Waterfall Braid

I want to personally thank Brandi Dembowski for taking the time...  A whole lotta time that is, to learn and master the Water Fall Braid for my singing competition this past week-end!  Thank You So much!!!

I also want to thank my mom and dad for coming up with this unique braid and pony tail for the show also.

STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A BAND

The band is really starting to take shape and we may have up to 6 members including me next week if  my music everything goes well.  I am very fortunate to have so many people interested in helping me with my music.

Me

ERIC TOOMBS

EVERT CLAESSON

TY KELLER

ZACH STROUP

HEATHER PEDERSEN

First Rehearsal

In less than 10 minutes these three strangers became a band.  This was our first rehearsal as a band...  McKenzie Steiner (Lead Vocals), Eric Toombs (Drums) and Evert Claesson (Bass Guitar).  Songs we worked on were "Rolling In The Deep" by Adele, "Good Girl" by Carrie Underwood and "Done" by The Band Perry.  Below is a link to our first rehearsal.

Click here to view our first reheasal!

Finally caught a Bass!

We finally caught ourselves a Bass!  A big one!  Evert Claesson a Folk Band Player from Lincoln, really impressed me last year when I stumbled acrossed him at the State Fair playing with his band "The Shoestring Band".  Recently I contacted him through Bandmix and sat down and watched his virtual audition  http://youtu.be/nTjLDTPXF-g and interview.  Before McKenzie had to run off for a soccer match and after an hour long meeting they came to the conclusion that they would like to try to get together for a jam session.  Upon receiving his invitation McKenzie and Evert agreed and "shook on it" with a virtual handshake and high five.

Lead Guitar- Ben Curran

Blues lead guitarist Ben Curran has joined our group.  He really impressed us with his smooth licks and stage presence.  We are looking forward to working with Ben.

revised-Kenzie's Band Project- Back-up Lead Guitarist

  Unfortunatly for us Lee Tasey Philosophy, Religion and Literature teacher of Doane College in Crete, Nebraska.  Has to focus on his job becasue of some expansions being made with the school and Omaha.  We wish Lee the best of luck and hope to jam with him in the future.  Until then, rock on!

Kenzie's Band Project- My Newest Member

Please meet my newest member of my band.  Josh Rector- Violin, Mandolin, Banjo, Acoustic G.  Josh recently celebrated his birthday by buying himself a Harmonica so he has an additional instrument to add to his arsenal.  Josh is also a member of two other Lincoln area bands at the moment Emmett Bower Band and Jack Hotel.  We are very excited, cuz if your gonna play in Texas or anywhere, you have to have a fiddle in the band.

Kenzie's Band Project

Tonight we with and gave a two hour interview to Eirc Toombs and after the dust settled ended up skaking hands and being excited to work with one another.

Guitar Center

I want to thank Katie and Guitar Center for taking the time to teach me some of the basics like tuning my guitar and some chords.  I'm looking forward to next week's session!  It's cool that a business like this takes the time to mentor someone like me that loves "The Sound of Music" but doesn't necessarily understand how to make the instrument make beautiful music.

It was also cool that they let me use this beautiful blue Ibenez Acoustic guitar...  I think I know what I want for my upcoming birthday.

This is the guitar my Uncle Russel won and gave to me.  Thanks  Russel, I'm trying to learn how to play it for ya!  With the help of Guitar Center maybe I'll be able to play you Happy Brithday next year!

BUILDING A BAND

Tried this last year and had something goin' but unfortanly it just didn't work out.  That is trying to build a band is tougher than I thought.  Last year we were working with a group called Inline 5.  Some friends of ours through the Nebraska Country Music Foundation.  Two of the musicians are Junior Hall of Fame members just like me.  The only thing that didn't work is the fact that we all lived an hour away from one another and we are minors...  Makes it tough to get together, so that idea was scratched.

This year however we have been concentrating on building a band with musicians all from the Lincoln, Nebraska area and are actually getting something going again.   At the moment I have about three spots in the group narrowed down.  Will start the audition process soon!...  So be on the look out for us!

Today we have a day off from school.  It is Spring Break...  Some Spring Break.  It snowed almost 6" inches.  Anyways, I am bored so I have been working on a song that I have been meaning to for a long time...  Our National Anthem, "The Star Banner".

Successful Fundraiser

Today at North Star High School we honored Mikaelah Molifua (a senior) who was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma Cancer by having a Soup Supper Benefit to raise spirits and funds. It was really cool to see so many people helping out and donating their time for the cause. Our North Star Softball Family, High School and community should be very proud to have such a large loving "Softball Family" and I was very proud to be a part of it.  Along with all of the teachers, coaches, players, friends and other volunteers helping I was invited to sing.  When it was my time to sing, I sang the song "There's a Hero" by Billy Gillman and dedicated it to all of the "Heroes" that helped make the event happen and such a huge success.  I also dedicated "What Faith Can Do" by Kutless to Mikaelah and her family. $24,720.00 was raised in just over 4 hours yesterday at the benefit.

Here is a link to one of the songs I sang

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKBqYmhlxmM&feature=share&list=UULuuIGh9EPY8b1ciqsRJGzw

My Friend Reggie

Please be sure to check out my friend Reggie Shaw's debut album called "Living In The Fast Lane".  This is a great album and is sure to be big for Reggie.  I met Reggie at the State Fair while competing in the Galaxy of Stars.  Reggie also was a competitor in the show from a few years before.

Please be sure to pick up a copy of this, you won't regret it!  Click on album above to be taken to Reggie's website

Live Band

Since I do not play an instrument quite yet fluently or am a member of a band, it is really fun to be able to be a part of one once a year at the Nebraska Country Music Foundation Festival.  This year instead of Jim Hyatt on bass, Chris Calhoun was on bass and keyboard.  The band was nicknamed "The Main Ingredients" and it stuck all week.  So I just want to say that I really enjoyed being able to perform my song with "The Main Ingredients".  Chris Calhoun (bass and Keyboard), Lonnie Musil (Lead) and Nuet Larson (drums).  Over the course of a week they learned and I was able to sing "The House That Built Me" by Miranda Lambert, "Stuck Like Glue" by Sugarland, "Good Girl" by Carrie Underwood and "If Heaven Was Needing A Hero" by Jo Dee Messina.

My Friend Kelsey

My 13 year old Friend Kelsey Klingensmith recently released her debut album titled "Blue Jean Girl".  This album is great and Kelsey has had a great time working with some of the most talented musicians from the Nashville area with such musicians Bruce Boulton, Larry Fralklin, Jimmy Nichols (Faith Hills Keyboards), Mike Durham, B. James Lowry, Spady Brannon, Shawn Fichter and David Biondolillo.  This full length album was produced by Jimmy Nichols.

Please be sure to buy your copy today!  Click the album above to be redirected to Kelsey's website...  This truly is a great album and I am very happy to have met Kelsey and have her as a friend.

2012 NCMF Awards Banquet

Last night for me at the 32nd Nebraska Country Music Foundation Awards Banquet was amazing!  I was recognized for my 2nd place finish at our annual Karaoke Finals and received a trophy and check for $50.  I won  a trophy for the 2012 NCMF Top Youth or Teen Vocalist of the Year, a  trophy for People's Choice and $250 gift certificate from Clamhead Studios in Cario, NE and  I was inducted into the NCMF Jr. Hall of Fame!  My dad read a speech about me and was really nervous...  It was kind of funny because he was shaking.   Besides all of that I also won a blanket from a raffle ticket.  My Aunt won a $100 gift certificate to a Yanda's Music in Kearney, Nebraska and gave it to me!  If that wasn't enough, my Uncle Russell won a electric guitar on a raffle and a $75 gift certificate, guess what, he gave them both to me as well.  I am very thankful for those awards and gifts, but I am most thankful for those of you who support me...  Without you I couldn't or wouldn't be doing this.  I would also like to thank the Nebraska Country Music Foundation for all of these wonderful memories, new friends and experieince.  If you enjoy country music I would highly recommend becoming a member and or attending some of events throughout the year!  www.necmf.net 

-XOX Kenzie

2012 Nebraska Country Music Festival

Here is a link http://youtu.be/4gus-h5odeQ to a song that is very special to me... I performed "If Heaven Was Needing A Hero" by Jo Dee Messina at my Grandpa's brother funeral. Unfortunately, Jim took his own life earlier this summer. "If Heaven Was Needing A Hero" is one of the songs I will be performing with the NCMF Band to honor of him at the festival this week at the Nebraska Country Music Festival as my tribute to the military and fallen hero's.http://www.necmf.net/web_documents/2012scheduleofevents.pdf.  Hope to see you there!

http://youtu.be/_Fr_HOw6cuQ

Here's a video of Kenzie and her softball team competing in a dance contest at their softball tournament... I am not sure how much choreography country music has, but I think she'll have that covered if she ever needs to do any dancing for a video or a show.

2012 NCMF Karaoke Finals

Had a great time competing in the Nebraska Country Music Foundation's Karaoke Finals this past week end.  It was nice seeing everyone at the Legion in Sutton, Nebraska again.  McKenzie sang two songs "Temporary Home" by Carrie Underwood and "Like My Mother Does" by Lauren Alaina.  With a first time three way tie, Deb Bishop, McKenzie and Mike Alloway battled it out with one more song for a tie-breaker.  McKenzie in the end won 2nd and will receive a trophy and a $50 check when presented to her at the NCMF Festival in October.  McKenzie also, won a festival package and a year's membership to the NCMF.

KOOL... AID!

Deb Shaw the President of the Nebraska Country Music Foundation just recently called me and asked if I would be interested in singing some songs at a beauty pagent in Hastings, Nebraska.  I said sure.  I will be performing two songs from the 80's.  Not sure what songs I will sing and am looking into songs from the 80"s now.  One of the songs my dad suggested was "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" by Cindy Lauper. 

The Kool-Aid Beauty Pagent is on August 9th and I will be performing two songs sometime after 6:00pm I believe.  A neat fact about Kool-Aid-  Kool-Aid was created in Hastings, Nebraska...  Hastings is also where mom and dad met and got married.