College Admissions Essay: Acoustic Craftsmanship

Amanda Ard, freshman, is involved in the Red White Brigade band at Fort Osage High School. She plays the clarinet, and has been in band for four years. During her eighth grade school year, she got to participate in two festivals, one held at Blue Springs South and one held at Worlds of Fun. “It’s kind of nerve wracking because there are a lot of people and schools, and you don't get to see the judges, but I can shut them out. Being with the team and knowing we’ll do good helps,” says Ard.

Music is a very powerful expression of emotions that come together as a whole to morph your psychological feelings into a sub-reality vision. Over the many years, history has been able to capture the moments at which music has made an impact on human lives. We can start with Manu Chao the artist that sings about left-wing messages and portrays his concerts as “collective therapy”. Or Juan Gabriel the young man that rose out of poverty to become the world’s most beloved artist/songwriter and whose music carried a resonate flamboyant style. Music is a way of communication that is used in many realms such as entertainment, tradition religion and sporting events. So far this semester, Chic 316 has influenced me to seek a more coherent relationship

By many people, marching band members are believed to have ‘fun’ and play ‘games’ all day, but band camp is truly meant to be lengthy, sufficient, and helpful day-long

“Always had a roof above me, always paid the rent. I’d never set foot inside a tent. I can’t build a fire to save my life,” The Lemonheads begin “Outdoor Type”, a song that means so much to me. Every Monday night for six weeks a summer, we gather around the bonfire, with different Scouts each time. Starting with some fun games, we sing silly camp songs, and then we begin the part I come back for. That song represents the exact opposite of what we are at camp.

“Mom, I don’t think I want to go anymore.” “Ella, I already paid. You’re gonna have to go” “I’m gonna die,” I thought in my head. I’m on my way to my first band camp. I joined my high school’s marching band a few months ago and have been working all summer on my marching and music.

For as long as mankind has walked on this earth, music has been an important part of our culture and lifestyles. Each walk of life beats to a different drum. Different cultures use music for many aspects of their lives; for religious purposes, for celebrations, for comfort, for sorrow, for relaxation, for sports, for dances, for energy, for learning, for sleeping, and for sexual experiences. Everyone uses music for something. Music connects with people and reaches them in ways that words simply cannot. Music is a representation of what feelings sound like. It expresses emotion and brings that characteristic out from within us; it tells us a story. Every generation has its’ own sound and different music styles have emerged and become

For many, a fun summer often includes a visit to some sort of fair, whether it be the county fair or even the state fair. One of the unique aspects of the Ohio State Fair, specifically, is that they have their own youth choir known as the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir. This is an organization designed to bring high school students from all over the state of Ohio to live at the Ohio State Fair for eighteen days to make music. Throughout this experience, I have learned many important skills that will stick with me throughout the entirety of my life. Here is just a small sample of what I’ve learned.

I see the barn with the green painted 4-H clover at its top, I smell the fresh, dewy grass, and I hear the sounds of anxious campers asking questions about what the week has in store. Hearing the kids’ voices all around saying “What’s that?” and “Look at that!” makes my heart smile. These kids have no idea what a great week we have in store for them and I hope that I can help make their experience one they will not soon forget. The other teens and I have been training and preparing for months, just to make this one week amazing for these kids. Leading the kids toward Ratliff Hall, they are all looking around amazed by their surroundings. The door opens and we enter, the camp staff greets us by chanting and singing. This is a sound like no other that I have waited all year to

Poseidon is one of the twelve Olympian deities of the pantheon in Greek Mythology. Zeus is the sky and thunder god in ancient Greek religion, who ruled as a king of the gods of Mount Olympus. Zeus and Poseidon are brothers and they are both gods in greek mythology. They reign their own terrain.

Attention Getter: What is music? Many people say that it’s a harmonious beautiful sound that is pleasing to the ear. According to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, a nineteenth century poet and educator, “Music is the universal language of mankind.” Not only is music a type of communication but it’s also type art which many people fail to remember.

I stood up in front of a hundred curious, gleaming eyes. “Hey guys,” I began, “I’m going to show you why the trombone is the coolest brass instrument ever!” I immediately whipped the slide out and performed a series of sequential glissandos, each one with more vigor than the last. That morning, I was performing with my school’s jazz band at the KIPP Elementary Academy in Philadelphia. Over a decade passed since I had last stepped foot in a Philadelphia school, when I attended the James Dobson School in kindergarten, yet the cozy gymnasium and the children’s crisp uniforms instantly evoked memories of my childhood. But one thing I did not remember from the past was having the opportunity to experience jazz at a young age. Thus, I desperately wanted to display the awesome power of brass instruments that is the soul of jazz music and inspire the kids to partake in the timelessly euphoric journey of music that I am blessed to have taken.

When it comes down to work, I get really serious and determined to finish it all. However, I have a really energetic and fun side. I always try to put a smile on other people's faces whether it be by telling a funny joke or making a fool out of myself. I always keep my side of the room clean and organized, but I am not bothered by somebody else's side of the room. I love to listen to music, preferably Chillstep, before I go to sleep. I have an acoustic guitar that I love to play. My voice is horrible, so if you ever hear me singing, please don't judge. However, if you ever want to go sing some karaoke, I would be so down. I am not going to lie, I snore sometimes. I will most likely be covering my side of the room with posters of soccer players

Living in a world surrounded by noises and sounds, one cannot deny that music lives all around them. Schools, street corners, sporting events, there is one thing you will always find: music. Music education is quickly becoming defunct in schools, as many try to decry its many benefits. A growing emphasis on the concrete subjects of math and science, whose benefits are more immediate, are pushing the creativity and imagination of music classes to the back of the budget. Music education is no longer described as stimulating and exciting, but rather unnecessary and distracting. But the benefits of having an education in music is undeniable. Simply being around music can have a positive impact on life. Music enables the human race to discover emotions that they have never uncovered before. The human mind is refreshed by music; “our imagination and memories are stimulated by the sounds, and summon feelings and memories associated with the musical sound” (Wingell 15). Without music, the world would be silent. Lifeless. No matter what language one speaks or what culture one is from, music is a universal language, connecting the hearts of people around the entire world. In schools throughout the nation, that connection is being severed because of budget cuts and lack of funding, but the benefits of music education are clear. The benefits of having an education in music are not only present in the classroom; a lasting impact is also left on the social and emotional growth of a person, though the gains may not be evinced immediately. Participating in musical education programs in schools can give students the opportunity to form lasting friendships and to gain skills that will last them their entire lives. Music education can be beneficial to students because it enhances students’ performance in the classroom, aids in improving student’s interest and engagement in school, and advances students’ social and emotional growth.

Moses was born in Egypt to Amram and Yochebed. He came about in this world in a period where the Israelites were a threat to the Egyptians. The Pharaoh of the Egyptians ordered that the first born sons of the Israelites were to be killed. One of these first born was Moses, and the parents put him in a basket to float him down a river. Moses drifted down to some noble women. The women did not know he was a firstborn of the Israelites, so they took him on as one of their own. Moses grew up part of the Pharaoh's family. As he was growing up, he knew the right from the wrong, he was taught to treat people with respect. Also when he grew up he saw the Israelites get abused. He tried to stop that but could not. Moses left because he did not want

Music; Indefinable by words alone. It is not only something you can hear but what you can feel. It is something your soul is able to reach out and touch. Music also has the power to bring us as humans, together. It is one language spoken by all cultures, sexes, races, age and religions. Music also controls our emotions; it makes us happy, sad, angry, relaxed, etc. We also can express ourselves through music. It can affect our personality.. someone who listens to classical, like Mozart or Bach, all the time is going to be smarter and more intellectual than someone who listens to rap or metal, and someone who listens to more upbeat happier music, like Ska or Swing, is more likely to