Everyone likes music in some way, shape or form. Even the people that feel that music doesn't have an important role in their life are surrounded with media, favorite bands, ringtones etc. For me, music was truly a way of expression. I grew up extremely shy and reserved and barely talked to anyone outside of my family. i was lucky enough to be involved in music at a very young age, but I always felt like was taking the path of others and not finding my own way. It wasn't until I was in about 6th grade that I decided that music was going to be in my heart f the rest of my life. At this point my self- motivation kicked in and I began discovering myself as both a person and a musician. I spent countless hours listening and discovering music I liked, researching different pieces (for all instruments), practicing to improve my technique and working on my music theory. In the present time, I am a confidant young women who enjoys life and is ready to take on the world as a music educator.
Before starting college I would have told you that the "ink-blots" on the page mean nothing and that music looses its art-form when you are trying to play everything "perfectly." I still strongly believe that music should never be a competition or about perfection, but studying composers and performers with a microscope opens up your eyes to new ideas and things that may help you to get your message across. Through hard-work you can discover what you like and what you don't like and build off of other's ideas. I will admit that I was a bit stubborn in college and did the best that I could to get my way, but my professor stood his ground and opened up my eyes (and ears) to a wide variety of music and musical culture that despite my resistance has helped me become a better musician. He pushed me to pay attention to detail and to spend hours in the practice room doing warm-ups, scales, etudes and (those annoying long-tones) in order to improve my playing. He helped me to see that all the technical "stuff" is still music and is only boring if I make them boring. As soon as I put my heart into EVERY aspect of my playing things began to make more since.
Before starting college I would have told you that the "ink-blots" on the page mean nothing and that music looses its art-form when you are trying to play everything "perfectly." I still strongly believe that music should never be a competition or about perfection, but studying composers and performers with a microscope opens up your eyes to new ideas and things that may help you to get your message across. Through hard-work you can discover what you like and what you don't like and build off of other's ideas. I will admit that I was a bit stubborn in college and did the best that I could to get my way, but my professor stood his ground and opened up my eyes (and ears) to a wide variety of music and musical culture that despite my resistance has helped me become a better musician. He pushed me to pay attention to detail and to spend hours in the practice room doing warm-ups, scales, etudes and (those annoying long-tones) in order to improve my playing. He helped me to see that all the technical "stuff" is still music and is only boring if I make them boring. As soon as I put my heart into EVERY aspect of my playing things began to make more since.
The highlight (so far) of my musical career was when I played a piece on a Woodwind Area Recital at school and felt completely free. Because of my hard work, a lot of the "technical" aspects of my playing had become automatic which allowed me to speak the words I wanted to and speak in a way that would grab the listener and involve them in a performance. I opened my heart that day more than I ever had in a performance and could allow myself to once again get away from the music, but this time I had a greater understanding of what I was doing.
I will admit that for the first couple of semesters I had felt like I had lost myself a little bit and that I was trying to be someone that I wasn't, but steering of of the old dirt path for a little bit brought me to the highway that led me back to where I wanted to be musically and emotionally. I know there are some performers who are in it for the fame and competition, and there are some (like me) who are in it solely for the expression and artistry. BUT! I have learned that in order to have artistry and musical communication, there needs to be a time of structure, discipline and hard work in order to achieve your personal dreams.