Personal Narrative: Musical Coming-Age

“I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music”. Albert Einstein, not only a physicist but also a violinist said that quote. The violin is a classic instrument, along with the piano which are known as the fathers of classical music. The violin is one where it produces rich, classic, wonderful music. It’s unique sound and the way it entrances ones ear is hypnotic. The origins of the timeless violin are quite unknown but have been narrowed down to a time and place in history.

Soccer, football, lacrosse, and basketball, just to name a few, allowed my two older brothers to display their talents. Sticking to what they knew, my parents attempted to involve me in some sport, but it was apparent to me quite early on that I had another calling. When I was about four years old, I asked my parents if I could learn how to play the violin. The only reply I ever received at that age was a slight chuckle of doubt from my parents, whom envisioned a dusty wooden instrument being stowed away in a closet, never to be seen again after just a few lessons. So while equipped with only the rushing mind of a toddler, the notion of me learning violin was pushed to the back of my mind. It wasn’t until I was about seven years old that I

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

Freshman Ella. It’s a scary thought, but for this story we have to go back to March of my freshman year at an event called Chamber Festival, which is basically when you play in small groups instead of large orchestras. In our school orchestra I was second chair viola which, me only being a freshman, was a very big deal. At least it was for me. Many of my other friends in orchestra already had their own instruments, and I felt like it was time to get one of my own. So for months I begged my parents. I insisted that I wouldn’t give up playing in a year or two, that I really would stick with it long enough for the investment to make sense. Finally, in the beginning of 2015, they agreed to get me a viola. Now was the hard part, agreeing

Music has always been a major part of my family and my parents were determined that my sister and I were well acquainted with music from a young age. Inspired by the sound of the piano by the time I was six, I knew that I wanted to learn how to play it. Fast forward to the first day of class, my teacher, Ms. Lilly, guided me through the school and into a narrow hallway that held five doors. Each door opened to a cramped room that each held a piano, a stool, and a chair. Ms. Lilly’s hand softly held my shoulder as she led me to the first room. I became excited to finally expand my knowledge of music, excited to be given the opportunity to not only listen, but play music, excited that I had the opportunity to inspire others. But I soon became apprehensive about the idea of playing in front of a crowd. I worried that I wasn’t ready to excel in such a complex instrument. I held my breath and sat on the wooden stool beside my teacher, my conflicting emotions, making me dizzy, but

My transcripts show that I only participated in band my freshman and sophomore years. Band became a necessary sacrifice because I still needed to fit in graduation requirements and a load of AP classes to my junior and senior year schedules; however, my music career did not end! I found a way to continue playing the bass guitar in my church praise band, and I am currently going on my sixth year of playing. I will be flexible in continuing my music career, whether it be in a class or a club, because it is definitely an activity that has become important to me.

Music has been and is a very important aspect of my life, and I demonstrate my passion for it with the viola. I had never been able to own a personal viola due to financial and need based situations and so I grew accustomed to school offered instruments. This did not refrain me from challenging myself with various music opportunities.

I realized I wanted to get into music and producing when I received feedback from friends, and family that I had talent after the first song I released, and after time passed all I received was just good feedback, of course, there were some negative opinions but I keep my head up. When I started writing/recording music I just saw it as something to do for fun, it became one of my serious hobbies after a while. That push I was given by friends and family has led me to believe I could make it in the music industry. That’s how the idea of getting into music came about.

For the Spring Concert this year, the Concert Band played three very different and technically demanding pieces, which includes “Endless Rainbows,” “Semper Fidelis,” and “Courtly Airs and Dances.” Though these three pieces were different in mood, each piece still required proper tone, intonation, balance, and full-effort from every musician in the band. Personally, to make sure that I was putting my best effort in rehearsing the pieces in class, I would make sure that I played with a warm, open, dark, round tone by taking in dark air and relaxing the muscles in the back of my throat and mouth and making sure that my tongue was not interfering with my relaxed muscles of my throat. Furthermore, I would make sure that when holding a note for a couple of beats, I would make sure that I would be listening to the people around me and the bass line for any frequencies or just obvious signs telling me if I was flat or sharp. I would do the same at home, too to make sure that I had as open of a tone as possible and most of my notes are in tune. All in all, I can say being in Concert Band for just one year has already broadened my knowledge of what it is like to be a

Violins are one of a kind. Did you know that a man named Bronislav Huberman helped saves jews in the holocaust just by playing the violin. That's amazing that a small instrument could do that.The history of the violin is very special. The parts are all important and unique. How it has grown and used today is amazing! Next time you are listening to a song see if you can hear a violin or two in the

Growing up in a small town, like I did, you struggle to find what you want to do for the rest of your life, but as I got older I started to realize that this small town life was not for me. So I decided to go big, and introduce myself to the music industry, which in my opinion is the most difficult industry to make it big in. So, day in and day out, I taught myself how to use different music programs to further teach myself what I’m getting into. When I was more comfortable with what I was doing, I started looking at different colleges that could also help me to further my career of being a music producer. My love for music originated when I was younger, and would eventually lead me to where I am today, the energetic, fun loving, hardcore music lover that I am.

So I went to school the day after I got my violin and towards the end of the day it was orchestra I was so excited until I opened my violin case. I just remembered my violin has only two strings.

As I grew up a little, I began to express my idea that I want to learn violin. The second violin was bought at that time. It was a 1/16 size tiny violin. The learning process at beginning wasn’t so smooth. According to my grandparents, my everyday practice was like a nightmare which combined with my complaining, sawing wood sound, and sound of demonstration video. I sometimes dropped violin on bed to make the string lose and tight it again to waste time. Unfortunately one time, the violin slipped from bed to the tiled floor and broke into pieces. I thought my

Albert Einstein once said, “A table, a chair, a bowl of fruit, and a violin; what else does a man need to be happy?” The violin produces a very beautiful sound which depends on neither the violinist nor the violin. Its long history consists of its known creators and musicians, the process of its creation, and the types of violins. The people that make violins are called luthiers (luth-ee-ers). The earliest known Italian luthiers were Andrea Amati (1505-?)

“The Violin” by Amy Chua is about her trying to help improve her beloved daughter’s violin skills. Although Chua only wants the best for her daughter, she ironically communicates help: “‘RELAX!’ I screamed”(Chua