Personal Narrative: My Ukulele Song

I was on the verge of tears. Everything was so overwhelming, and I was having a terrible day. I took a deep breath, pushing down the ball of anxiety in my chest and blinking away the stinging behind my eyes. A moment later, those same feelings returned, as bad as ever. I have never been very good at pushing away or bottling up my feelings, and this time was no exception. Realizing I had no chance of making myself feel better before going to my singing lesson, I settled for simply holding back the tears, letting my other emotions run free, bringing physical pain to my chest.

I was sitting in my dad’s car while going to the store when he asked me if I wanted to join the band in sixth grade. I thought to myself for a moment, but decided I wanted to. When I agreed, my dad asked me what instrument I was interested in playing. Once again I thought for a moment and then I made my decision to play the trumpet. Joining band has shaped me into the person I am today, because I discovered something about myself that I probably would never have found, I made more friends, and I can now play a few different instruments and read most music.

I found relaxing bamboo flute music on YouTube when I was doing bad in school. This soothing flute music helped me to control all my built up energy. I feel like this music helped me to concentrate and it also helped me focus. It was during the middle of freshman year I realized that I had a lot of trouble concentrating so I looked up relaxing music. Once I heard the bamboo flute I felt it calm me down. Like when I listen to this music I can concentrate better. When ever I am upset or angry I put this song on and my feelings just go away, it's like the music puts me into a dreamland. Growing up I always would have a hard to paying attention and concentrating but when I heard the bamboo flute I felt like it changed me.

I sat on my bed with my arms wrapped tightly around my pillow swaying back and forth. My mom lightly knocked on my door and asked if she could come in. I tried to wipe away the stains left by my long stream of tears, but I felt my skin sting and eyes swell instead. She asked if I wanted to talk about it, but my response got stuck in my throat, so all I could do was shake my head and shove my head deep inside my pillow. Her bare feet smacked on the concrete as she made her way over to my bed. Her weight made an indent in the corner of my mattress as she sat down and laid a hand on my back.

The events that took place on June 1st, 2013 is almost a blur, although, the sensation has always been ever so clear to me. I felt alive. I felt enchanted. And I felt wanted. Almost every little problem vanished for that one specific night. Who would’ve thought a single person can make you feel invincible? Cristian, was nearly the opposite the person I was. He was true rock and roll, and I was merely the product of the mainstream rock phenomena. He almost seemed very opinionated as I had always kept to myself, It was odd and a little unexpected. Although we both are very timid from the naked eye, to my surprise he was actually very witty and humorous. One lonely night at a park was the beginning of a very long and faithful friendship.

Jokes aside, Thank u for your voice, your music and for beinf such a safe haven, your songs calm me down when I' stressed and cheer me up when I'm sad; u make me laugh with silly things u say and the stories u share (that it's a big acomplishment, I'm telling u). U said once that u hoped ur music didn' t only bring sadness to people and I can garantee u that it doesnt.

Some people remember things based on the date or who they were with, others tie their memories to specific emotion-filled moments, I remember everything based on what song was playing. I listened Supertramp’s “Breakfast in America”, off my brother’s first generation iPod, the first time my mom allowed me to bike alone through the neighborhood. Carpools home from rec soccer practice were filled with the Black Eyed Peas’ “Boom Boom Pow” and geeky dance moves, windows rolled down so everyone could see. Coming home from fencing practice and studying late at night was an accompaniment of Bruce Springsteen songs being quietly played on the piano by my dad. Whatever the memory, music permeates each and every one.

The performing arts are a natural outlet for creative self-expression. Playing the clarinet in my school’s symphonic band and singing at Hindi music festivals, I am immersed in creativity and often lose track of time. I feel joyous and free. Sounding melodies on the clarinet, I convey my deepest emotions. Singing is born of the body and I express my authentic voice. Yet, music is a universal language. Music crosses cultures and breaks barriers. I love to perform and connect with audiences of all kinds through the universal language of music.

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

Jazz music can be performed in many different venues and setting. It can be performed in public place including indoor jazz clubs and outdoor jazz festival. When people are attending indoor concert setting jazz performance, it is good to expect a western classical because it considered well-mannered cheering after the artist completed improvised solo. Moreover, it is also acceptable among musicians.

I always loved to try new things. Especially things to do with music. I was fascinated by how much concentration, skill, and practice it took to play them. That’s probably why I took up the trumpet. It was the right sound at the time for me. But, I wasn’t done there. I had to learn more. Playing every song I know is a minimum. But, ya know, sometimes that just isn’t possible at the moment.

I sat on the couch staring transfixed at the TV. Nothing compares to watching Lord of the Dance live, but I was as close as I was going to get. As their feet rumbled on the dance floor at lightning speed, I nodded my head to the beat of the music. The constant tapping never got on my nerves, but excited me because I new that soon the big finale was coming. As the show came to an end I clapped just as hard as I would have if I had been in the theater watching them live. When Micheal Flatly entered the stage for a final bow, I jumped of the sofa and gave him a standing ovation. As they began to dance again in a final goodbye, my feet began to drum against the floor impatiently, wishing that they too where up there on stage dancing there heart out in front of an adoring crowd. Finally the screen went black and the show was officially over. My heart sank as I remembered that I was just in my plain old boring living room, and not on Broadway watching my role models dance their feet off. I sat down glumly on the couch, the adrenaline that had filled me up to the brim just moments ago, receded at lighting speed.

One difficult situation I faced was during an exam for choir last year. Our exam was to sing in a small group in front of the entire class. The reason this was difficult for me was that I have terrible anxiety about singing alone in front of people. While I knew that this would be a difficult task, I refused to accept defeat. For almost two months I practiced constantly hoping that if I knew the song well enough I would be able to get through the exam. I chose to not tell my choir teach how petrified I was of singing with only one other person with me. Ultimately this turned out to be a huge mistake because when the moment came for my partner and I to sing the shaking began. I started having a panic attack in front of my class and in the end

When I first got a guitar in the third grade I thought I could a rock star, so my parents took me to a music studio. When I first walked into the music studio I was amazed by everything. There were so many guitars, drum sets, and pianos that I couldn’t even imagine it in my mind. I just knew I could be a rock star here, so my parents signed me up for music lessons at that music studio. The next day when I was going back to the music studio I remembered that I would have to make a first impression to my guitar teacher. When I got to the music studio I opened the door, and walked over to the front desk to ask where my guitar teacher will be, and the front desk person pointed right behind me. I looked behind me and got scared because my guitar

Now that my life has begun to come to its inevitable end I have decided to reflect on all that I have accomplished in my life and more importantly all that I am leaving behind for future generations to both learn and gain from. Born as “the son of a Canterbury shoemaker” (Brayton) in Canterbury, England I never would have expected anything outside of the ordinary for the life path that I would take. I was raised up in the Church of England from the very beginning of my life as I was baptized on the very day I was born. Early on in my childhood I took a liking to the arts. Everything about them just seemed to fascinate me and I began to devote all my efforts towards my studying of the various medieval arts. All of my rigorous studying did pay