The great jazz musician Charlie Parker once said, “Don’t play the saxophone. Let it play you”. Since first picking up a saxophone, this has been my motto to live by. When I let out my first note, my life was completely turned around. Five years ago, I had no idea I would be the best saxophonist in my class. I could not play one instrument, much less four. Also, ten year old me did not know the definition of composition, let alone how to make one. Playing the saxophone has caused my school experience, and my existence, to revolve around music and band. In the fifth grade, elementary students are given the opportunity to start playing an instrument in band. Near the end of fourth grade, interested students are allowed to try instruments and
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I decided to pick up my sister’s clarinet and start playing. I quickly learned new notes and discovered how similar the clarinet is to the saxophone. I could soon play short songs on this brand new instrument. In my house, we have a piano, yet we barely use it. I picked up a bit of that by fingering through some basic songs. I know very little, but I know enough to sound impressive when playing. Recently, I decided to pick up a flute. It was the instrument I had always wanted to play, and I finally had one in my possession. I am still learning, but that makes it even more exciting. Learning new instruments increased my appreciation of instrumental music and broadened the range of my musical …show more content…
I downloaded a program onto my laptop where it was possible to compose full musical scores. I knew a bit of information about each instrument, each section of the band, and how music works enough to write some simple melodies. After learning how to use the program, I was asked to compose a musical for my elementary school. I spent weeks writing choral arrangements of unique songs around a certain theme. Although the musical was never performed, I was given experience working with many types of music. Over summer break, I arranged a piece of music for Fall Out Boy’s “Light ‘Em Up”. This is the most complex piece I have ever composed, as it has over thirty different parts, and I had to write my own countermelodies for the background. This piece may be performed by the middle school band this year, making it the first time one of my pieces was actually performed. Composition gave me awareness of the beauty of a piece of music, and allowed me to understand what I am listening to
I decided to pick up my sister’s clarinet and start playing. I quickly learned new notes and discovered how similar the clarinet is to the saxophone. I could soon play short songs on this brand new instrument. In my house, we have a piano, yet we barely use it. I picked up a bit of that by fingering through some basic songs. I know very little, but I know enough to sound impressive when playing. Recently, I decided to pick up a flute. It was the instrument I had always wanted to play, and I finally had one in my possession. I am still learning, but that makes it even more exciting. Learning new instruments increased my appreciation of instrumental music and broadened the range of my musical …show more content…
I downloaded a program onto my laptop where it was possible to compose full musical scores. I knew a bit of information about each instrument, each section of the band, and how music works enough to write some simple melodies. After learning how to use the program, I was asked to compose a musical for my elementary school. I spent weeks writing choral arrangements of unique songs around a certain theme. Although the musical was never performed, I was given experience working with many types of music. Over summer break, I arranged a piece of music for Fall Out Boy’s “Light ‘Em Up”. This is the most complex piece I have ever composed, as it has over thirty different parts, and I had to write my own countermelodies for the background. This piece may be performed by the middle school band this year, making it the first time one of my pieces was actually performed. Composition gave me awareness of the beauty of a piece of music, and allowed me to understand what I am listening to