College Admissions Essay: Relationship Between Music And Me

The football stadium lights cut through the twilight sky like glass, creating an ambiance similar to that of Aurora Borealis. My heart pumps frantically as adrenaline fills my body, the crowd seated before me ripples and bellows like an ocean. The nerves that fill my stomach are agitated in a similar way, now is the time. I lug the heavy weight of my marimba and my anxieties as I descend onto the track with the remainder of the front ensemble, but the burden of my worries is no rival for the passion that drives my performance. Marching band has defined my life in ways that I had never thought possible. This was not how I expected it to turn out; the zeal that fills my being every waking moment of my performance never seems to pass. The months of summer fever and exhaustion that I had spent perfecting each note were worth it. They always are.

I have my parents to thank for devotedly taking me to chamber and orchestra rehearsal-one hour each way down the freeway-it makes me value the opportunities I have even more. Music remains my biggest source of joy and and a pathway to a myriad of opportunities. Through my passion for music, I’ve had the opportunity to work with musical masterminds such as James Ehnes.

Music was my entrance into the world of writing. When I didn’t have access to books, listening to songs such as Beyoncé’s “Irreplaceable” and Raven-Symone’s “This Is My Time” helped me get through the many days in middle school where I was bullied and isolated myself from everyone. My social isolation led to my first bout with depression. As I kept to myself, I wrote my own songs, pouring my heart into each and every word. However, fully perfecting the craft was difficult because I did not know how to perform the music I created. Fortunately, there are organizations that enable children to learn how to play instruments, and one of those organizations is Hungry For Music.

As my strength in music has grown I have learned the significance of emboldment through different relationships. My parents helped me never lose passion for music, my teacher pushed me to learn pieces that I never believed I could do, and my friends who taught me the importance of good-natured competition. Over the years music has molded me into a person that puts importance on dedication and is willing to take chances. The music community has not only taught me valuable lessons of encouragement and integrity, but has opened my eyes to the fact that it brings passionate people together to create meaningful social experiences that will change lives. With my ability to play music, I hope to not only continue to change my outlook on life but to change other’s as

Although my formal journey in music had to be temporarily halted once I started high school, my musical background has allowed me to construct my own identity in the world. I have acquired a sense of admiration for both the elaborate and simplistic elements that exist within the vast depths of our perception. I realize that possessing a commitment to persistent study through a solid foundation is crucial. I realize that in order to pursue my own interests and passions, choosing to think for myself, is equally as vital. I have come to view life as an infinite climb in which I am constantly seeking new heights. Although my niche in this world is evolving constantly, my appetite for learning remains resolute. My desire to test the limits and boundaries of life is fueled, not by the notion of reaching the top, but rather within the journey of overcoming obstacles in my struggle to unlock the mysteries of this world. The need to satisfy this perpetual craving for knowledge inspires me to search for answers—to understand the depths of life and where I stand in the midst of it

The concept of music has been a fascinating topic for me since I was able to sing along to Hannah Montana and High School Musical, and maybe even before that. It’s the one thing that has stayed consistent for me since day one. When I was struggling to figure out who I was and who I wanted to be, my mind went blank. I wasn’t involved in any sport or hobby, and I didn’t enjoy much, not even the security of my own bedroom. For a long time, I felt lost. When I was given the option to learn an instrument in middle school, it didn’t occur to me that I was going to change my perspective on life or that I finally found something that I belonged in. It was a matter of time before I realized exactly what I had done.

As noted, from a young age, my parents raised me to think “musically.” Consequently, now, whenever I hear any song, my Pavlovian response kicks in, as I find the song’s meter and imagine its rhythms as dots on a page. Although my knack for music may not be inherent, it is unmistakingly automatic. Music is now ingrained into my brain, as I tap my toe involuntarily to every beat, anticipate every chord change, and cringe at every note that is even slightly out of tune. Undeterred by my disinclination for a musical career, my family and, naturally, all of my surroundings continually foster my ever-growing, learned passion for music. Although I cannot imagine myself soloing in Carnegie Hall years from now, I also cannot imagine living my life void of music, with its familiarity and surprise, its comfort and sorrow, its rigidity and versatility. The addition of music in my otherwise non-musical life gives me more than just a hobby, but an understanding of multiple perspectives coming together as one, giving me a broader image of the world around me. Unlike simplified Punnett Squares, music does not just chose one factor over another, but rather layers multiple elements together, allowing each to simultaneously exist, furthermore resulting in symphonies, like me, a melody of predetermined,

Music has been an important part of my life for as long as my memory lasts. Even before I remember, as my mother tells me, I would go to football games with my little toy drum and bang away every time the marching band did anything. In my childhood, the music around me wasn’t necessarily my choice. It was always my father’s, or my cousin’s, or someone else’s. Those people greatly influenced my music tastes over the years.

Starting from a young age, I was surrounded by melodies: hymns from church services, songs on the radio, and tunes drifting from my living room piano. Later, I began to learn instruments of my own. Middle school harbored the experimentation, and high school fostered the refinement. Experiencing music in an ensemble contributed to my diversifying schema of the art. Instrument keys glisten in the stage lights as the band sways to the low thrum of the rich bass strings-- music clothed itself in visual and auditory beauty. Immersing myself in the artistry of music taught me the intricacies it, and the more I extended my abilities, the more I was exposed to this culture. One musical group was still not enough, so I delved into two, playing the clarinet

The typical teenager has a playlist of music on their phone of the newest music from the talented recording artist of this century. That’s not me, I am the kid with classical music blaring until I drive my friends into complete boredom and playing foreign music until my family questions whether I’m truly an American. The “good” music of today falls into the genres of pop and hip-pop, but the music lacks a story. I have always felt like an outcast who is searching for his purpose through words and music helps me find myself. I began to take piano lessons at the age of six with numbers of different teachers from old ladies who play on Sunday mornings at church to Broadway performers turned worship pastors. Each one of these teachers left an imprint

The obsession with the piano marks the beginning of my metamorphosis. Before the obsession, I was the definition of mediocrity. I never worked hard and received a good grade in school and felt no need to improve my academic performance. I had sudden urges to become better, but they never lasted more than a couple days. My heart was a peaceful but stagnant pond.

Before long, I was ten years old, and a new Kawasaki piano was being delivered to my front door. I shuffled up to the foreign object in our living room and timidly struck a few keys; the sweet ring of the piano captivated me. I began taking lessons shortly after, and I invested multiple hours of practice each week. It wouldn’t be long before I was masterfully gliding across the keys as I performed Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata.

Within the musical space I am a vocalist. I use my mode of expression to strengthen relationship, provided hope, and uplift spirits. I rely on other musicians to build me up and use their messages to build others; I do my part and give the same back. I have used my opportunities to perform to inspire and strengthen our common threads. I can recall a time singing the National Anthem, and despite political differences we had music, which balanced us, pulled us together. Music has strengthened

Ever since I was a child, I have always been fascinated with music. I couldn’t tell why I was fascinated with music at the time, I just knew that music was something that intrigued me. Maybe it was the collection of vinyl that my father acquired during his stint as a DJ , which looked like giant heavy black frisbees that, through some form of sorcery, played music. He usually didn’t let me touch these objects because he knew I might break them, but once he let me scratch them on the record player. I will never forget the feel of the grooves on my tiny fingers as I slid the record against the needle, the music interrupted by an intense wave of sound, the voices on the record becoming distorted as I moved my hand against the needle. I was in

My relationship with music is a personal and evolving one that has, for much of my life, shaped my identity and perspective. Amidst my accomplishments as a pianist and composer, music holds a deeper meaning to me due to its function as both a means of self-expression, and experiencing the abstract thoughts of others. I was born into music, and at an early age, found any opportunity to sit at a piano to be instantly gratifying. As I matured in my musicianship,