I did not always want to be a musician. Everybody always talks about choosing the job you love, but for me, those options are limited. I am the kind of person that does not attach to much; I do not get passionate, and the thought of doing some dull and uninteresting job until I reach my dying years horrifies me. For me, music is the only career worth grinding through the hardship to reach success, it was all that I could actually be passionate about and I realized this as a young teenager. Music was the one thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life. The big picture was that I would not be able to sit around and watch my life unfold. I knew I would have to work at music if I ever wanted to go anywhere, and I started immediately. I taught myself to play piano and practiced almost nonstop, but I knew this would not be enough either; I made the decision to drop all of …show more content…
my other hobbies so that vocal lessons would become financially affordable. This was my first step to creating my analogical Manhattan Solstice. I created a foundation to build to from, and have since taken gone even farther, but I still do not know every step it will take to get there. College will be an extremely beneficial step to reaching my career, and to reach college, I am practicing several hours a week to prepare for the required audition to reach acceptance into Capital University. When I was little, I had a long list of careers I wanted to have: a scientist, an inventor, a doctor, and any other career I could possibly come up with. I became interested in playing music at a young age, but only as a skill I wanted to develop; I had no idea careers could stem from it. Once I did, understanding and reaching that career become my primary goal. Basic skills required by music composers involve “reading work related information” and “writing things for co-workers or customers” (Ohio Means Jobs). This can be further broken down into being able to apply music theory and being fluent with all basic scales, chords, arpeggios, and cadence patterns. This is what I have been actively practicing to audition well for and be sure I am ready for a career in music. It is hard to determine salary, benefits, and vacation since most musicians will have more than one source of income, and all sources can vary quite heavily. However, a professional musician said that, as an elementary school teacher, she had full benefits; there were times she travelled to perform; and altogether, she usually made about 60-80 thousand annually (James). I can not necessarily expect the same in my career, but the one thing I am sure will transfer is the diversity in work I will be doing. Advancement in this career is very heavily based on the musician, as it is their job to sell their own work and services most of the time. There is most definitely the possibility of advancement, but it has to be worked for. The college I am aiming to get an education from is Capital University. Capital is a private, coed college in the suburbs of Columbus. The tuition is “$31,990 for full-time undergraduate students” (Capital University). Many people do not realize it, but Columbus is a very innovative city where performing arts can succeed well. Because of this, Capital’s location actually suits the career I want very well, and could likely help take the step from college to career later on as well. The composition major is described as “Students learn by studying with nationally -- and internationally - known composers and arrangers who are part of the resident faculty, and with individuals who visit the campus to present lectures, demonstrations and commissioned works” (Capital University). Music Composition is a unique major, and so the application requirements are unique as well. In addition to submitting a college application for academic acceptance like most colleges, Capital University also has the requirement that: Composition applicants must submit a portfolio of representative original compositions, with the expectation of three to four works of contrasting style.
The portfolio must be submitted with the audition application and should include notated scores of all acoustic compositions and recorded representations (CD or cassette of live performances or computer realizations) of all pieces. In addition to the composition audition/interview, you will be scheduled to audition on your primary instrument. (Capital University)
The unique requirements for acceptance, though challenging, serve only to make me more sure that Capital University has what I am looking for. I have looked at many colleges offering music majors, and none have impressed me except Capital University’s. I know that the classes are relevant and teach what needs to be taught, and the harsh admission requirements merely ensure that those who enter the major do it for more than just the degree; they do it for the education to better themselves. That is exactly the kind of learning environment I want, and I know Capital University will provide
it. My Music Solstice may be tricky to build towards, since a final product is hard to narrow down, but I am taking it one step at a time and I know I will get there. There are so many possible destinations that I simply cannot predict, so the steps I am taking now involve diversity. I am learning as much as I can so that no matter where I end up, I know I can do it. Preparing for college is the most important step I can take for now. I know the facts and have done the research; now I have to prepare for my audition and ensure I can continue forward.
Looking around and seeing bright lights and feeling all eyes on you. Hearing both sides of the stadium cheer and shout for their teams and getting nervous during the last few seconds of the second quarter and at the same time being very proud of what the band has accomplished in the brief amount of time it took to learn the pretty intense and complex drill. Then suddenly you get the adrenaline rush that pushes you to perform. Many people would agree that being a drum major is one of the most eminent positions that is held by students who are Being the Drum Major of any band shows that you have the respect and trust of the members of the band and it’s directors. It also shows that you are passionate about what you do, responsible and that
Waving to my teammates as I walked out of the tennis courts, the reminiscence of a smile appeared on my face after winning a close match. A freshman teammate joined me and I heard her take a deep breath as soon as we were out of others’ earshot, muttering something nervously. “I’m sorry, what was that?” I asked a little too loudly, the excitement still buzzing. She mustered courage and made sure to speak clearly this time: “I’m being bullied, and I feel so trapped that I only see self-harming as my way out.”
To people who don’t know who I am, I have always been known as the pretty brown skinned girl that had something special about herself that they could not figure out. Nonetheless, whenever I am put in the spotlight to showcase my talents, everyone can finally see what is so mysteriously special about me. I have a quiet confidence about myself that makes people want to get to know me better, and I also stand out amongst other people who are highly confident about themselves. Additionally, I am a talented dancer that uses the special trait of quiet confidence to my advantage when I have to be a leader for my team. My talent/trait of dancing and having a quiet confidence is meaningful to me and would leave this application incomplete without it because these traits help me to appreciate who I am and they will ultimately help me have a successful future.
The Ultimate Career Goal: I am extremely passionate about marine and wildlife ecosystems and all their inhabitants and have a desire to work in a career that allows me to work closely within these ecosystems as well as allowing myself to educate those that surround me about the importance of science. My ultimate career goal is to work as a laboratory and field technician for a reputable company or organisation.
College Admissions Essay If someone asked me where I am going to be in ten years, this would be my answer. I have a great, high-paying job, and beautiful wife and family, and a nice sports car parked in front of my lovely house. When I look into the future, I see myself being successful and happy. Even though I always pictured myself this way, I never worried too much about how I would get there.
Music has always been an important part of my life. Upon entering the fifth grade, my parents bought me a flute, at my insistence. After moderate success playing the flute, I saw greener grass on the other side of the musical fence. Singing just had to be easier than making music with a long metal pipe. My perception and reality did not exactly match. Singing has its own subtleties and complexities which are not readily apparent to the casual observer. Abandoning the flute for singing, I began taking voice lessons in the tenth grade. My voice teacher was very experienced and encouraged me to pursue my interest in music beyond high school. After much deliberation, I decided to major in voice during college. This path would be fraught with unforeseen difficulties and exciting challenges.
Music has always been an important part of my life. During high school I have developed areas of service and leadership through interests in children and gardening, which will continue to be major parts of my life.
The performance I attended for the concert critique was a senior recital for Teresa Norton and Tracey Barnes. They played violin and piano respectively. The concert was at Goranson Hall and I immediately felt a sense of closeness and intimacy due to the smaller size of the concert hall, which added to the sentimental value of such a special performance. They played a total of three pieces, which included Liebesleid by Fritz Kreisler, Terzetto in C Major, Op. 74 for Two Violins and Viola by Antonín Dvorák, and Sonata for Violin and Piano, No. 17 in C Major, K. 296 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Overall, I really enjoyed going to the concert and experiencing Idaho State’s music department.
I started seriously thinking about what I wanted to do with my life, concerning my career, in the 11th grade. From my junior year until my first semester in college, I was certain my purpose in life was to teach. However, people I spoke with, including some family, friends, and even schoolteachers, repeatedly crushed this choice: "Why would you want to be a teacher? Don't you know how much they make? Why would you want to deal with bratty kids all day? Don't you know teaching is one of the most stressful jobs you can have?" Being the naïve, 17 year old that I was, I listened, and changed my career choice-3 times! I went through 2 years of computer classes to become an administrative assistant, 1 year studying law for paralegalism and 1 ½ years focusing on business management. Throughout those 4 years of unfulfillment, the idea of teaching still lingered in my head. I started asking myself why I decided teaching was not for me. I discovered that even though teaching did carry a few negative aspects, they could never come close to the positive.
I was unsure at the time what would be more disappointing to me, continuing as an unsatisfied musician, or quitting something that once meant so much to me. After struggling to make a decision, I decided that it was time for me to close my clarinet case, and end the era of playing the music that others and myself once loved. From the moment I started to play the clarinet, the idea of being able to make the music that was loved by others was exciting to me. I remember the first time feeling this way at just 10 years old and in the 4th grade. I eventually aspired to take this love further, and participate in ensemble classes at school.
Ultimately, our world provides us with multiple opportunities that vary from countries all over the globe. Unfortunately, not all careers in the music industry offer the same amount of opportunities in the same geographic location. As a result, aspirants tend to migrate to the location where they have the biggest shot in the industry. Correspondingly, for vocal artists, the primary geographic location
While at school, I found a small ministry that welcomed me to play the keyboard and lead worship for their services. I had taken private classical piano lessons from the age of eight and loved to play but was given the opportunity to until I moved away for school. As a musician, I not only studied piano but I played drums since two years old and played clarinet since the fifth grade and attended a Historically Black College on a music scholarship. I loved the drums but I wanted so badly to play the piano for my home church.
Music is and will always be my passion. The Art of Music has influenced my past, present an most certainly will my future. When i reminisce to when my love for music grew, i remember listening to my Mothers old CD's, which sparked a strong interest in the production of music, it drove me to start writing my own songs from a young age. This built a strong self-belief from a tender age,having the opportunity to perform in school and church on several occasions, helped me decide a career in music would be most fulfilling. My short term goal is too graduate with a respectable degree in Music
Hard work pays off and I definitely learned this from my first solo performance in front of a significantly large audience, as well as the joy and hardship that came along with it. Music has and always will be a big part of my life. Growing up in a very musically open family, I started learning how to play the violin at the age of seven after my parents decided that I should learn how to play an instrument. Because I wasn’t the brightest kid back in the days, having a music teacher come to my house every week was torture for the teacher, my parents, considering I detested the violin, and me and would continuously cry. I simply had no interest in learning how to play the instrument, even though my teacher knew that I had some sort of talent
It would be nice if what I love to do is a well-paying career. However, a well-paying job I lack passion in will lead to endless soul searching and discontentment. To be passionate about what I do is important as it will bring out the best in me and allow me to serve my purpose. I believe I found my purpose, and that is being a great caregiver. I didn’t always know. Some people find their passion earlier in life and pursue it. Some may find it later in life and pursue it. Some may never leave their comfort zone to explore their purpose. For those that don’t pursue their calling, their purpose will pursue them for the rest of their life. Like myself, I started questioning everything I was doing, the reason for doing it and if it was meaningful, which lead me to pursue my calling.