ToneGym Hero: Lavelle Romain

A passionate musician who enjoys a blend of music, science, physical activities, and competitive games, with a particular love for the piano, Lavelle Romain is this month's ToneGym Hero.

How did you first find your way into making music?  

My grandpa completed everything he ever dreamed of. He was a great carpenter, but deep down, he had a love for music. House Guests can tell by the number of pianos, organs, and guitars he had collected around the house but never used. At 9, my grandpa put me into piano lessons, which I found fun, but I was too distracted to practice. Long story short, I graduated from York College in 2021 in science and minored in music, which rekindled my love for the piano. 

Aside from music, what hobbies or activities do you enjoy?

I like to make Tones and go to the Gym. On a serious note, I enjoy trying new things with family and friends, studying music or science, participating in physical group activities, and playing competitive games. 

What’s something you're surprisingly good at that has nothing to do with music?

I'm a fast runner. I usually outrun family members, friends, and most strangers. But for some reason, during track in high school, I could never outrun any of my running mates. This led me to believe I have a heart condition or something, but I now realize talent can’t compare to hard work and good old-fashioned practice. 

If you could play or create with any artist, who would it be and why?

As much as I love the old greats like Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, etc. I would love to create with Koji Kondo, Nintendo’s main composer for games like Zelda, Mario’s and more. Games were fun but not without the amazing music that went along with it. Zelda's music takes me to the new world I saw before.  

What musical instrument do you love the most, and what makes it irreplaceable for you?

The piano is a double-edged sword. On one end, it sounds like a beautiful Orchestra, and on the other, it’s a pain to learn. 

What daily or weekly habits do you have in place to keep you creating?

I make sure I’m reading, practicing, or studying something music-related (usually the same material repeatedly) because, in the long run, my brain finally copies and pastes what I expose it to. 

What keeps you motivated to continue making music?

Stemming from my last response, I experience from reading, studying, and practicing the same material alls my brain not only to copy and paste it but also to augment the material into something better, allowing me to understand a higher level of material (cough cough ToneGym) 

What song would you choose as the soundtrack of your life?

Howl Moving Castle (jazz version preferred) 

What's your favorite feature on ToneGym, and how has it helped you in your musical journey?

My favorite features are all features, but my favorite feature would be the harder games. I used to exclude Solfègiator
, but I feel that since the voice detection became more accurate, it can join the rest of the features. 

What’s something exciting you're working on or looking forward to?

I’m currently still just learning (Music) reading, grammar, ABC’s, spelling, etc. once I am fluent in the musical language I will hatch from my Cocoon, until then I’m excited to learn harder material which gets me closer to playing songs I know and love.