Personal Narrative-Clarinet

Orchestra has always been one of my favorite classes to go to during the day. After choosing to play the cello in middle school, I continued playing the instrument in high school. It was in this class that I had made most of my closest friends, many of whom I still love to this day. I also loved how the rich deep tones that came from playing each note of the cello and how they were able to blend with the rest of the orchestra. I knew from my freshmen year that I wanted to get into the top class, Chamber Orchestra. I thought that I would have done everything in my power to get into the class, however when the time came I could not even bring myself to audition.

For days I returned to that red chair and spent hours staring at my cello, until one day I could fight the urge no longer. I slowly strolled over to where the instrument rested on its stand and gingerly wrapped my hand around the smooth lacquered neck. Seated on the piano bench, I began to play the first song that came to my mind. Soon I was playing The Music of the Night with more passion than I had played any piece before. My fingers flew up and down the fingerboard, and my bow ebbed and flowed with varying degrees of pressure. As I played, my soul became captive to the music. The love I had once felt for music came rushing back to me and I was lost in a world of pure

Even though my makeshift cardboard violin didn’t make any sound, I still carried it with me everywhere, always eager to show people mow much I had learned.I have been playing for twelve years now and even though I have enjoyed most of it, it has not always been so easy. There have been more late nights, crying in frustration over something I just could not get, but I made it through. Playing the violin has given me the nations determined attitude to set my mind on something and to not stop until I reach my goals. Being a musician also has also made me hyper-aware in relation to anything musical.I tend to pick up things that the average person doesn’t. You can hear the subtle nuances that might blow over many people. Most people might only hear the different emotions, but I can tell you what made it so sad and what instruments were used at what time to convey such emotion. I love playing the violin, I look at it as an opportunity to express my true emotions. Each piece of music that I play is an uncolored painting that I paint with emotions. I have to take every piece of music, interpreted it and make it my

The clarinet has been a key part of my life for the past eleven years, and will continue to be important to me for years to come. In elementary and middle school, I tried dabbling in theater and singing, learning who I am and finding the confidence in what I do. Despite wanting to expand my talents, it is always the rod of black plastic, metal keys and a bamboo reed that whispers in my ears, calling me back. Time after time music calls out to me, like a limb I cannot live without.

I realized that my duty was to share that feeling with people in my community who would otherwise not be exposed to classical music. I shared this idea with the musicians whom I knew from the area, my family. My cousin, siblings, and I, who play string instruments, began rehearsing trios, duets, quartets, and dance music. Each week we would plan where we would bring our music. Sometimes we brought ballroom music to a park, other times Pleyel duets to my elderly grandmother who lives alone. While playing violin duets at a family gathering, my young cousin sat beneath me and my sister’s feet, attentively listening to every duet that we played. An old couple sat and smiled on their bench one calm summer evening as we played a waltz in the park. A hiker asked to take our picture as we played Haydn’s “Sunrise” Quartet under the colossal trees that shaded us from the blazing summer

Wiest took the time to listen to my troubles and work with me outside of class. She even invited me to come drink tea in her office if I needed a break or was not feeling well. But more importantly, she helped me put everything into perspective and I made some tough decisions. I cut down on my work hours, took a few months off from orchestra, took less volunteer opportunities, and learned to prioritize my responsibilities. Mrs. Wiest also helped me with my work when I was falling behind and let me take her finals at different times to balance my work load. I panicked when everything got difficult, but she supported me. If any teacher has made an impact on me during my academic career, it was certainly Mrs. Wiest. She goes above and beyond for her students and wants everyone to succeed. With her help, I was able to succeed during a very rough

A high school teacher that has impacted my life is my 9th grade Geometry teacher, Mrs. Scully. Mrs. Scully has impacted my life from the very beginning. She has always been very caring and fun to be around. She is probably one of the most unique people in my life. She has always wanted me to do my best, and worked hard for me to understand the course. I was very troubled in mathematics, but the first time I received an 80 on a test in her class was the happiest moment for me. She is dedicated and she cares about you. She wants you to do good. I only had her for that year, but I still continue to see her. Sophomore and Junior year I would also use my tutoring time to be with her. I am now a senior class officer and she is our leader. She puts together senior activities and the officers help her. She influences me to be the very best person I can be. I see how she has these stylish cars and is overall happy with her life and committed to what she does. It’s inspiring and I can only wish to become as happy and successful as she is. She is a wonderful

No sooner than we came back with the drinks than one guy who I found was named Dan pulled out a baggie and rolled a couple of big joints. Those were passed around and it seemed like Jazz always had one in her hand as the guys kept passing them to her.

He waited until the concert ended and then made himself known to the young and perfect maestro. Meeting the young virtuoso caused an irreconcilable experience of mixed emotions which he had never before experienced and he certainly did not understand now. Stradivari spoke in reluctance and hopeful anticipation at once. He said, “Embrace the vision of this solo instrument, young man. I made this violin, yes. This is the finest instrument I could have ever crafted and the finest my family tradition has ever crafted. All that be as it may, without you this object is nothing but a mere stone. Take this and fill the ears of humanity with the celestial sounds of the Godly universe.” With that, Stradivari left the grandiose concert hall feeling so fulfilled that he had at least done something which would lift the spirit of humanity for centuries beyond. For that reason, every remaining day of his life he would ponder the moment he gifted that precious violin to the boy. You see, Stradivari knew that no matter what, the violin which was now the boy’s instrument would create and inspire, and forever empower the sentiments of music destined to change the universe

I love to fish it is really fun. It is 1:00. I grab my fishing poles and my fishing bag. I get an my bike and ride down to my pound. Throw some bread on my hook and cast it out there. My brother said to bait the water so I threw some bread in. All the fish were eating the bread. The bobber twitched a couple times. I set the hook the fish is on the hook. I get the fish on land grab the fish get it unhooked. Then I cut its gills and it dies.My brother said eiw thats grose. Then i wash it off in the water.Then i cut the bluegill into three pieces.When i cut the guts The fish eat the bluegill just for the guts so I put a piece of bluegill on the hook and guts and cast it out. My hands smelled like fish they felt all slimey and they

My previous elementary schools had no music program, so I did not expect anything different from the new school. But, I was in for a shock. I met Ms, Nina Wilkinson in the first 3 weeks of school. I think it is because I play the violin, and ultimately met Ms. Wilkinson are two of the major reasons I became who I am now. I played for her the piece I was learning from Suzuki book 4, and I was shaking with nerves, but I think Ms. Wilkinson saw something in me, and put me in the school orchestra, second chair. I was stunned. Never before have I ever been in first violin; I was always in second. This gave me a huge confidence boost. I was always pretty shy, and I rarely spoke more than a sentence all at once. But, during orchestra when Ms. Wilkinson conducted, she would tell me good job or well done and that changed me. I became more confident in my talents and self. I think my time in that school orchestra was a powerful influence on

In the mystifying world of the modern orchestra, an oboist is a neurotic alternative to their woodwind counterparts. They border on obsessive and often wander with a crazed look in their eyes. To most people, this would dissuade anyone from picking up the instrument. But, it lures innocent children with the curve of the bell. The sleek streamline of the wood, and the glimmer of the silver keys under the concert hall lights. The sound of a well-played oboe is life changing. Romantic, warm, and vibrant. It soars through the cacophony of strings players, the low rumble of the timpani, and straight into the hearts and souls of the audience. Chasing any hint of logic from their brains.

This learning period I achieved my goal of beginning my own ukulele song. My ukulele song, called “Buy Me Happiness," this ukulele song is about how expensive art supplies are. Less than one-fourth of the song is completed, so the piece is a work in progress. The concept I studied this learning period is when writing your own song, try not to pressure yourself into being creative because most of the time it will not work. Instead of limiting your time, leave a large window of time to be creative and to play around with chords and notes. Furthermore, write down every thing, every chord and lyric that comes to mind, even though you might not use every idea you had, it is useful to look at the direct you were going in. In addition, you might want

My first impression was that I was listening to a rock star. I had a notable physical reaction to the music; I felt a rush of adrenaline and my heart rate increased. The music was fast-paced and intense—undoubtedly physically and mentally demanding on Garrett. I am a pianist myself, and I felt a sense of empathy. I was exhausted on his behalf by simply hearing his talented performance. The music would slow down in some parts, only to pick back up with even more intensity and speed. The music aroused a familiar sense of pressure, such as the pressure to complete a difficult yet important task in a short period of time. The pressure and difficulty build to near unbearable proportions until the work is finally finished, and dissipates into the euphoria of accomplishment. If that scenario had a theme song, it could be Paganini’s “Caprice No. 24”. The music was passionate, chaotic, and ultimately satisfying. I felt that I had witnessed true mastery of the art of the violin in both Paganini’s written work and Garrett’s performance.

The following day in class she asked me to show her all that I knew so we could have a steady foundation to start from, this wasn’t much. I explained to her my situation and my feelings towards the instrument and how from the start I had already had a negative connotation with it. I expressed to her that I just couldn’t seem to understand the music, every time I looked at the notes it was as if I was looking at it for the very first time, I then said, “it’s like a whole new language and I just can’t speak it” she then proceeded to say, “That’s the point! To learn music is to learn a whole new