What Music has done for my life

        A question that I and many other people have asked themselves is “what if”. This type of question usually can’t be answered if not experienced. My “what if” question is, “what if I never started playing music where would my life be it at now?” At the conclusion of my junior year I have now answered that question. My answer is not really answer but more of an epiphany. I do not care to know what my life would be like without music. The answer to me is irrelevant because my life, my happiness is revolved around music. My musical journey started at the age of four. My mom decided to put me into piano lessons because when I was a baby I use to hum songs I would hear when I crawled around the house. This was always a signal to my mom when I was in a really good mood. This was the first stop on my musical journey and the basic building blocks of who I am today.

         Music has shaped my ability to study and perform successfully outside the band room. During my sophomore year there were mounds of terms in honors biology we had to remember in order to be successful on exams. When i studied, I would put on a classic work such as the Mozart Clarinet Concerto and through the melody I’d create lyrics for the terms. On test day, all I had to do was softly hum the melody and the answers would flow onto the paper as if I was replicating the whole concerto. This way of thinking has also made me a more advanced linguistic learner. Since freshman year, I was the “Google Translator” in my Spanish classes. From playing the clarinet and piano I have expanded my vocabulary which made learning Spanish much easier to comprehend. Music, like Spanish, is a language. If you learn to speak another language it will make you a well-rounded learner and intellectual individual. My aptitude would not be as sharp without me being so devoted to simple dots on a staff.

Favorite Quote

         Through music I have learned how friendship, confidence, and leadership will take me far in life. I learned in third grade that I had stage fright when I couldn't say my lines for the Thanksgiving play. I was able to overcome that fear by participating in many recitals and performances as I grew up. This was huge for me because with my newly found confidence I was able to nail my auditions and land a spot in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Civic Youth Ensembles for four years. I have made many friends through music that will remain with me for the rest of my life. My best friend and I, whom I have known since elementary school, have faced much adversity. But when we play a piece of music together all of our problems die soon as the sound of our clarinets intertwine as one producing a beautiful song. Currently, I am first chair and section leader of my school band. I have learned that it takes more than being the best when it comes to leadership. It also takes teamwork and being a good listener. I always lead small ensemble groups for performance in music festivals. As leader, I place people in certain parts not because they aren’t capable of playing harder parts it’s because of how they blend with the people around them. When they are all seated properly it creates pure bliss and that's one of greatest rewards of a leader.

         I could not imagine where my life would be without music. I dream that someday I will spread my musical haven to those who are unable to experience it. My life as a musician is truly the place where I am content. It is my inspiration. My energy. My best friend. My home.

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