Personal Narrative: Joining The Wind Ensemble

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.

Underneath the sound of my voice is a song, “Seminole Wind.” If I still myself long enough to stop bringing my own voice and words to life, the song gives me images. The scenery that unfolds in my mind’s eye belongs to the memories of a young girl, who was so confused.

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.

I have been in choir four all four years of highschool and I became a Choral Union Officer my junior year. It was a tough decision to take this role because at the time, I was also the PHS Dance Team Captain. Being a leader in two huge and important things in my life was hard, but choosing to lead one was the toughest decision I had to make. The schedules highly overlapped and I was forced to pick one or the other. I stepped down from being the captain of the dance team so I could focus on being an officer for choir. Of course stepping down was devastating, but I do not regret choosing choir. My junior year was the most eye opening year for me, where being a choral leader not only allowed me to become a better chorister, but a better leader

High-school band is the greatest thing to ever happen to me, but I almost didn’t do it. One day in middle school band class the high school band director, Mr. Perkins, was with us to talk about band in high school. He talked about how marching band was a great experience, and that we should not only sign up for marching band, but take a band class during the school year. I really liked Mr. Perkins, but I for whatever reason convinced myself beforehand that I wasn’t going to do marching band. I can’t even remember what the reason was. I loved music, liked band, and I liked playing my instrument. Maybe I thought it was too much work or that it was for “nerds”. Regardless, I had made up my mind beforehand. I went home that day and told my parents there was no way I was doing band. They immediately told me that I needed to give it time and think about all my options before I made my decision. They wanted me to be involved in at least something. After thinking about it, and my friends convincing me, I reluctantly decided to do marching band. I however decided to not take a band class. I went to band camp, and absolutely loved it. I met so many new people and had loads of fun. I was playing really well and got attention for it from my trombone section leaders and even Mr. Perkins. Things were great, up until marching band ended two months later. I was done with music until next year, and my trombone friends were in band class getting better. In efforts to avoid effort, I didn’t

My first year in the River Bluff Choral Choir has been an amazing experience. Sadly I am not doing choir next year, but I may change my mind for my junior year. My favorite aspect of choir this year is that we got to sing with the orchestra at their concert and we sang at theirs. The reason being is type of song we sang was a very dramatic piece; the orchestra did an amazing job of portraying the dragons footsteps in the song like the creators intended. As well when we sang at their concert we got to see a different audience for a change.

Ever since I turned 14 I began to do volunteer work at the Pacific Symphony. After a few years of volunteering ,when I was in my sophomore year in highschool I became the next HeartStrings Ambassador. This is one of my proudest achievements was when I became a leader in my community service event, Pacific Symphony. As the HeartStrings Ambassador, I lead a group of volunteers named the Heartstrings, to provide instructions to the task that needed to be done. I also answered any questions that the other volunteers had. Some of the volunteers were surprised because I was the youngest leader compared to the ones prior.

I consider my involvement with the music department to be the most meaningful extracurricular activity that I have given my time to throughout all four years of my high school career. Not only have I participated in many of the activities we host, I humbly believe that I have also become an ambassador who enhances the morale of my friends, family, and neighbors. Being drum major automatically puts me in a position of ambassadorial duties. However, I have reached out further into the my school and community by leading and organizing a saxophone quartet. We have performed at shopping centers, school ceremonies, concerts, festivals, and by administrative request. I plan on donating the hundreds of dollars we have collected to local charities in

It takes a village-- a village to help others grow and prosper in their lives. When someone cries out, another picks them up. When someone struggles, another guides them. I came to this realization in my third year of high school, and it has shifted my viewpoint from selfishness to selflessness.

She knows she may not be that wonderful at the beautiful woodwind that she adores so much, but she practices and attempts to become a much better player. This girl has practiced and tried to perfect her playing technique, hopefully gaining some support in the process. Though, she does not need support even if it is greatly appreciated. She loves playing the clarinet so much that she would not give it up, no matter who told her to. This girl, in her goal-oriented ways, will try and try until she succeeds in becoming one of the best clarinet players that her band director and idol, Mr. Joel Williams, has ever

York City memories in my heart, I joined the rest of the cast and reveled

I was wondering if you could give me some advice on how to deal with being so nervous about presenting tonight. Usually, I have a rubber band on my wrist to play with and flick, but I can not find one anywhere and the last time I used the flicking of a rubber band to distract me from the anxious feeling, I made a pretty nasty red mark on my wrist. I just wanted to know if you had any advice on what I could do to distract myself while presenting or to prepare myself.

The following years really put my belief of not letting outside influences persuade me away from what I loved to the test. Accepting an answer that you don’t necessarily like is much less involved than having to step up and say, “No, I deserve this. I’ve earned it.” This proved to be true when I transferred to Satellite High School. Satellite was known for their enhanced musical education programs. Although I didn’t know it at the time, it was the people telling me that I would never amount to anything in their top orchestra that really pushed me to find a way to put myself in the first chair seat. Landing last chair my sophomore year was hard to come to terms with. Stepping back to look at the big picture of the situation helped me recognize that it didn’t matter who was going to stand behind me as I tried to work my up through the seats within my little section. The only thing I needed to focus on was who was going to put up a fight as I challenged them for their seat. Most people were rather lackadaisical about their music, and moving up through the section wasn’t too difficult. Looking into the faces of everybody that told me I couldn’t, yet watched me get closer to my dream was satisfying.

Throughout 5th grade, I practiced the clarinet and made my way through our first practice book. I enjoyed band class and lessons, especially getting to be with some of my friends, but I kept thinking about the trombone. I still wanted to play it. By the end of the year, I made up my mind. I was going to play the trombone. I talked to my parents, and my mom talked to Mrs. Jones, allowing me to take the school’s trombone home over the summer between 5th and 6th grade.

“I want her to be a TJ.” Those were the words my dance teacher, Mrs. Cortez, told my parents during open house. I remember feeling really awkward, fidgeting as my parents and sister all shifted their gaze to me after she said that. I guess they must have had a weird look on their faces since Mrs. Cortez made a comment about it. She went on to tell them that I was a top student in her class which made me feel really happy. When I was younger, I wasn’t very good at dancing, but I still loved to dance and did so every chance I got. Hearing that I was a top student gave me a sense of accomplishment, but I wasn’t sure if I was worthy enough of being on the team at my current skill level. These thoughts were running through my head as my parents and Mrs. Cortez were talking.