As students rush into class, Shannon Anderson, the White Bear South Campus Band Director, sits patiently in her office, wearing her casual band jacket with her last name on it. As students come into her office to ask her questions, she remains calm and is very friendly. “To me, caring for the students is more important than caring about the music”, says Mrs. Anderson while answering questions that range from counting music all the way to relationship advice. Mrs. Anderson’s drive for music became present while she was in band in the 6th grade. Her passion for teaching she says was different, she always loved to play school with her brother, and always wanted to become a teacher from the time she was little.…
Personal Narrative It took us about 3 hours to get to Shakopee, it was only 60 degrees, but with the thousands of people lined up, waiting to get in, it felt like 90. We stood in that line for two hours. For awhile, we talked, we met a variety of people, we laughed, we were excited. But once we got closer to the front of the line we all got quiet, this is it, we were in, we were all going to see our idols.…
For the last two years, I have contributed to my Advanced Women’s Show Choir’s success as a performer and as a dance captain. My talent as a dancer and my ability to quickly learn choreography led to my selection as dance captain. This leadership role requires me to be a responsible person, a patient teacher and a supportive team member. Being a part of a nationally top-ranked show choir, I know the requirements of my role, and I was always thrilled to be selected as a dance captain during my junior and senior years. As dance captain, I schedule and lead dance sectionals, helping the girls review the choreography from previous rehearsals.…
Today My wagon train and I are leaving Ft. Kearny in search of Courthouse Rock, but first we have reach the California crossing and cross the south platte river. The river is too wide to be bridged and to shallow for a ferry so we have to cross it by using the sandbars. When we got in the water one of the children from another wagon almost drowned because of the current. It took us 30 minutes to get from one end of the river to the other.…
"This life is a precious gift." The Lonely Island Band captures the essence of life for the youthful and daring or the aging and reckless. I enjoy being around family and friends. I care about music, television, and movies; sometimes I like to look for a deep message that most people overlook. I love the human will to survive when pushed to the limits; everyone has an instinct to survive.…
My heart was pounding so quickly I thought it was going to fly out of my chest. I’ve been waiting almost a month for this and it’s finally happening. I was at The Who concert. My mom told me to pick something fun to do as a graduation present and as soon as I saw the concert online I knew this was the one.…
A few years ago, one of my good friends sent me some songs to listen to by a band that I had never heard of called Twenty One Pilots. Their sound was completely different from anything I had ever heard before, containing some rap, a ukulele, and a piano all in one album. No one song sounded like the other, but they all contained one common element: some type of deep message hidden in the lyrics. At first, I rejected the band, not liking the way the music sounded, but when I listened again, really paying attention to the lyrics this time, I fell in love immediately. Somehow, these short 3 minute songs by this almost totally unknown duo had utterly changed my entire perspective on life, and on the effects of music in particular.…
If I have not challenged myself to practice and to confront challenges, I could not have become the principal player in our school’s jazz band and wind ensemble. After several breakthroughs, I decided to share my inspirations to the younger generation. This year, I am one of the coordinators of the Molding Musicians program supported by the Cypress Boys and Girls Club, teaching the fifth and sixth graders how to play an instrument. I appreciate the fact that my achievements did not come from an easy work, but rather a persistent standing against…
Adrenaline ran through my veins all day, and Disney references spilling out of my mouth like a broken record in a player. No one else accepted my elation, but I on the other hand, had a countdown down for this jaunt as soon as I heard of it in August. As I sat down on the dirty, sweaty gym floor like the rest of the band, I began to process everything that was happening. In 26 hours, 48 minutes, and 28 seconds, according to my countdown, the entire high school band would be in Orlando, Florida. In four days time, our provincial marching band would be featured marching in a parade in the Magic Kingdom of the happiest place on earth!…
“Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence” -Colin Powell. I will never forget when I was awarded one of the two “Most Outstanding Musician” awards when I was a 7th grader at Neil Armstrong Middle School.…
Therefore, upon graduation this May, I anticipate touring with the nationally renowned Crossman Drum and Bugle Corp. This will broaden my horizons and will enhance my music ability. Since my first formal band program in fifth grade, I have had a propensity for music. I plan to instill this passion in young people. I have auditioned with the band directors at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, and secured a spot in their concert, marching, and jazz band.…
"Good better best, never let it rest, 'till your good is better and your better is best." These simple words were spoken to me by my high school band director Cheldon Williams on the first day of my high school experience. This, followed by my experience of marching band and my eventual learning of piano sparked a period of introspective thought, and mental growth, that transcended to where I am today. Never in my life did I think my hard work and dedication inspired by Mr. Williams words would land me at Interlochen Center for the Performing Arts Boarding School. These words became a core part of what I am, and from freshman year on would encourage me to never set a limit on my potential, and my overall worth.…
Ever since I was a kid, I always found a rhythm on things. Whenever I heard the heartbeat from a toy heart that my teacher had in her classroom, in my head I always added an extra beat to it, always turned it into something musical. I always thought it was because I used to watch the Nickelodeon kids show called “The Fresh Beat Band” every single day when I got home from school, so I let slide. I knew that wasn’t the real reason because it didn’t feel like it was, but I never looked deep into my abilities, never did anything with it no matter how big it was and no matter how it would change my life. At that time I thought I was a waste of talent because whenever I realized I was good at something I never really did anything about it, until one day.…
Coming out of fifth grade, I didn’t know what music really was. It just seemed like a bunch of guys playing a plethora of notes in my opinion. But once I joined middle school band, that all changed. Sometime during sixth grade, I had the sudden epiphany that I need to pursue music for as long as possible, because it felt special. It still does.…
People and music are inseparable as Macdonald (2008, 39) argues that ‘We are all musical. Every human being has a biological, social and cultural guarantee of musicianship.’ It is hardly possible to live without hearing music in daily life, and people has been building musical identity since they are born by negotiating through it. Thus, music is a significant matter in personal identity and analysis of one’s life can reveal one’s musical identity. This essay will demonstrate the analysis of my musical identity based on my life.…