The Story Of Brent Janda's Music Journey

In one of the first scenes of the book, at the party, Brent uncomfortably stands at the drink table listening to music with his headphones (Fleischman 11). Isolated from the rest of the crowd, Brent finds solace in his music and finds that it gives him the courage to talk to other people and socialize. This innocent affinity to music suddenly vanishes when the high school boy unintentionally takes the life of another human being. Referring to Brent’s state of being after the accident, Fleischman writes, “He ate little, spoke little, and no longer listened to music. He turned seventeen, an event he scarcely noticed. He heard his parents whisper about the blow to his head and his personality change” (35). Exposure to the cruelty of the real world brings about Brent’s severe personality shift and indifference towards music. Because the accident prompts Brent to stop enjoying music, he will always equate the two things with each other. Music forces Brent to dwell on the events of the past and refuses to allow him to move on. Describing Brent’s attempt in making his first whirligig, Fleischman writes, “He sat down. He decided to do without the wing. The figure could simply be a harp player. The harp was full sized, the sort you'd find in an orchestra. Lea had played in an orchestra. He wondered what her instrument was” (51). Brent affiliates music with his accidental killing of Lea, an unfortunate event of the past. He even begins to ponder about the specifics of Lea’s musical life. Once again, music prevents Brent from moving on and living his present life.

Born near the beachy shores of South Carolina, Trevor Hall grew up listening to the melodious tunes of his father’s harmonica and drum set (Rosenfield, 2012). Throughout his young life, inspired by his father, Hall would constantly be glued to a notepad writing music; following his dreams, at 16, Hall recorded and released his very first record. With all of the joy found in writing and releasing

I sat down with Tanner VanderKrabben in his dorm on October 8, 2016, to interview him about how music has shaped his life. Tanner has been involved in music since elementary school, and his passion for music has only grown since then. Throughout his life, he has found music to be a powerful tool to express himself. This fall, Tanner began working towards a degree in music education at the University of Minnesota so that he could one day share this tool with his future students.

Throughout the reading this week, the information presented in David Elliott and Bennett Reimer’s texts stressed the importance of music and more specifically, music education. “People everywhere find music rewarding, and everywhere we find people engaged in formal and non-formal efforts to teach and learn music.” (Elliott, 2014, p. 4)

“In the Marching Band and Proud of It” by Debra Nussbaum followed the story of the marching band from Pennsbury High School in Philadelphia. In the second paragraph, Nussbaum claimed that band can be “cool”. Marching bands travel across the US, are becoming increasingly competitive, and perform more interesting shows. The Pennsbury marching band has a respected reputation in the school because they gain national recognition and have a certain prestige within the school. The prevalence of band is growing as the number of band directors and sales of sheet music grows. The author states that the prevalence of band is growing, too. Many students are involved in multiple activities while also participating in marching band. The music the band

In pages 55-60 of Green’s book, On Teaching Band: Notes from Eddie Green, the author discusses the successful introduction of playing instruments to students at the approximate age of 11-13 years. He offers techniques to maintain student engagement when beginning to teach instrument-playing. Green states that he prefers to keep a neat classroom to encourage students to be equally organized. He also determines the physical needs of the classroom, including wire stands and playable instruments for each student, stating that he prefers the students receive their instruments at school.

So he grew up with highly educated parents and this showed throughout his school life and musical career. Now unlike many he hadn’t been introduced into music off the start essentially, but at the age of 13 his father introduced him to an instrument he would learn to love and cherish throughout his musical career. Upon being introduced to the trumpet his father asked for some help from a dear friend of his Elwood Buchanan A well-known director of a musical arts school.

Imagine a third grader, small and blonde, standing on a stage that practically swallows her. She gazes in awe at the bright lights that seem to tower miles above her head; likewise, she follows with a stare, fixating on the hundreds of darkened faces that remain directly in front of her. Unlike her classmates who fidget with nerves beside her, she feels a rush of adrenaline. What may have seemed to some an ordinary choir concert in a dull auditorium, was, to me, a life changing moment. Ever since this day, for 9 years now, I have had an unwavering passion for music and performing. As I aged, I found myself excitedly learning how to play 7 new instruments, but even considering the vast number of bands, orchestras, choirs, and instrumental lessons that I joined, I noticed myself

Stereotype’s fills the halls of secondary schools all across America, from your athletic super stars shooting hoop in the gym to the geniuses swiftly flipping through books in the library. However, there is one room where every stereotype mixes together for one purpose! In the band hall people from all backgrounds come together to create a beautiful melody. Regardless of your ability to slam a home run, grow a multitude of crops, or make a scientific discovery, everyone can join together, unite, and play music without any draw backs from stereotypes. Music is more than a class, it’s a sanctuary to escape the typical chaos of school. Participation in band avails each musician to an infinite journey of creative expression connecting to a language

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.

As a child I frequently made up little songs, and there seemed to be a constant stream of music in my head. I could see myself in the children she was observing and like them I didn’t have a framework for my experience – it was just my life. Whether it was singing while playing, tapping out some rhythm, singing at the top of my lungs to a favorite song, or goosebumps from hearing “Hall of the Mountain King”, it all felt familiar and warming. It has also made me aware of the musicking I continue to make every day in small ways here and

Derek became an acclaimed concert pianist by the age of 10. His longtime piano teacher, Adam Ockelford, explains his student’s unique relationship to music. Adam encouraged his obvious musical interest and ability, although it was obviously natural. Adam gave him lesson as child understanding

For as long as mankind has walked on this earth, music has been an important part of our culture and lifestyles. Each walk of life beats to a different drum. Different cultures use music for many aspects of their lives; for religious purposes, for celebrations, for comfort, for sorrow, for relaxation, for sports, for dances, for energy, for learning, for sleeping, and for sexual experiences. Everyone uses music for something. Music connects with people and reaches them in ways that words simply cannot. Music is a representation of what feelings sound like. It expresses emotion and brings that characteristic out from within us; it tells us a story. Every generation has its’ own sound and different music styles have emerged and become

When Chad Smith graduated high school in 1980, he encountered one of his most important musical experiences. Chad Smith was invited to start drumming with a band. The band was named ‘Pharaoh’ and it was a hit band around the year 1981. When he started playing with this band, Chad Smith met the band’s percussionist, Larry Fratangelo. With this experience, Chad’s drumming was increasing dramatically. “I think up until then, I was a drummer. Once I studied with Larry, I turned into a

When I was eight years old, my first drum instructor was named Mr. Dowden. While he would not be the most talented teacher I would utilize, or the most influential on my style, he laid the foundation for me to competently read and write music. Where he did little to inspire my percussive style, he shined at inspiring my attitude towards the medium. “The band is a single living creature,” he told me, “And you are the heart.” While this meant little to my disinterested young mind at the time, those twelve words’ value would inflate like a booming crescendo, and echo through my days.