My desire to play in an orchestra began when I was little when my grandma showed me her violin that her grandpa used to play. Seeing it for the first time, I was very intrigued, and I remembered picking up the violin and trying to play it. I admired its simple yet elegant appearance, and I was amazed by the thought of maybe being able to learn play it one day.
I joined orchestra in middle school; it was quite an overwhelming experience for me. There was much to learn when playing a new instrument such as the notes, finger placement, and playing together as a class all within a couple months for the concert. On top of that, I have many other activities outside the orchestra setting that I need to accommodate for. Despite the obstacles ahead,
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I was determined to play the violin successfully. Additionally, I also enjoyed the times I got the chance to practice in and out of class. As a result, I came into my first orchestra concert with a lot of confidence and optimism. When I reached the end of middle school, I decided to participate in the high school orchestra.
I came with the same determination and passion as I had for the past three years, but the difficulty and the demand was much higher than I had anticipated. However, that didn’t interfere with any of my performances. Therefore, our group was able to accomplish many of our goals.
In my sophomore year, our teacher offered all of us a chance to join the symphonic orchestra, the top orchestra at my school. The group that not only got the toughest music but had to be committed to all of the rehearsals, concerts, and state contests, too. With this amazing opportunity, I got home and went to practice in a heartbeat. By the time I auditioned, I was well-prepared and in high spirits. Eventually, I became a part of the symphonic orchestra.
Reflecting from my past experiences, there were many reasons why playing in the orchestra interested me. When we focused on our concerts, we cooperated as a group to make sure that everything fell into place and ran smoothly. I liked how I was part of a group and how I had a “role” to play to make the concert a success. I learned that each person is important in order to become a successful orchestra. By working in these groups, I made many friends along the way. Most importantly, I got to express myself through music. Whether it’s singing, painting, or playing an instrument, people share what they believe and how they feel about something through their art.
I firmly support the idea of free expression. I get to play music based on my perspective. As a result, orchestra remained a passion of mine. Furthermore, my teachers also played a role in my engagement to orchestra. Whenever I wanted to learn more, I turned to them for guidance. They were the ones who have taught me how to play and would challenge me to play better or try new music. They always supported me in my musical decisions whenever I needed encouragement. Whenever I go on stage, I always felt an adrenaline rush of excitement and anxiousness. As a part of orchestra, I learned how to cooperate with others and manage my time. I also learned that dedication and discipline are crucial in order to overcome many challenge. With those concepts in mind, I can walk toward my audience with my head up high and execute my violin skills successfully.
...join so long ago I never really knew I 'd end up here doing what I do. It seems like the common theme for me is seeing something and saying “I can 't do that” then pursuing it until I can. One of my fondest memories is watching someone at the percussion concert play a marimba solo when I was in sixth grade and just looking over at Justin molder and laughing saying “wow I can 't do that” now I do that all the time. I didn 't think I could ever be the leader of a group like this it seemed like too much for me, but now after watching and being in this program and seeing where it could go and what I can do, I want to help take it there. I feel great about next year no matter what happens but I 'm ready to step up, I 'm ready take on whatever I have to to make this year the best year yet. Not just for me but for us all every last one of us in this great family I call home.
The first time I picked up an instrument was at the age of 7 when I was in third grade. You can call it fate, luck, or my destiny but I was one of the three students that was able to join my elementary orchestra. Of course like any kid, I was afraid if had the ability to do such a thing. I mean it’s not every day you’re recruiting into the arts. I kept asking myself “can I do this? Will I fit in this group?” in other words can I be part of the classical music culture? It wasn’t till my first school concert where I had my first solo of “My Heart Will Go On” the love theme from Titanic that I was able to express the countless hours put into a 15 second solo. After that experience I never questioned if I belonged to the culture. Instead I focused on the next story I would tell on stage with the music score in
Following in my sister’s footsteps, my mom signed me up to march trombone my freshman year. The idea alone baffled me; at the time dance filled my life and I showed no interest for this vastly different activity. However, I still joined, but since the peak of my dance season conflicted with the beginning of marching band, I joined a few weeks late. All would have been well if only the trombone section did not disintegrated leaving me without a home. This left me in the dust with no section to go to. To learn a brand new instrument would have shoved me even farther behind, and I refused to go on. In spite of my thoughts, my mom insisted in me not dropping out, so we took a new approach. I joined the color guard.
Where I learned how to become a leader through the leadership ensemble within the marching band. Where in my senior and fourth year of marching competitively, I became the Drum Major, and earned the Best Drum Major Award at the Roxbury Marching Band Classic Competition. From marching band I progressed into jazz music, where I became the lead alto saxophonist in the top jazz band at my school during my junior and senior year. I was also one of three saxophonists in the top band at my school. I picked up the clarinet, the flute, and the soprano saxophone on my way through high school, and have played all three as well in my performing ensembles. I played in the pit orchestra of the theater production of “All Shook Up”, and was the principal saxophonist at my high school. Too be short, I am very involved in all things music in the past and currently. Band and music have been a place for me to rely on, something that brings me joy when sad. Allows me to express myself through sounds and through instruments. It is truly a talent and a hobby that I hope to continue through college and through life because of the joy it brought me and creative outlet it was throughout my
I have played an intrinsic role in my school’s band and orchestra department through helping organizing performances, teaching classes, and tutoring individuals. On a regular basis, I am responsible for directing and teaching classes including beginning band, with grades ranging from fourth to twelfth, and more advanced ensembles like concert band and marching band. I also play an important role in their performances sometimes by directing and other times by contacting venues to organize dates and times for the shows. I also dedicate time during the week to help beginning players
People have dreams of what they want to do or accomplish in life, but usually musical theatre is just pushed into the non-realistic void. It isn’t a dream for me. In the past four years, musical theatre has been clarified as my reality. Musical theatre has been the only thing I have seen myself wanting to do. My first love was The Phantom of the Opera, seeing how I watched it almost every day and it was one of the first shows I saw. Of course, I started doing all of those cute shows in middle school and making a huge deal about it to my family and friends, but I have never felt so passionate about something. The minute I get up on that stage I throw away Riley for two and a half hours and it’s the most amazing feeling! Being able to tell a story
The begging of middle school our choir consisted of Sopranos, Altos. This was mainly due to the fact that we didn’t hit puberty yet. That year I found my niche. This was exciting for me because I wasn’t like my brothers who are athletic. My 7th and 8th grade year were the years I made a difference. To add on to the Sopranos and Altos the guys were now baritones and that was a big deal. During my 7th grade year we sang Phantom of The Opera. My friend Jon and I sang a duet and received a standing ovation. The following year was just as good due to the fact we sang Broadway medley. I sang Part in the South Pacific song aint nothing like a dame. Later in that piece I had a whistling solo for the king and I. this was so cool to do because people thought I was going to sing and I shocked the by whistling. High school was a big change because we now had 4 parts: Soprano, Alto, Bass, and Tenor. Our choir consisted of 50-60 students and 40 of them were girls. I was very intimidated by this but didn’t let this stop me. I sang tenor and our section was about five people but we were the strongest section. We hosted State Large group which is where judges rate your choir you can receive division 1, 2,3,4,5. One would be the best that you could receive. We also had honor choirs you could go to. I went to one in Waverly, Iowa at Wartburg College called the Meistersingers Honor choir. While I was there I sang tenor 2. This Honor choir was about 600 high school students plus the Wartburg choir. This particular honor choir was special because we sang with Simone Estes, the famous opera
Nothing lasts forever. Everything, whether good or bad has to come to an end. But people do say that sounds and voices do not die. Melodies we hear in our life lives on for generations and ever after. No matter who we are or wherever we come from; in whichever situation we were in, at some point of our lives, we have come across certain melodies that still live in our heart. And I am no different from others. There are certain musical pieces that have not only influenced my life, but have made a significant impact to change me for the better.
I loved playing famous marches and preludes by Bach, Beethoven, or even John Adams. I'm always eager to immerse myself into the diverse and complex music that concert season holds and see what new challenges await me, whether it be all region, playing in another band, auditioning for an honor band, or auditioning for concert solos. Playing in a professional orchestra can take upwards of ten years of music education and most music students can only dream of playing in one someday, but I have already had the opportunity and pleasure of doing so. The JROTC group at my school hosted an event where the National Air Force Band would come and perform in our auditorium with a select five or six students from our high school band, handpicked by the director of the National Air Force Band director, to play with them during one of their songs, and I happened to be one of those lucky students. This would be my first time playing with a professional band and I was so excited, I could hardly contain the huge grin on my face the whole time I was on stage.We played our song and were given a certificate that stated that we were apart of the National Air Force Band. We
Band has really helped change my life because It showed me how to learn and pay attention. Learning to play an instrument is pretty difficult for most, but if you practice you can accomplish it with time. It didn't take me long before I got the hang of it and started to get fairly good at it.
Performing a lot more because of show choir and having the family dynamic supporting me even pushed me to get a solo in my church’s choir musical. Because of the performing I am more comfortable speaking in front of large crowds, and trust in myself that I can do more than I thought I ever would my freshman year. Show choir also helped me with my leadership skills. My sophomore year I got the opportunity to be a dance captain. At first whenever the directors would put me and the other dance captains in charge the girls would talk and wouldn’t listen. Because girls couldn't focus and take it seriously we struggled at some of our competitions. I blamed myself for the loses, but I had to learn to overcome my own challenges and to grow to be a better leader. After we came together as a group and talked about what we all could do better. I learned ways I can be a better peer leader and have grown from it. It has helped me gain and be strong in other peer leadership opportunities such as being my class’s co-president. Finally show choir has helped me with
to lead. I craved for an opportunity to really make a difference in the band program that meant
Ever since I was a small child, I have loved music. The strong, steady beats, the
As I was growing up my family and I would usually go and see ballets and then as I grew older we stopped going. When you are in Elementary school you have music class and to make it fun your class usually had to put on a play/musical. When I was in 2nd grade maybe I remember I finally auditioned to be a reindeer in a Christmas musical that was taking place. I only got the role because the person who originally got it wasn’t sad enough and couldn’t sign because he was stage fright. I remember how fun it use to be but that feeling soon faded because of all the lines and things that went with it. Musicals all through school were always fun to hear about but I never really paid much attention because I found
From my experience of playing with an orchestra and also a band, I have boosted my team skills, perseverance, responsibility, interaction, and stage fright, all of which are important aspects of being successful in life. While being a part of a band or orchestra, it 's essential that you learn to cooperate with those around you in order to make beautiful music together. The time and effort that it takes in order to learn how to play an instrument teach the qualities of patience and perseverance that almost every musician possesses. Responsibility is also taught while maintaining your instrument in working condition or such as remembering to get to your performance, rehearsals, and making it on time to practice. Being a part of this musical community can also greatly affect anyone 's social skills. Being surrounded by many other musicians who share the same interests as you, makes it easy for a person to open up and create strong