“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.…
Different moments of our lives change us and shape us into the man or woman whom one day we will become. One moment that changed me was when I got my first instrument. Getting my first instrument was exciting, yet challenging at the same time. When I told my mom that I wanted to start playing music, I didn’t realize how hard it can truly be. I didn’t think of how much patience and time I would need to put into my practicing.…
Perhaps music is a habit. There were days when I was bored and lethargic; and there were also days when I was invigorated and somewhat hyperactive. But there wasn’t a day without me spending at least half an hour with my cello before I sleep. Sometimes, I practice to prepare for upcoming assessments and concerts; but more often than not, I just play anything that comes to my mind – be it a chart-topping pop song that I heard on the radio, a classical tune that is somehow stuck in my head, or even something I improvise on the spur of the moment.…
Over time, I noticed that nothing had changed, and my musicianship was practically at a standstill. After nights of deep thought and some self-reflection, I ultimately realized that I am practicing my hardest every day to become a musician. Through my reflection I found that being a musician is not about being perfect or always getting the top chair and beating everyone else. Fortunately, there is much more to being a musician. Musicians of the highest level practice hard so that they can send a clear message, entertain, and lend the mastery of their instrument to the music.…
My favorite type of music is country. This music is inspirational to all types of people. I truly understand a lot of meanings of country songs. It doesn’t come right out and say it, but you can always infer. There are a variety of ways country music makes you feel.…
Six Songs of Me Part One: What is the first song you ever bought? To remember a single song that was the first I ever purchased is difficult, but I can trace it back to one band and one album.…
Stevie Wonder said, "Music is a World within itself, with a language we all understand. In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the earth. No one ever explains why. People speculate and come to reasonable conclusions about it, but in the book of Genesis, this mystery is never explained. I think that creating is just incredible, especially being able to create the world.…
This experience has not only given me the chance to gain invaluable insights into what all goes into successfully educating students, but it has also shown me the importance of individualization. As with my experience in aural rehabilitation, educational methods often require the teacher or tutor to identify and/or anticipate the needs of those they wish to reach. Not only have I been able to work on such skills through my work as a preceptor, but I have also through my job as a double bass instructor for elementary school aged students. As most of my preparation as a music teacher came from years of studying the technical aspects of the instrument itself, relaying this information to much younger musicians posed quite a challenge. In order to reach my students, I needed to identify both their prior musical knowledge as well as their individual learning styles.…
Every educator has a personal philosophy of music education, but the overarching theme is almost always the same—the students and their personal growth are the most important parts of this subject and the education. Without them, this profession means nothing, because as music educators we should strive to allow music the opportunity to make a positive impact in our students’ lives and hopefully inspire them to continue pursuing it. The overall purpose of music education is to inspire those around us to become better people, to develop confidence, and to encourage growth in and out of the classroom. Music is simply the catalyst of great personal growth that is only possible with a dedicated educator and a love for the art and all it has to…
By using these to our advantage, we are able to overcome the struggles and achieve the perfection we desire. There are so many feelings that go along with it. Music can become a daily ritual for some because they have to make time to practice and perform. Along with this comes the threat of possible competition from their fellow peers, rivals, and sometimes their own instructors.…
The ear splitting sound of my guitar shook the house off the ground. I was a normal teenager with a strong passion for music. My friends and I were in our own band. I loved music and was especially fond of my tattered electric guitar. The basement was our stage and our parents were the fans.…
I learned the need to work well in advance of the deadline. Musical details may be different than academic details, but just as slight differences in tone and pitch can completely change the music’s meaning, every detail, regardless of how small, matters in all subjects. Whether it’s a math problem or a novel, my heightened attention to detail helps me to better identify the correct steps or the overall theme. As high-school progressed it became more and more evident that relying on natural abilities doesn’t equate to achieving…
Language of Sound Now many of you have heard of the same old “My journey with literacy began” kind of crap. Most of us can’t even remember where it began. We all have learned the same basic amount of literacy in our life. In cases such as mine, I have not only taken it upon myself to learn the basics of literacy. But those of music as well.…
I would consider my upbringing to have been fairly musical. Starting on my mother’s side with my mother; she tries very hard but lacks a sense of both rhythm and pitch however that never stopped her from singing me lullabies. Continuing on to the generation before my mom there is my grandmother who is very musical. I grew up playing guitar and singing/writing songs with my grandmother as well as with all her siblings who are very musically inclined. On my mother’s side the musical involvement stops there with my great-grandparents only musical contribution was singing at church.…
The personal quality I most value about myself is my passion. Ever since I was a child I have done everything I do with shear passion. I devote myself to any project I start or activity I join, which I find of great value. For example, as a kid I enjoyed to watch cheerleaders at the high school and dreamed to be one. As of now I have been a cheerleader for five years and plan to continue next year.…