all teachers, Ilisten, I commend them.
I love my teachers.
And my first year of teachingwas such a great one.
It was not the horrorstories that everybody would.
My first few years ofteaching were pretty great.
(14:37):
So yes, I.
Was always that teacher that thoughtoutside of the box, you would come
into my, and I was probably standingon my desk doing crazy accents, for my
students, my students were probably onthe floor rolling, laughing, but we had,
you know, our time where we had fun.
And we had our times that weworked, we worked, we worked,
(14:58):
we worked, my class was top 10%.
They had top 10% in Florida, alsothe top 10% teacher in Florida for
reading and math two years in a row.
And.
I wish I could tell you I dideverything that they told me to
do, but I literally had to thinkoutside of the box and learn my kids.
I took so much time to reallylearning each and every single
(15:21):
one of my students to reach them.
And in ways that I wish I wasreached when I was younger, and
that was crucial and important.
and I've seen students who wereso low and who have flourished to
who they are today, and it excitesme because I know kids can do it.
Catherine (15:39):
Oh, my gosh.
Absolutely.
We just need to set that barup above their head and not....
Yes.
The lower the bar is set, thenthey that's all they'll do.
And that's the same withus, you know, as adults.
You know, so we needsomething to strive for.
(16:00):
We don't want to just strive for
Christopher Marciano (16:01):
mediocrity.
Exactly.
And we won't push ourselves unlessthey, someone has set that bar for us.
You
Catherine (16:07):
remind me so much of when I was a teacher and I.
I loved teaching those students.
And I, I keep in touchwith so many of them today.
You know, when they're gettingmarried, they're having kids,
they're starting careers.
Christopher Marciano (16:22):
Oh, I don't know how you feel about
it, but I, I cry a little bit.
Oh, I
Catherine (16:27):
get, I get tearful.
I get, yeah.
I spend to keep in touch withthem and see what they're doing.
But one of the thingsthat you do is music.
Christopher Marciano (16:35):
Yeah.
Some, I'm an artist.
I've been a songwriter.
Actually I started as a songwriterfor several years and I just wrote for
other people, everything I write isabout an experience that I went through.
So I wasn't comfortable being,you know, at the forefront.
I just wanted everybodyelse to sing my song.
So I was like, okay, here, here's a song.
(16:55):
You sing using my pain, usingmy happiness, as long as I'm
getting it out there to everyone.
It was my therapy.
Like I, if I had.
An argument with a friend.
I went straight to my notebook and startedwriting and felt a lot better afterwards.
So I was a songwriter for quite some time.
And then as a songwriter, and I know manysongwriters out there fall in the same
(17:18):
path where they feel like they're helpingartists a lot more than just writing.
And I love doing that.
I would give suggestions as far as,oh, you should really go with this song
and that song, or you should reallytry having a music video for this song.
So one of my artists one day,Said, well, how do you know you've
never been an artist before?
(17:38):
And I said, you are absolutely right.
So I came on this whole journey.
I told myself, okay, become an artist,record a whole album, learn everything
you need to know about being an artistand then go back to songwriting so that
you could be the best song writer ever.
Just like what you said earlier aboutsomeone setting that bar for you.
(18:00):
I felt like I needed to reach that bar..
So it's perfect that you saidthat it's like a perfect segue.
So I became a song writer, uh, as anartist, a little over two years ago.
And I recorded my first song and someoneasked me to perform at their show.
And I will tell you, as soon as Igot on that stage, I was addicted.
(18:23):
No, I was like, oh, I love that.
I'm not coming off of this stage.
Like, I'm here.
You have to take themicrophone away from me.
I am.
staying here.
It started off as just like a,basically a big research project.
And now I'm loving it.
I've performed over 18 shows.
(18:44):
I've opened for some amazing artists.
I've performed in New York.
I've performed in Maryland.
And, and to say that I've only beenan artist for a little while, over two
years, and I've performed that muchand have worked with amazing people.
It's just so humbling.
And I feel so blessed tobe in this opportunity.
And that's.
When I began sharing thatwith my kids as well.
Catherine (19:05):
I like this.
So you had this positive imprint inyour life that set that bar and from
the one comment, and instead of gettingupset, it was criticism that you needed
to hear so that you could go and yeah.
Wow.
Absolutely.
Cool.
So what do you have your students do?
I've seen some of it on online.
(19:26):
Fabulous.
I love it.
Christopher Marciano (19:29):
So , I've always, you know, I've always created
craziest songs when my kids weretrying to, you know, do, do their work.
I would come up with randomsongs just because just to
get them happy and laughing.
But my principal came to me andshe came up with this amazing idea
of having electives at our school.
(19:50):
And elementary schoolsdon't really have electives.
So we have our art, we have music, we havePE, but we don't really have electives..
So she's like, no.
She is amazing, by the way, shesaid it's every Wednesday, I want
kids to do something that they love.
I want it to be electives wherethey choose, where, what they'll do.
And I want yoga classes.
I want acting classes.
(20:11):
I want a music class.
There's she looked, everyone waslooking at me at that moment.
Okay.
Tell me where, where this going?
She's like, oh, I figured youcan help kids write music and you
know, it could be really cool.
And I said, Okay.
I'm fine with that.
So I opened up the Tigers Studios,what I call that at my school.
(20:33):
And I started writing songs with them.
It started out with me writing alot of their songs, and then two
of my kids came one day and I wasabout to teach them their part.
And one of them said we kindof wrote something, is it
okay if we share it with you?
And I was a little taken aback, Iwas like, you wrote something and
(20:55):
she's like, yeah, I just wantedto see what you thought of it.
But we wrote a little something.
I was like, okay, okay.
Let's share it.
I was expected to, you know, cringeand be a little nervous about it, but
they blew me away the words rhymed.
Oh my gosh.
Yeah.
Positive imprint.
Completely.
(21:16):
They rhymed..
They were melodically perfect.
They were on the beat and I was like,oh, we're using this on a song.
So needless to say, I started steppingback and gave them control, which they
loved because you know, I could be alittle I'm a Virgo . I'm a perfectionist.
So they started writing thesong and then we were done with
(21:38):
the song within a few weeks.
So we had all this time on our handsand I was like, what do I do now?
We're we're completely done?
What do we do?
And I said, all right, guys, they'reall just staring at me, sitting down,
like, all right, we recorded the song.
What?
Now?
I was like, let's make a music video.
And they're like what?
I was like, let's do a music video.
(21:59):
Why not?
Let's do it.
I have no knowledge ofmaking music videos.
I have none of that, but I madeone of my students a videographer.
I made one of them director..
I made the.
Actors like we just set rolesand created this music video.
We ended up on the news for it inOrlando's the kids were just blown away.
(22:21):
So I started doing that as a tradition.
We did it a few times.
We had a NBA player onone of our music videos.
The kids were blown away and he agreedto come to the school, talk to them.
Be in the video, playbasketball with them.
It was amazing.
And I just know that this momentthat we shared doing that experience,
(22:42):
they will never forget about it.
Ever.
So I will never forget about it.
So it was pretty amazing.
That
Catherine (22:49):
is that's awesome.
Those kids ran with it.
You gave it to them and all you didwas guide them and they ran with it.
Christopher Marciano (22:58):
Yeah, not at first, but they
they definitely proved me wrong andshowed me that, you know, Kids are far
more capable than what we even think.
And I set high expectations for my kiddos,but for them to come and surpass that just
shows me, wow, look at what they can do.
It's still going on.
(23:18):
Unfortunately, , once I got promoted,they moved me to a different school.
Because my school had anassistant principal, so that
school is still doing it.
They'll do a musicclasses, which is great.
So I'm hoping that will carryon, even though I'm not there.
I'm still so well connected withthem because they are my core.
But now that I'm at my school nowas assistant principal, I'm hoping
(23:40):
once all this clears up, I couldimplement that within my new school.
Yeah.
Do you
Catherine (23:46):
miss teaching?
Oh, do you like doing theassistant principalship?
Christopher Marciano (23:51):
I will tell you, I love being an assistant
principal because I'm able toreach more able to reach more kids.
I'm able to reach teachers and parents.
So I have the whole school.
I loved being a teacher.
I do from time to time think of.
Well, I love having those really closerelationships with my kiddos and watching
them grow, but it just challenges me nowto just be in the classroom more often
(24:15):
and share my thoughts with the kids andhear them and be with them just to watch
them grow and establish that relationship.
But I love being assistant principal..
Sure.
That's awesome.
Catherine (24:25):
That's so great.
I love that you are loving it.
That's fabulous.
And you are.
Yeah.
And that you're doing so muchto bring those kids into a
Christopher Marciano (24:39):
new world,
Catherine (24:40):
their world.
Yeah.
Their world.
And with their own experiences.
So it's not your experiences,it's their experiences.
And that I think is yeah.
Really important.
And so what are your next stepswith music as far as your own.
Christopher Marciano (25:00):
Artistry.
Catherine (25:02):
So I've been
Christopher Marciano (25:03):
working on my album and everyone's going to like,
hurt me for this because they'relike, we just need the album.
We need the album, we need thealbum, but it takes so much work.
And I'm such a Virgo.
I'm such a perfectionistthat I need it to be perfect.
This is my first album.
And I want my first album to showcaseall the different sides of me.
Everything that I've gone through sothat I no longer have to explain myself.
(25:26):
I no longer have toelaborate on situations.
I can just put my album outthere, listen to my album.
This is exactly whoChristopher Marciano is.
And then we can move on to the next one.
So I want to be sure, likeI said, I'm very transparent
and I write what I go through.
So I want to make sure thatwhat I'm writing about.
(25:48):
It's okay.
Of course with my family, because Ithink it's important that I think of
them during this time, but I definitelywant to share what I've gone through
because I feel like other people canlisten to my words and see the outcome.
And I think I've donepretty well for myself.
And I'm so humbled by that.
So blessed and I want others to seethat and improve their mental health
(26:12):
and take the steps in becoming abetter version of themselves that they
never knew that they were capable ofdoing, because my childhood was very,
very rough and I would never fathomthat I would be where I am today.
And I know just by being a teacherthere, several kids out there that
are going through the same thing.
(26:33):
So I want this album to be perfectfor them more than for me, but.
Perfect for them and thatto serve as an outlet.
So right now I am twosongs away from being done.
So I'm going to release a few more songs
and recording music videos, butthe album will be out this year.
(26:54):
So who
Catherine (26:54):
are some of the folks that are helping you out with the production?
Because you said you, youdon't produce your own.
You write your own lyrics andsomeone else does the music.
Christopher Marciano (27:04):
Right.
So I wrote every single songon this first album, I wrote.
Production wise.
I have an amazing producer namedLayird music just in case you're
looking for music out there.
If you go to L a Y I R D music.com,he is absolutely phenomenal.
He is also based in Floridaand he does my pop happy with
(27:27):
a little eerie notes on there.
He is my go-to person.
And then aside from that,I have a producer named
Shariv who is based in Italy.
I hope I didn't mess that up.
Pretty sure it's Italy.
He's phenomenal.
Well, I connected with him throughjust social media and he had a
few love his piano instrumentals.
(27:50):
I'm such a piano person.
And then I have Mantra and.
Which is phenomenal.
He's done several songs of mineand last but not least Rebel Music.
He's absolutely incredible as well.
So several producers around the worldthat I've been so fortunate to connect
(28:10):
with and gain their trust with justallowing me to sing all over their
instrumentals and be, have it on my album.
So it's been quite a joy.
A lot of people say that I need to letmore people in my circle when it comes
to writing, but I told them once I get tomy second album, then I can explore that
(28:34):
world but this first album is so personal.
So I just wanted it to be allabout my words and how I feel.
And then the second album willbe completely collaborative
when it comes to writing.
Cause I'm, I've always beencurious about that side.
Catherine (28:48):
Yeah.
Oh, well, I'm anxious.
There's, there's a fellow whomyou would love listening to,
uh, on one of my, on my podcast.
Oh, his name is Rawiri James..
Yeah,
Christopher Marciano (29:03):
absolutely.
I love looking for new
Catherine (29:05):
people.
He's an R and B artist.
He's a Maori..
Yeah, so, and his struggles are differentfrom yours, but he wrote from the heart.
Absolutely.
From the heart with his music..
And can you share some of thosestruggles or is that giving away
too much when the, for the album,
Christopher Marciano (29:24):
since you're so nice and positive, I guess I should.
There.
I'll talk about one of my songs..
I I'm just sharing so much with you.
This is, this is great.
Uh, I'm looking up at the wallbecause I literally have my track
listing on my wall of all my songs.
(29:45):
So if you see me looking up constantly,because I'm looking at all of my
songs., it's like a constant reminder.
Like you need to get this album done.
Marciano you need to get this album done..
So one of the songs I have is called"Reason" and it is about, completely
about mental health and somethingthat I'm really pushing with my
(30:08):
album is definitely mental health.
It talks about me continuing todo music because other people have
really pushed me to continue to do it.
I got to a point in my life where Iwasn't so sure on whether I should proceed
with music because as as an independentartist it is so natural to go out there
(30:28):
and compare you know, your amount offollowers on Instagram to other people
and the amount of people who are likingyour pictures and commenting on your
posts, or it's so natural for us as humansto go and compare ourselves to others.
And it hurts a little bit,because I was just looking at
how successful other people were.
(30:50):
And I felt like I could get there, butI was missing some things to get there.
And it took me a while to really sitback and realize Christopher, you've
done this for a little over two years.
That's all, some people have been doingthis for their entire life and you have
received these amazing blessings withperforming several different times.
(31:13):
So.
No, you have a great support system.
You have family members andfriends who are really wanting
your music and know word for word.
When I had one of my shows, therewere people singing word for word
to one of my songs"Runaway", andI remember I had to stop singing
because I got so emotional becauseeveryone was singing louder than I was.
(31:36):
And I was just like, ohmy gosh, this is amazing.
So in that moment I said, Okay, you guysare the reason why I continue to do this.
So I want this song to serve asa reason for everyone else to go
and push other people to do welland push other people to be..
(31:57):
I want other people to be someoneelse's reason aside from me.
So I'm okay now, but go out there andfind someone who needs some help and
be their reason to to push through.
So the words in that song,it gets very detailed.
It talks about potentially not wanting tobe in this world anymore and how you could
(32:17):
overcome that because these are topicsin the world that needs to be discussed
and that are happening every day.
So I'm hoping from this song, someoneout there, even if it's just one heart,
I just want to touch that one heartand have them feel like I'm okay,
because this person made it through.
I can too.
And if you don't get that out of that, Iwant you to go out there and be someone
(32:42):
someone's reason to continue to behappy and improve their mental health.
Catherine (32:48):
Wow.
That is so inspiring.
Oh, that's that'sreally, oh, very much so.
Very, very much so.
And I'm impressed with how much you'vereally thought deeply about the words that
you're putting together for this album.
And I'm very anxious tohear the production of it.
(33:10):
Yeah.
The music behind it,
Christopher Marciano (33:14):
that song, it's pretty amazing.
I mean, I'm biased because I loveall of my songs, but that one,
I think you'll really love it.
And I can't wait to share with you guys.
Catherine (33:24):
Yeah.
So when you were writing the songs andyou're writing about such heartfelt
issues within yourself, or that havesomething that either you've experienced
or you've seen others experience, etcetera, so writing the songs, has
it changed you as a person in any
Christopher Marciano (33:44):
way?
Completely, uh, I will say during thewriting process and when I'm in the studio
recording the song, it's it gets tough.
There's songs on my album,where I naturally cry.
And some of that, those emotionsI've left the, in the songs
because they were authentic.
And I thought it was importantfor people to feel that.
Leading my song.
(34:05):
I'll explain how my therapy works.
My songs come from, likeI said, an experience.
So in the beginning, I'm left uneasy abouta situation I went through, whether it's
a happy moment and I just want to get itout there or whether it's a really tough
situation that I wasn't sure how to dealwith it or how to vocalize my emotions.
(34:27):
I'll go and write it.
As soon as I finished writingit and I finished recording it
I'm okay from that situation.
So if I was very upset about a situation,once I record that, my, my thoughts and my
emotions with that, I'm completely fine.
I don't even have to revisit it anymore.
So it's literally therapy for me becausepeople go into therapy and, and come
(34:50):
out feeling better about themselves.
I'd go into the studio andcome out, feeling so much
better about that situation.
And I almost get clarity with everyword that I'm writing I'm gaining
understanding of the situation.
I remember one of my songs that Iwrote, can't tell you the name of
that one, but I absolutely love it.
You'll love it too., one of my, one of mysongs, I wrote based on my ex's shoes,
(35:17):
because I wanted to understand why hedid what he did and what he was feeling.
So I said, okay, I'm going to putmyself in his perspective and write a
song based off of his, his perspective.
And I gained clarity after Ifinished writing that song.
And even though it was my situation thatI went through and I'm still writing
(35:38):
about my experience, I wrote it throughhis mind to try to gain understanding.
And once I finished thatsong, I was completely fine.
I'm like, okay.
Perfect.
Oh,
Catherine (35:49):
that is really that's.
That therapy is awesome.
That's great.
I used, yeah, I'm so glad to hear that.
I used to write poetry.
My mother bought me a journaland came home and handed it
to me and I went right to it.
I have so many of them
Christopher Marciano (36:05):
though.
Oh my God.
You have to share.
Catherine (36:09):
Oh my gosh.
Christopher Marciano (36:12):
We have to literally just have a night.
And I'll go pull out one of myold elementary poetry and you pull
out yours and let us share it.
Like, that would be
Catherine (36:22):
amazing.
I'm all for it.
I have to do that.
I will do that.
Let's set
Christopher Marciano (36:28):
a date kind of in place.
You never know your poem could just reachsomeone or we could just laugh about it.
It would be great.
Catherine (36:37):
Oh, we could do something live for the listeners . , oh,
that would be so much.
But
Christopher Marciano (36:41):
Christopher Marciano, I'm thrilled.Just make
me , your co-host that's all.
I love it.
I love it.
Catherine (36:49):
All right.
Well, we're, we're in, I'm in, I'min I'll pull out all of those books.
This is a hoot.
I'm loving this.
So, all right.
Is there anything else you want toshare or any, anything that I didn't
ask you that you're dying to share?
Christopher Marciano (37:10):
Actually, this has been such an amazing experience.
I love that you asked about my album.
And I've just been so lucky to connectwith so many people, including you, right.
And just learn about what they'redoing about their different, uh,
endeavors and their businesses.
It's just absolutely amazing.
So I did want to share that just toencourage other people out there to
(37:31):
reach out to strangers in a safe wayof course, and just find out yeah
what you could do to help duringthis time, because this is a time
that we need to come together.
So yes.
Thank you for showcasingthat and having me.
Oh,
Catherine (37:46):
absolutely.
Well, you are such a positive, positiveimprint and inspiration, and my podcast
being exceptional people rising to thechallenge, which you have been doing
that and, and the world appreciatesyou and we anxiously await your album.
So in closing, are there any, yeah,that the excitement is, is phenomenal.
(38:11):
So in closing, are there anyfinal thoughts you want to share?
Christopher Marciano (38:16):
I again, just want to thank you for spreading positivity.
We need it, especially during this time.
I want to thank you for justhaving various different people.
I feel like it's so important to showcasediversity and showcase creativity.
And I just feel thatauthenticity from you.
And I appreciate that.
(38:36):
And I, I hope through this, we canreach more people and encourage
them to do the same because we needauthentic positivity out there in the
world to make imprints everywhere.
Catherine (38:48):
Oh, Christopher Marciano.
Thank you so much for all of that.
Well, you, you are inspiring and I'mso glad that you are singing your
own pain and you are singing your ownhappiness and you are bringing it to
the world and your positive imprintsfollowing right there with you.
(39:09):
Thank
Christopher Marciano: you so much, Catherine. (39:09):
undefined
Oh, you are so welcome.
I will say I would love for you tocreate a positive imprint shirt because
I think that would be phenomenal.
I would love to wear that.
So as soon as you create it, let me know.
I will.
buy some..
Catherine (39:28):
Okay, well, listeners, then I think that that's you just set my bar?
Yes.
Okay.
Then you will be the first one to get
Christopher Marciano (39:38):
a shirt and I could post all about it.
Thank you so much,Catherine.
I sincerely appreciate it.
Catherine (39:45):
Oh, thank you.
And be well, be safe and safe travels.
Well, you are listening to yourpositive imprint, Christopher,
since you're still here, what'sthe best way people can find you.
Christopher Marciano (39:58):
You are perfect.
They can find me on Instagram.
Just follow me at Marciano,which is M as in Michael.
ARCIAN as in Nancy O music,or you could head over to my
website, Marcianomusic.com.
All of my music is available on allmusic platforms, such as Spotify,
(40:22):
iTunes, apple music, Amazon music,Deezer, anything you can think of
I'm probably on it.
Both Christopher Marciano.
My latest single is InLove With Your Lover..
Please stream it and let meknow what you think about it.
And I'm so excited to connect and meetall of you positive imprints out there.
Catherine (40:41):
Thank you.
And thank you again.
This is Catherine with yourpositive imprint and you can follow
me on Instagram and Facebook.
Your Positive Imprint,Twitter.
What's your PI, my website.
YourPositiveImprint.com.
Your positive imprint.
What's your PI.
I hope through this, we could reach more people
and encourage them to do the samebecause we need authentic positivity
out there in the world to makepositive imprints, everywhere.
Listeners, don't forget toenter the live show contest.
You could win one of twohoodies or you could win both.
(00:20):
All you have to do is listen to thelive episode that was just released
called ""healing and recovery, usinglyrics" with R and B artist, rowdy,
James and R and B pop artists.
Christopher Marsianno.
All you have to do is answer one oftwo questions for one chance to win
one of the hoodies, or answer bothquestions for two chances to win.
(00:45):
The questions are easy.
All you have to do againis listen to the live show.
First question, what song doesRawiri James consider his theme song?
And the second question, what isChristopher Marciano's tagline for
his mental health awareness movement?
You can learn more informationfrom my homepage on my website,
YourPositiveImprint.com there's an easyform for you to just fill out the answers.
(01:10):
Or you can email them if you'realready emailing me or using Facebook
or Instagram, use that platform.
I'm happy to receive your answers.
The deadline is June 2nd and thetwo winners will be announced during
the episode on June 7th, the firstperson to be drawn will receive
the unlock, your potential hoodie.
And the second name drawn willreceive the I sing, my pain.
(01:33):
I sing my happiness hoodie.
Enter, you could win two fabulous hoodies.
Again, the deadline June2nd, your positive imprint.
What's your P.I.?.
Positive stories are everywhere, people and their positive
(01:54):
actions inspire positive achievements.
Your PI could mean the world to you.
Get ready for your positive
Catherine (02:03):
imprint.
This is Catherine with Your PositiveImprint the variety show podcast,
featuring people from all over theworld whose positive, inspiring
imprints are inspiring the world.
These exceptional peopleare rising to the challenge.
And today I have one of thoseexceptional people here on the show.
(02:25):
Christopher Marciano.
Hello, Christopher.
Christopher Marciano (02:30):
Thank you.
I'm so excited to be here.
Catherine (02:34):
So thrilled to have you here.
And you are one of the youngestassistant principals over in Florida.
You could, you were born in and I'mjust going to give a quick introduction
here and we can talk about you.
So you were born in west Africa andyou moved over to the states, which
we will learn more about and yourEnglish as a second language struggles.
(02:56):
And you compose yourown songs, your lyrics.
And so you have genre that you dive intothat you share with your students as an
outlet to help them understand the worldaround them, which I think is so awesome.
I can't wait to hear about thatand to hear about some, some of the
music that you have out now and yeah.
(03:19):
You have brought in that music,not only as a person, not only as a
teacher, but as assistant principal.
And now you're sharing your music with theentire world and you're a reading coach.
Which is literacy for those listenerswho don't know what a reading coach is.
We're just going to hearso much more about you.
(03:40):
So thank you so much forbeing here, here on the
Christopher Marciano (03:42):
show.
Oh, it is my pleasure.
Catherine (03:45):
Yeah.
So let's start out first with westAfrica, you were born out in west Africa.
What part
Christopher Marciano (03:53):
so I wasn't born in west Africa.
I was actually born in RhodeIsland which is up north.
It's a very, very small place.
I was born Pawtucket.
My family's from west Africa.
I had the opportunity of traveling thereand they're from Cape Verde islands.
Not many people know what capeVerde islands consists of but it's
(04:13):
actually little bits of islandsoff of the west African coast
and it's absolutely beautiful.
It's very rural.
I wouldn't go there too oftenbecause of just how rural it is,
but it's, it's a beautiful placeand they have phenomenal waters.
So my family, a little by little migratedfrom there, uh, in order to just find a
(04:35):
better place to raise their children andfind a better place to live their lives.
My mother is actually from IvoryCoast, Africa, and, uh, her
family migrated over as well.
So as I was just surrounded by somany different cultures in Africa.
And I acquired differentlanguages, such as Cape Verdean,
(04:57):
which is my first language.
My mom spoke.
I know my mom spoke fluent French.
My mom speaks by the way, just, justto add that little tidbit, my mom
speaks five different languages.
Good for her.
Good for her bad for me, becauseI grew up like a little confused.
And when she was upset, she knew howto say it in five different languages.
(05:21):
So that that just caused a strugglefor me going to school because
of just natural language barrier.
Tell me about
Catherine (05:28):
that language.
Like, can you, do you still speak it?
Christopher Marciano (05:31):
Oh, yes.
Catherine (05:32):
Oh, well, say your positive imprint.
Christopher Marciano (05:37):
Well, (Cape Verdean language.) . So I said, I
just very happy to be here and Iwant to say, thank you for having me.
And I
Catherine (05:49):
heard the obrigada.
Portuguese for.
Thank you.
Christopher Marciano (05:53):
You are amazing.
You are awesome.
So, Cape Verde, I'm just gettinginto like a whole history lesson.
Cape Verde was actuallycolonized by the Portuguese.
Yes.
So my language is composed ofPortuguese and African dialect, so
I could understand Portuguese, butwhen I speak it, it's a hot mess.
Catherine (06:16):
Oh, interesting.
Can you read Portuguese?
Christopher Marciano (06:20):
I can, I can read Spanish pretty well.
I'm not quite sure how that happenedand I could speak Spanish pretty well.
Not sure how that happened either.
But Portuguese it's, it's very similarto my language so I could read it, uh,
grammatically, they, they moved theirwords differently than, the accent is a
little bit more predominant pronounced.
(06:40):
So, uh, but I could, I couldunderstand that pretty.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So
Catherine (06:43):
now you were living in Rhode Island, which is where you schooled.
Christopher Marciano (06:47):
Yeah.
So I went to over 12 different schools.
I know I moved around quite quiteso many times and when I was in
school or naturally, because I wasn'tconsistently in school, they put me in
a speech class because I was just very
quiet younger child.
And they thought they werehelping me by doing that.
(07:08):
But I actually felt a littledisconnected from my classmates
because they were pulling me out ofclass to work with me on my language
and then putting me back into class.
And when I came back, I just didn'thave the opportunity to develop
relationships within the classroom.
So that caused me to shutdown a little bit more.
(07:28):
And that's when I turned into writing,instead of expressing my emotions
through my words, I wrote it downjust so that I could get that outlet.
And that's where my writing began.
Catherine (07:41):
I really appreciate that you talked about how you felt in school
Christopher Marciano (07:47):
there's some cases where students will have to,
you know, receive services, whetherit's an exceptional education.
However, I feel like the relationshipbetween the teacher who is pulling out the
student and the actual classroom teacherneeds to be very tight because together,
you established that comfortable feelingwhere when the student comes back, we're
(08:12):
able to communicate and welcome thatstudent into their classroom family
where they, they don't feel left out.
Because when I went to a stranger,I was never introduced to them.
Didn't know their names.
I'm working with this personwho is pulling me from
class and I don't know them.
Whereas with me, when I was ateacher, I introduced those people
(08:35):
to my students and made sure thatthey knew, Hey, we're working
together to give you what you need.
I'm so excited to have youback in 30 minutes, we're
going to be here ready for you.
So that just made them feel comfortable.
And I felt like that's what, that'swhat was missing when I was younger.
Oh, that's
Catherine (08:52):
great now.
I mean, not great that that wasmissing, but that's, that's so
great that you recognized it.
You were able to implement that.
So how did, when you were readingcoach, how did that fall into place?
Did the teachers accept your openness.
Christopher Marciano (09:09):
Oh, of course not all the time.
I mean, I I'm very personable, soI have great relationships with
my teachers, but of course youhave certain situations where some
students are the ones I call them
the ones that need the most love theycould trust some limits, but we just
(09:29):
have to find creative ways to like musiccreative ways to really reach them.
So when I was a reading coach, Iabsolutely love it because I was
able to go into the classroom andmodel how we could do that and with
my background as being the Dean andbehavior and academics go side by side.
So I was able to come in regularlyand with a student and show them,
(09:51):
Hey, If you try these strategies, thestudent may be able to be a little more
comfortable and understand the conceptthat you're trying to deliver to them.
So it's all aboutthinking outside the box.
And really getting to know thestudent and reaching them and their
interest level in a inappropriate way.
Catherine (10:10):
Yes, definitely the interest level.
And so you mentioned you wereDean also, what grade level were
you working with with regard?
Was it still element
Christopher Marciano (10:19):
the whole school.
It was pre-K to fifth grade wasthe toughest year of my life.
Pre-K to fifth grade.
And I had we had a unit,several units at my school.
So several exceptional needs students.
I learned the most, it was myfirst year out of the classroom.
I lasted the entire year and I developedan amazing amount of relationships with
(10:45):
these kids and the teachers and parents.
I was very close with my parents becauseyou need to have parents by your side.
And that just really molded me.
into the leader that I am now soit's something I keep thinking of.
It's very rewarding.
Catherine (11:01):
Awesome.
When you decided to go into teaching,how old or did you always know
you wanted to go into teaching?
No, you're shaking your head.
Christopher Marciano (11:11):
Every my family, my mom still is just like, I can't believe
you went this route because here I am aCape Verdean boy, who has grown up going
to so many different schools strugglingin school and I become a teacher.
I always loved school.
Don't get me wrong.
I loved going to school.
However, I went to school for biology.
(11:31):
I was going to be a doctor.
I always knew I wasgoing to be pediatrician.
I've always loved kids.
So there was that connection.
I took my prerequisites for med school.
I got all of that done and Iwas ready to go and be a doctor.
And unfortunately I had a tough situationwhere and I don't talk so much about
(11:52):
this, but you are just a positiveperson, so I can definitely share it.
But I worked at a resort where I didactivities with the kids . , a little one
who was swimming in the pool with her momand dad, and went under the water and.
Didn't drown, but was unconscious.
(12:12):
So I pulled her out of the water andtilted her to the side and the water
came out of her mouth, but I wasapprehensive about giving her CPR.
So a guest in the water gave her CPR.
But since that moment, I kindof, you know, was hard on myself
because I said, if I couldn't
give her CPR in that moment,how can I be a doctor?
(12:33):
And even though they built me up somuch, because they said, if you didn't
tilt her to the side and the waterdidn't come out of her mouth, you did
what you were supposed to do, but Istill felt like I should have done more.
And she's alive.
She's well, like, you know, thanks to God.
But in that moment I waslike, oh, I can't be a doctor.
So I went home.
And I opened the college catalog and I waslike, what else can I do in this world?
(12:57):
And just fell on the elementary education.
I was like, why I like kids.
I could be a teacher.
And I literally that following day I wentto my university and changed my major.
Elementary education.
Wow.
Catherine (13:11):
What a story?
Oh my goodness.
And yet don't be hard on yourself ourminds do different things in our actions.
We do different things at different
Christopher Marciano (13:21):
moments.
Yeah, exactly.
I mean, if we, if we could all goback in time, there'll be one thing
by, we just take what happenedand then learn from them and grow.
Absolutely.
Catherine (13:32):
That was kind of a long time
Christopher Marciano (13:33):
ago.
Yes, I was.
How old was I?
Probably around 16, 17.
Nope.
It was 1718 around there.
So that's what I was some time ago.
Catherine (13:44):
So you were, you were just a teenager
Christopher Marciano (13:48):
But that day haunts me so much because you know, you always
have those thoughts and, and I'm not toohard on myself now,but it took quite some
time for me to find a positive positivitysomewhere else to assure myself, okay,
you did and what you could in that moment.
So you
Catherine (14:07):
did.
Christopher,.
Thank you for sharing that.
And I know that that was hard for you,so that brings you to elementary ed.
. Christopher Marciano (14:16):
I was given so much responsibility my
first year and aren't we all?
Oh my gosh.
I mean, all teachers, Ilisten, I commend them.
I love my teachers.
And my first year of teachingwas such a great one.
It was not the horrorstories that everybody would.
My first few years ofteaching were pretty great.
(14:37):
So yes, I.
Was always that teacher that thoughtoutside of the box, you would come
into my, and I was probably standingon my desk doing crazy accents, for my
students, my students were probably onthe floor rolling, laughing, but we had,
you know, our time where we had fun.
And we had our times that weworked, we worked, we worked,
(14:58):
we worked, my class was top 10%.
They had top 10% in Florida, alsothe top 10% teacher in Florida for
reading and math two years in a row.
And.
I wish I could tell you I dideverything that they told me to
do, but I literally had to thinkoutside of the box and learn my kids.
I took so much time to reallylearning each and every single
(15:21):
one of my students to reach them.
And in ways that I wish I wasreached when I was younger, and
that was crucial and important.
and I've seen students who wereso low and who have flourished to
who they are today, and it excitesme because I know kids can do it.
Catherine (15:39):
Oh, my gosh.
Absolutely.
We just need to set that barup above their head and not....
Yes.
The lower the bar is set, thenthey that's all they'll do.
And that's the same withus, you know, as adults.
You know, so we needsomething to strive for.
(16:00):
We don't want to just strive for
Christopher Marciano (16:01):
mediocrity.
Exactly.
And we won't push ourselves unlessthey, someone has set that bar for us.
You
Catherine (16:07):
remind me so much of when I was a teacher and I.
I loved teaching those students.
And I, I keep in touchwith so many of them today.
You know, when they're gettingmarried, they're having kids,
they're starting careers.
Christopher Marciano (16:22):
Oh, I don't know how you feel about
it, but I, I cry a little bit.
Oh, I
Catherine (16:27):
get, I get tearful.
I get, yeah.
I spend to keep in touch withthem and see what they're doing.
But one of the thingsthat you do is music.
Christopher Marciano (16:35):
Yeah.
Some, I'm an artist.
I've been a songwriter.
Actually I started as a songwriterfor several years and I just wrote for
other people, everything I write isabout an experience that I went through.
So I wasn't comfortable being,you know, at the forefront.
I just wanted everybodyelse to sing my song.
So I was like, okay, here, here's a song.
(16:55):
You sing using my pain, usingmy happiness, as long as I'm
getting it out there to everyone.
It was my therapy.
Like I, if I had.
An argument with a friend.
I went straight to my notebook and startedwriting and felt a lot better afterwards.
So I was a songwriter for quite some time.
And then as a songwriter, and I know manysongwriters out there fall in the same
(17:18):
path where they feel like they're helpingartists a lot more than just writing.
And I love doing that.
I would give suggestions as far as,oh, you should really go with this song
and that song, or you should reallytry having a music video for this song.
So one of my artists one day,Said, well, how do you know you've
never been an artist before?
(17:38):
And I said, you are absolutely right.
So I came on this whole journey.
I told myself, okay, become an artist,record a whole album, learn everything
you need to know about being an artistand then go back to songwriting so that
you could be the best song writer ever.
Just like what you said earlier aboutsomeone setting that bar for you.
(18:00):
I felt like I needed to reach that bar..
So it's perfect that you saidthat it's like a perfect segue.
So I became a song writer, uh, as anartist, a little over two years ago.
And I recorded my first song and someoneasked me to perform at their show.
And I will tell you, as soon as Igot on that stage, I was addicted.
(18:23):
No, I was like, oh, I love that.
I'm not coming off of this stage.
Like, I'm here.
You have to take themicrophone away from me.
I am.
staying here.
It started off as just like a,basically a big research project.
And now I'm loving it.
I've performed over 18 shows.
(18:44):
I've opened for some amazing artists.
I've performed in New York.
I've performed in Maryland.
And, and to say that I've only beenan artist for a little while, over two
years, and I've performed that muchand have worked with amazing people.
It's just so humbling.
And I feel so blessed tobe in this opportunity.
And that's.
When I began sharing thatwith my kids as well.
Catherine (19:05):
I like this.
So you had this positive imprint inyour life that set that bar and from
the one comment, and instead of gettingupset, it was criticism that you needed
to hear so that you could go and yeah.
Wow.
Absolutely.
Cool.
So what do you have your students do?
I've seen some of it on online.
(19:26):
Fabulous.
I love it.
Christopher Marciano (19:29):
So , I've always, you know, I've always created
craziest songs when my kids weretrying to, you know, do, do their work.
I would come up with randomsongs just because just to
get them happy and laughing.
But my principal came to me andshe came up with this amazing idea
of having electives at our school.
(19:50):
And elementary schoolsdon't really have electives.
So we have our art, we have music, we havePE, but we don't really have electives..
So she's like, no.
She is amazing, by the way, shesaid it's every Wednesday, I want
kids to do something that they love.
I want it to be electives wherethey choose, where, what they'll do.
And I want yoga classes.
I want acting classes.
(20:11):
I want a music class.
There's she looked, everyone waslooking at me at that moment.
Okay.
Tell me where, where this going?
She's like, oh, I figured youcan help kids write music and you
know, it could be really cool.
And I said, Okay.
I'm fine with that.
So I opened up the Tigers Studios,what I call that at my school.
(20:33):
And I started writing songs with them.
It started out with me writing alot of their songs, and then two
of my kids came one day and I wasabout to teach them their part.
And one of them said we kindof wrote something, is it
okay if we share it with you?
And I was a little taken aback, Iwas like, you wrote something and
(20:55):
she's like, yeah, I just wantedto see what you thought of it.
But we wrote a little something.
I was like, okay, okay.
Let's share it.
I was expected to, you know, cringeand be a little nervous about it, but
they blew me away the words rhymed.
Oh my gosh.
Yeah.
Positive imprint.
Completely.
(21:16):
They rhymed..
They were melodically perfect.
They were on the beat and I was like,oh, we're using this on a song.
So needless to say, I started steppingback and gave them control, which they
loved because you know, I could be alittle I'm a Virgo . I'm a perfectionist.
So they started writing thesong and then we were done with
(21:38):
the song within a few weeks.
So we had all this time on our handsand I was like, what do I do now?
We're we're completely done?
What do we do?
And I said, all right, guys, they'reall just staring at me, sitting down,
like, all right, we recorded the song.
What?
Now?
I was like, let's make a music video.
And they're like what?
I was like, let's do a music video.
(21:59):
Why not?
Let's do it.
I have no knowledge ofmaking music videos.
I have none of that, but I madeone of my students a videographer.
I made one of them director..
I made the.
Actors like we just set rolesand created this music video.
We ended up on the news for it inOrlando's the kids were just blown away.
(22:21):
So I started doing that as a tradition.
We did it a few times.
We had a NBA player onone of our music videos.
The kids were blown away and he agreedto come to the school, talk to them.
Be in the video, playbasketball with them.
It was amazing.
And I just know that this momentthat we shared doing that experience,
(22:42):
they will never forget about it.
Ever.
So I will never forget about it.
So it was pretty amazing.
That
Catherine (22:49):
is that's awesome.
Those kids ran with it.
You gave it to them and all you didwas guide them and they ran with it.
Christopher Marciano (22:58):
Yeah, not at first, but they
they definitely proved me wrong andshowed me that, you know, Kids are far
more capable than what we even think.
And I set high expectations for my kiddos,but for them to come and surpass that just
shows me, wow, look at what they can do.
It's still going on.
(23:18):
Unfortunately, , once I got promoted,they moved me to a different school.
Because my school had anassistant principal, so that
school is still doing it.
They'll do a musicclasses, which is great.
So I'm hoping that will carryon, even though I'm not there.
I'm still so well connected withthem because they are my core.
But now that I'm at my school nowas assistant principal, I'm hoping
(23:40):
once all this clears up, I couldimplement that within my new school.
Yeah.
Do you
Catherine (23:46):
miss teaching?
Oh, do you like doing theassistant principalship?
Christopher Marciano (23:51):
I will tell you, I love being an assistant
principal because I'm able toreach more able to reach more kids.
I'm able to reach teachers and parents.
So I have the whole school.
I loved being a teacher.
I do from time to time think of.
Well, I love having those really closerelationships with my kiddos and watching
them grow, but it just challenges me nowto just be in the classroom more often
(24:15):
and share my thoughts with the kids andhear them and be with them just to watch
them grow and establish that relationship.
But I love being assistant principal..
Sure.
That's awesome.
Catherine (24:25):
That's so great.
I love that you are loving it.
That's fabulous.
And you are.
Yeah.
And that you're doing so muchto bring those kids into a
Christopher Marciano (24:39):
new world,
Catherine (24:40):
their world.
Yeah.
Their world.
And with their own experiences.
So it's not your experiences,it's their experiences.
And that I think is yeah.
Really important.
And so what are your next stepswith music as far as your own.
Christopher Marciano (25:00):
Artistry.
Catherine (25:02):
So I've been
Christopher Marciano (25:03):
working on my album and everyone's going to like,
hurt me for this because they'relike, we just need the album.
We need the album, we need thealbum, but it takes so much work.
And I'm such a Virgo.
I'm such a perfectionistthat I need it to be perfect.
This is my first album.
And I want my first album to showcaseall the different sides of me.
Everything that I've gone through sothat I no longer have to explain myself.
(25:26):
I no longer have toelaborate on situations.
I can just put my album outthere, listen to my album.
This is exactly whoChristopher Marciano is.
And then we can move on to the next one.
So I want to be sure, likeI said, I'm very transparent
and I write what I go through.
So I want to make sure thatwhat I'm writing about.
(25:48):
It's okay.
Of course with my family, because Ithink it's important that I think of
them during this time, but I definitelywant to share what I've gone through
because I feel like other people canlisten to my words and see the outcome.
And I think I've donepretty well for myself.
And I'm so humbled by that.
So blessed and I want others to seethat and improve their mental health
(26:12):
and take the steps in becoming abetter version of themselves that they
never knew that they were capable ofdoing, because my childhood was very,
very rough and I would never fathomthat I would be where I am today.
And I know just by being a teacherthere, several kids out there that
are going through the same thing.
(26:33):
So I want this album to be perfectfor them more than for me, but.
Perfect for them and thatto serve as an outlet.
So right now I am twosongs away from being done.
So I'm going to release a few more songs
and recording music videos, butthe album will be out this year.
(26:54):
So who
Catherine (26:54):
are some of the folks that are helping you out with the production?
Because you said you, youdon't produce your own.
You write your own lyrics andsomeone else does the music.
Christopher Marciano (27:04):
Right.
So I wrote every single songon this first album, I wrote.
Production wise.
I have an amazing producer namedLayird music just in case you're
looking for music out there.
If you go to L a Y I R D music.com,he is absolutely phenomenal.
He is also based in Floridaand he does my pop happy with
(27:27):
a little eerie notes on there.
He is my go-to person.
And then aside from that,I have a producer named
Shariv who is based in Italy.
I hope I didn't mess that up.
Pretty sure it's Italy.
He's phenomenal.
Well, I connected with him throughjust social media and he had a
few love his piano instrumentals.
(27:50):
I'm such a piano person.
And then I have Mantra and.
Which is phenomenal.
He's done several songs of mineand last but not least Rebel Music.
He's absolutely incredible as well.
So several producers around the worldthat I've been so fortunate to connect
(28:10):
with and gain their trust with justallowing me to sing all over their
instrumentals and be, have it on my album.
So it's been quite a joy.
A lot of people say that I need to letmore people in my circle when it comes
to writing, but I told them once I get tomy second album, then I can explore that
(28:34):
world but this first album is so personal.
So I just wanted it to be allabout my words and how I feel.
And then the second album willbe completely collaborative
when it comes to writing.
Cause I'm, I've always beencurious about that side.
Catherine (28:48):
Yeah.
Oh, well, I'm anxious.
There's, there's a fellow whomyou would love listening to,
uh, on one of my, on my podcast.
Oh, his name is Rawiri James..
Yeah,
Christopher Marciano (29:03):
absolutely.
I love looking for new
Catherine (29:05):
people.
He's an R and B artist.
He's a Maori..
Yeah, so, and his struggles are differentfrom yours, but he wrote from the heart.
Absolutely.
From the heart with his music..
And can you share some of thosestruggles or is that giving away
too much when the, for the album,
Christopher Marciano (29:24):
since you're so nice and positive, I guess I should.
There.
I'll talk about one of my songs..
I I'm just sharing so much with you.
This is, this is great.
Uh, I'm looking up at the wallbecause I literally have my track
listing on my wall of all my songs.
(29:45):
So if you see me looking up constantly,because I'm looking at all of my
songs., it's like a constant reminder.
Like you need to get this album done.
Marciano you need to get this album done..
So one of the songs I have is called"Reason" and it is about, completely
about mental health and somethingthat I'm really pushing with my
(30:08):
album is definitely mental health.
It talks about me continuing todo music because other people have
really pushed me to continue to do it.
I got to a point in my life where Iwasn't so sure on whether I should proceed
with music because as as an independentartist it is so natural to go out there
(30:28):
and compare you know, your amount offollowers on Instagram to other people
and the amount of people who are likingyour pictures and commenting on your
posts, or it's so natural for us as humansto go and compare ourselves to others.
And it hurts a little bit,because I was just looking at
how successful other people were.
(30:50):
And I felt like I could get there, butI was missing some things to get there.
And it took me a while to really sitback and realize Christopher, you've
done this for a little over two years.
That's all, some people have been doingthis for their entire life and you have
received these amazing blessings withperforming several different times.
(31:13):
So.
No, you have a great support system.
You have family members andfriends who are really wanting
your music and know word for word.
When I had one of my shows, therewere people singing word for word
to one of my songs"Runaway", andI remember I had to stop singing
because I got so emotional becauseeveryone was singing louder than I was.
(31:36):
And I was just like, ohmy gosh, this is amazing.
So in that moment I said, Okay, you guysare the reason why I continue to do this.
So I want this song to serve asa reason for everyone else to go
and push other people to do welland push other people to be..
(31:57):
I want other people to be someoneelse's reason aside from me.
So I'm okay now, but go out there andfind someone who needs some help and
be their reason to to push through.
So the words in that song,it gets very detailed.
It talks about potentially not wanting tobe in this world anymore and how you could
(32:17):
overcome that because these are topicsin the world that needs to be discussed
and that are happening every day.
So I'm hoping from this song, someoneout there, even if it's just one heart,
I just want to touch that one heartand have them feel like I'm okay,
because this person made it through.
I can too.
And if you don't get that out of that, Iwant you to go out there and be someone
(32:42):
someone's reason to continue to behappy and improve their mental health.
Catherine (32:48):
Wow.
That is so inspiring.
Oh, that's that'sreally, oh, very much so.
Very, very much so.
And I'm impressed with how much you'vereally thought deeply about the words that
you're putting together for this album.
And I'm very anxious tohear the production of it.
(33:10):
Yeah.
The music behind it,
Christopher Marciano (33:14):
that song, it's pretty amazing.
I mean, I'm biased because I loveall of my songs, but that one,
I think you'll really love it.
And I can't wait to share with you guys.
Catherine (33:24):
Yeah.
So when you were writing the songs andyou're writing about such heartfelt
issues within yourself, or that havesomething that either you've experienced
or you've seen others experience, etcetera, so writing the songs, has
it changed you as a person in any
Christopher Marciano (33:44):
way?
Completely, uh, I will say during thewriting process and when I'm in the studio
recording the song, it's it gets tough.
There's songs on my album,where I naturally cry.
And some of that, those emotionsI've left the, in the songs
because they were authentic.
And I thought it was importantfor people to feel that.
Leading my song.
(34:05):
I'll explain how my therapy works.
My songs come from, likeI said, an experience.
So in the beginning, I'm left uneasy abouta situation I went through, whether it's
a happy moment and I just want to get itout there or whether it's a really tough
situation that I wasn't sure how to dealwith it or how to vocalize my emotions.
(34:27):
I'll go and write it.
As soon as I finished writingit and I finished recording it
I'm okay from that situation.
So if I was very upset about a situation,once I record that, my, my thoughts and my
emotions with that, I'm completely fine.
I don't even have to revisit it anymore.
So it's literally therapy for me becausepeople go into therapy and, and come
(34:50):
out feeling better about themselves.
I'd go into the studio andcome out, feeling so much
better about that situation.
And I almost get clarity with everyword that I'm writing I'm gaining
understanding of the situation.
I remember one of my songs that Iwrote, can't tell you the name of
that one, but I absolutely love it.
You'll love it too., one of my, one of mysongs, I wrote based on my ex's shoes,
(35:17):
because I wanted to understand why hedid what he did and what he was feeling.
So I said, okay, I'm going to putmyself in his perspective and write a
song based off of his, his perspective.
And I gained clarity after Ifinished writing that song.
And even though it was my situation thatI went through and I'm still writing
(35:38):
about my experience, I wrote it throughhis mind to try to gain understanding.
And once I finished thatsong, I was completely fine.
I'm like, okay.
Perfect.
Oh,
Catherine (35:49):
that is really that's.
That therapy is awesome.
That's great.
I used, yeah, I'm so glad to hear that.
I used to write poetry.
My mother bought me a journaland came home and handed it
to me and I went right to it.
I have so many of them
Christopher Marciano (36:05):
though.
Oh my God.
You have to share.
Catherine (36:09):
Oh my gosh.
Christopher Marciano (36:12):
We have to literally just have a night.
And I'll go pull out one of myold elementary poetry and you pull
out yours and let us share it.
Like, that would be
Catherine (36:22):
amazing.
I'm all for it.
I have to do that.
I will do that.
Let's set
Christopher Marciano (36:28):
a date kind of in place.
You never know your poem could just reachsomeone or we could just laugh about it.
It would be great.
Catherine (36:37):
Oh, we could do something live for the listeners . , oh,
that would be so much.
But
Christopher Marciano (36:41):
Christopher Marciano, I'm thrilled.Just make
me , your co-host that's all.
I love it.
I love it.
Catherine (36:49):
All right.
Well, we're, we're in, I'm in, I'min I'll pull out all of those books.
This is a hoot.
I'm loving this.
So, all right.
Is there anything else you want toshare or any, anything that I didn't
ask you that you're dying to share?
Christopher Marciano (37:10):
Actually, this has been such an amazing experience.
I love that you asked about my album.
And I've just been so lucky to connectwith so many people, including you, right.
And just learn about what they'redoing about their different, uh,
endeavors and their businesses.
It's just absolutely amazing.
So I did want to share that just toencourage other people out there to
(37:31):
reach out to strangers in a safe wayof course, and just find out yeah
what you could do to help duringthis time, because this is a time
that we need to come together.
So yes.
Thank you for showcasingthat and having me.
Oh,
Catherine (37:46):
absolutely.
Well, you are such a positive, positiveimprint and inspiration, and my podcast
being exceptional people rising to thechallenge, which you have been doing
that and, and the world appreciatesyou and we anxiously await your album.
So in closing, are there any, yeah,that the excitement is, is phenomenal.
(38:11):
So in closing, are there anyfinal thoughts you want to share?
Christopher Marciano (38:16):
I again, just want to thank you for spreading positivity.
We need it, especially during this time.
I want to thank you for justhaving various different people.
I feel like it's so important to showcasediversity and showcase creativity.
And I just feel thatauthenticity from you.
And I appreciate that.
(38:36):
And I, I hope through this, we canreach more people and encourage
them to do the same because we needauthentic positivity out there in the
world to make imprints everywhere.
Catherine (38:48):
Oh, Christopher Marciano.
Thank you so much for all of that.
Well, you, you are inspiring and I'mso glad that you are singing your
own pain and you are singing your ownhappiness and you are bringing it to
the world and your positive imprintsfollowing right there with you.
(39:09):
Thank
Christopher Marciano: you so much, Catherine. (39:09):
undefined
Oh, you are so welcome.
I will say I would love for you tocreate a positive imprint shirt because
I think that would be phenomenal.
I would love to wear that.
So as soon as you create it, let me know.
I will.
buy some..
Catherine (39:28):
Okay, well, listeners, then I think that that's you just set my bar?
Yes.
Okay.
Then you will be the first one to get
Christopher Marciano (39:38):
a shirt and I could post all about it.
Thank you so much,Catherine.
I sincerely appreciate it.
Catherine (39:45):
Oh, thank you.
And be well, be safe and safe travels.
Well, you are listening to yourpositive imprint, Christopher,
since you're still here, what'sthe best way people can find you.
Christopher Marciano (39:58):
You are perfect.
They can find me on Instagram.
Just follow me at Marciano,which is M as in Michael.
ARCIAN as in Nancy O music,or you could head over to my
website, Marcianomusic.com.
All of my music is available on allmusic platforms, such as Spotify,
(40:22):
iTunes, apple music, Amazon music,Deezer, anything you can think of
I'm probably on it.
Both Christopher Marciano.
My latest single is InLove With Your Lover..
Please stream it and let meknow what you think about it.
And I'm so excited to connect and meetall of you positive imprints out there.
Catherine (40:41):
Thank you.
And thank you again.
This is Catherine with yourpositive imprint and you can follow
me on Instagram and Facebook.
Your Positive Imprint,Twitter.
What's your PI, my website.
YourPositiveImprint.com.
Your positive imprint.
What's your PI.
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