Music Admission Essay

Billy Joel said, “I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music” (Music Quotes). Whether we realize it or not, music affects our lives greatly. The only thing for us to question is how. How does music impact your life and the lives of others? What does music do for us? People of all ages benefit emotionally, physically, and academically from music.

When words fail, music speaks. Music starts off as five lined, four spaced staff. The four spaces spell out the word face, F.A.C.E., which are the names of the notes. The five lines stand for: Every Good Boy Does Fine. Most people think an artist just write the words down, makes it rhyme and POOF!!, You have yourself some music. Although this is true, music has thousands upon thousands of creative steps you must take. There is a lot more to music, and a lot more I’m still learning though.

Music. When I started in the band in 8th grade at Saints Francis and Clare, I didn’t really want to be there. It was just another class, in another day, of my last year of school. This began to change after I realized all of the amazing people I met in the band. Band led me to be happier and become friends with people who I never even knew I would meet. It has even lead me to a path that I would like to go into in the future. I love music and band so much that it has made me want to teach it or join a band as I go into college and just for the rest of my life. Through music I have even had the opportunity to meet some very amazing people, and I have been able to work next to some of those people.

No longer did I agonize over what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. The skills that I had acquired through my musical education effortlessly pertain to the study of chemistry, now both of these art forms encompass and fill my life with joyous interactions. Marching band has given a passion and pride for my studies. Marching band has taught me the importance of precision, weather hitting a note or conducting an experiment. Marching band has taught me patience when learning new scientific and musical concepts. Most importantly, marching band has given me the love of my craft, ultimately deciding my future in a way that nothing else

In the first grade, I picked up a clarinet. It was my sister’s, collecting dust while waiting for me to play it. From the moment I produced my first sound, an ear-piercing squeal that frightened my dog, the path of my life took a turn for the better. I began teaching myself for the following three years, along with learning from my sister how to properly play the beautiful instrument. The music pushed me out of my comfort zone: concerts that forced me onstage, tests that made me play difficult songs, and teachers that pushed me to be an exceptional player. From the shy elementary school student I used to be to the outgoing band member I take joy in being today, music has shaped my everyday life.

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.

When I came to Highlands Ranch High School as a freshman, I didn’t know where I belonged. I had done soccer, but a concussion and several headaches later, decided it wasn’t for me. I had tried fully devoting myself to academics, but later realized that I can’t spend my life focusing on grades. I didn’t have anywhere to belong. Then, in the winter of my freshman year, I was persuaded into doing winter percussion. I had never played an instrument before and had absolutely no idea what was going on. I didn’t even really know what a quarter note was, no less how to count them. My freshman self was totally clueless and wanted to quit at first because I was so bad and had absolutely no idea what I was doing. But, I stuck with it to the end of the winter percussion season and when we took second place in the state suddenly all the long hours of rehearsal and constant changes were totally worth it.

In 5th grade I chose the trumpet and a love began that will follow me for most of my educational career. At first I did not know I would have this love, but this piece of brass I held in my hands would eventually turn into a passion. I grew older starting high school and begin a journey a journey through marching band. Freshman year band camp was absolutely miserable I was told it would be sunny and very very hot. I got there and every single day it rained. I almost quit band after that year just because I hated band camp. That would have been a huge mistake. In my sophomore year I auditioned and made it into the symphonic band. I was ecstatic and ready to become a better player. With a higher chair I had more responsibility I felt like I needed

Collaboration. The use of online websites, blogs and digital audio software for musicians to collaborate on projects and disseminate new ideas throughout online communities. In this section, I will draw on the work of Jones (2011) and Lysloff (2003) to discuss how much easier it is for musicians to find others in similar genre’s to collaborate with, particularly in more obscure genres of music.

Music has been a passion of mine for many years. The sonic power of frequency captivates me entirely along with the depth of theory that goes behind it all. Nothing is as integrated with art, human expression, and science as music is. You have sound and frequency as itself, and then the physical, tangible applications that allows us humans to harness and mold the sound into whatever we want. I have been playing music since I was young, and as time passed I grew more curious about the way things around me worked. I began to wonder how the tools of the art work. This curiosity has driven myself to knowing the ins and outs of the physical realm within the music world. I want to know how the amplifiers that I use on a day to day basis function.

Music is an important aspect of my life as I use it to escape the stress and chaos of my regular day. Since music has a major impact on my life I strive to display professionalism in my character as I sing or when I march across the field playing the trumpet. I may not be the best the singer or the best trumpet player, but that does not stop me from trying my best and putting my best foot forward. Music has given me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone and perform in front of large audience. The lessons I learn from my experiences as a part of the Sheehan music department not only benefit me as a musician, but they helped me develop into the person I am today and will continue to do so throughout my high school years.

All eyes were always on Madison. Thus, I often felt alone. In those moments of solitary, I turned to music. As a sixth grader who was struggling both at home and at school, music was my only friend. I fell in love with the french horn the moment I heard it be played in The Rolling Stone's song You Can't Always Get What You Want. I began playing in the school band and sooner rather than later, my entire life was surrounded by music. I would sit on the computer for hours researching genres ranging from 30 Seconds to Mars to Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue. I knew, that moment in sixth grade, was the beginning of a life long affair with my only true love, music. I made it into the Governor's School for the Arts in my freshman year of high school. It was there were I began developing my skill and love into bigger and better things. I transitioned from playing grade one band music to world renowned symphonies. For some students, the music was just music but for me a piece of music can completely alter my outlook on life. A piece of music can reach deep inside of me and clasp onto my deepest of fears and most passionate loves. It floats them

In fourth grade our class was taken to the gym to see the older kids playing instruments. There were so many different instruments being played, the sounds they were making with their instruments were awesome. It looked like it would be a lot of fun to play an instrument in the band and I couldn’t wait to get to try it. They let us pick our top three instruments we thought we liked and let us see them closer up and try them out. The trumpet was the first and the only instrument I tried because once I played it I realized it was the perfect fit. I picked this instrument even though most of my other friends had picked different instruments; like the clarinet, the flute, and the several instruments that are part of the percussion

Music equals life, or the saying goes. I feel if I had dropped out of band I would have missed out on a great experience. The ability to play music is something that will live on in you for the rest of your life. Unlike playing a sport you can't ever get worn out or injured and lose the talent. All through school I played sports from baseball to soccer, sure it was fun but it was never my calling, but just being able to play music for a live audience is a feeling that is so amazing there are not enough

Music has always been my large part of my life. As a listener, I am able to empathize with emotion and artistic expressions to further understand and connect my own emotions. However, it wasn’t until I received my first guitar that I uncovered the transcendental, transformative, and magical idiosyncrasies of music. These qualities have been seamlessly spent with endless hours of unrelenting practice mixed with boundless creativity. Music has a way of capturing not only my emotions, but also my imagination. The effort and time I have invested into it has allowed me to create compositions and improvisations that alleviate my anxieties while daily enriching my life.