Parenting Panel with Karina Pardus
In the dynamic landscape of music composition, advocacy, and entrepreneurship, few individuals embody versatility and passion as profoundly as Karina Pardus.
Karina is the President of the Female Composer Safety League, Chair of the Executive Committee of Mamas in Music, and also works in music education as the Music Director of the Adults with Disabilities Program at Tanner Dance through the University of Utah.
She is the founder of Coy Compositions, and has composed and orchestrated music for podcasts (Talking Autism), video games (Hide vs. Seek), and has worked commercially with companies such as Ipsy. She is the Associate Director for Game Sound Con, and has been a panelist at the Salt Lake Gaming Convention, Game Sound Con, PAX East, and a contributor to the Silicon Slopes Tech Summit.
As a mom of 3, she knows that managing a family and a business requires a lot of creativity to not only balance her dreams, but to thrive among them.
We caught up with Karina for an exclusive interview to find out more about the inspiration behind her music, being a parent, and how parenthood has helped her creativity:
How many children do you have? And what are their names and ages?
I have 3 kids. A daughter who is 11, and two boys ages 9 and 7.
In what ways has parenthood helped your creativity?
Motherhood has given me the opportunity to have a more collaborative experience in what I'm creating - whether I want to or not lol. When kids want to be involved, they are there all the way. And that is something that at first annoyed me, but I now cherish it. Having their perspectives and voices mingling with my own is a joy in my creative process.
What has parenthood taught you about yourself, your music, or your creative process?
Being a parent has taught me that creativity is not finite, and that I am capable of going beyond any limits that I think I have. Most of these limits are just fears unspoken, but they aren’t permanent.
How have you built a support system around your parenting and career? Do you have any tips you would like to share, or pitfalls to look out for?
I have been very blessed with support in many places. My husband is number one in that department for me, encouraging me to pursue my passions, and making sure I don't sell myself short. I have also found an amazing place in the Female Composer Safety League, and at Mamas in Music, where I'm able to be in community with so many women who understand what I'm going through and are amazing examples of empowerment. As far as pitfalls, I know that being a Mother is never unprofessional, and when I feel the need to apologize for what motherhood entails, I know I'm not in a place where I can take risks and grow. I have learned never to apologize, and if needed to instead replace it with gratitude. "Thank you for understanding my need to step away" feels a lot better than "I'm sorry I had to get my child a drink of water." Not everyone will be your ally and support, sometimes not even other women. But true support is out there, so don't give up. The world needs Mothers who will relentlessly pursue and create goodness.
What is a piece of advice you would give to someone on your same path?
Don't go it alone. People don't have to be on the same exact path for you to be supporting each other's travels. Wherever you find joy or see inspiration, find people there who can see it in you and your work, and build safety nets with each other.
Do your children inspire / inform your music or personal development?
Definitely. I will often turn to them to see how they react emotionally to what I'm writing. They are so true to their feelings, and it's wonderful to see what makes them dance, what makes them sad, what makes them think hard or feel uncomfortable. Music is the language of emotional connection, so I love including my kids in the process of communicating that. And sometimes they will give input and make fun melodies that I like to play with. Collaboration makes me a better artist, and I have yet to find as creative collaborators as my children.
Do you have advice for other parents balancing parenting and creative endavors?
First, parenting is creative. It is exhausting and so it can be easy to not see beyond the trees. Find ways to remind yourself that you are a creative being in everything that you do - it's not an either/or zero sum game. And second, find ways to create rituals of rest. For me this often looks like setting aside 5-10 minutes every few days to journal, or going outside to be with the trees even for a few minutes. Rest is where creativity gets stronger so you don't burn out.
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