Musical upbringing influences brothers to strike the right chord

By St. Clair Murraine
Outlook Staff Writer

Eight-year old Ethan Chapman and his 11-year-old brother, Edward Chapman III, are scheduled to perform this weekend at the Cool Breeze Art and Smooth Jazz Festival.

Just a few days before their appearance at Cascades Park, there wasn’t a single case of the nerves. No need for that the brothers say. They’ve made too many previous public appearances to be frightened of the stage.

“I love it because it’s a way I can express myself through music,” Edward said.

They’re accustomed to doing the uncommon for children their age. They were named state and national youth entrepreneurs of the year for their lemonade business. 

On top of that, Edward owns 3rd’s Drum Line, an apparel company that he runs along with teaching beginner’s drum lessons. Ethan is an author, who recently published a book titled “The Important People In My Community,” which he said was inspired when he saw a trash man working in his neighborhood.

The Chapman brothers represent a growing trend in Tallahassee where young people are starting up businesses and becoming musicians – in some cases before they are 10 years old. But for these two, playing music is in their DNA.

Their father, Edward Chapman Jr., grew up playing the base guitar. His wife, Youri, was singing with the Rickards gospel choir as a teenager. Both are musicians at Family Worship and Praise Center, where she is co-director of the choir and he plays in the band.

Together, the family has produced a CD titled “Save our land.” 

Encouraging their boys is a constant.

“Once I see them having an interest in something,” said Edward Jr., “I try to open doors for them to experiment with it to see how far they can go.”

Cautiously, though.

“I try not to push them to be like me,” he said. “Whatever is in them, I try to enhance. I just try to encourage them and support them.”

The Chapman couple knew early on after the birth of their first son that music will be a part of his life. He began tinkering with beats on anything that made a sound. By age 1 he had a drum set that a church member gave him. With a base-playing father and a piano in their home, he quickly became a multi-instrument musician.

By the time Ethan was a toddler, he was showing signs that he wanted to follow suit, their mother said. What they didn’t learn from their parents, they got from watching YouTube videos.

Education remains a priority for the boys who are students of Florida Virtual Middle School. Their mother sees to that since they began taking lessons on line at the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

They make sure they aren’t missing a beat, either by getting their priorities twisted.

“Really, all I have to do is get my work done and I can practice my (music) lesson,” said Ethan.

Allowing their sons to do what most children their age like, is part of the Chapman’s routine. They get to go on family trips, hang out with their friends and enjoy the trampoline in their yard if that’s what they want to do.

But when it comes to their music, they don’t need a lot of encouragement. They always want to be on queue.

“I’m very proud of them,” said Edward Jr. “Even when they’re not playing with me and I’m watching them on a stage, makes me very proud to see them take something small and just work on it and try to produce something.”

Cool Breeze Art and Smooth Jazz Festival
Thursday
Youth music workshop: Legacy Center at 2801Thomasville, 3-5 p.m.
Happy hour: Hyatt House at 1100 Railroad Va., 6-8 p.m.
Friday
Meet and greet: Parkview ballroom at 414 East Bloxham St. / Cascades, 6-9 p.m. (Tickets $20.)
Saturday
Music Festival: Lineup includes Bob Baldwin, local musicians and more, Cascades Park at 1001 South Gadsden St., 1-8 p.m. free (VIP tickets $30.)