What Instrument Was Best For Me

It started when I was in the 6th grade A Man by the name of Mr. Williams showed up to my school and presented us with instruments out of all the ones he showed us I picked the clarinet for the start of my musical career. we only met up once a week but I did learn how to play and read all the basics. I continued on the clarinet for 2 more years but,I switch to saxophone in my second year of Middle School. it wasn't very difficult to make the switch because the saxophone and the clarinet are both woodwind instruments. The only difficulty

Like almost every other 3rd grader in my elementary school, when the enrichment program came to talk about joining the orchestra and band, I was fascinated. I admired the kids, not much older than me, who could play their instruments flawlessly and effortlessly. Immediately I knew that orchestra was for me, and I rushed home with a paper in hand begging my mom to let me take lessons at my school. Originally, I wanted to play the cello and pleaded with my mom to let me play one; I loved the deep, rich sounds of the strings. Instead, my mom convinced me to play the violin, a less expensive instrument and much easier to carry around than a cello.

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

I don’t remember if it was my choice or my parents, but in 5th grade when we were given the choice to be in band, I was very anxious to start. We got to meet with Mrs. Jones and try a few different instruments before making a decision. My top three choices were percussion, trombone, and clarinet (only because my sister had played it). I tried the clarinet first and thought it was alright, but not my favorite. I tried the trombone next, and while it was difficult, I really wanted to keep trying. I also tried percussion- she just had me keep a beat on my leg- and I thought percussion may be difficult for me, but I still wanted to do it. In the end, Mrs. Jones decided I would be best fit for the clarinet, mostly because I could use my sisters and not have to buy a new instrument. I was happy with the choice, mostly because I was excited to be playing anything!

I later took up band in seventh grade to get a sense of what music is. Intentionally, I wanted to play the alto-sax and hopefully learn to make great music with it, but it would cost me, so I chose a clarinet. The clarinet had an interesting sound similar to a sax and it was nice to know that I sounded better than Squidward Tentacles. The flute was another instrument that caught my eye, it looked like a recorder but looks and sounds relatively refined. But, I could never get the embouchure right to get that sweet flute sound, instead it sounded like blowing air into a tube, looking back, I probably wasn’t ready to play it

In fourth grade I started playing Alto saxophone for my grade school band. Three years later I learned Baritone saxophone for my middle school band. In another year I joined a choir. By the end of high school I had been in six different bands, learned to play several instruments, joined two different choirs, taken multiple music theory class, and starred in more than a dozen musicals. My love for the arts started early in my life, my mother is an artist and my father is a musician and a head designer for a stationary company. The arts were alive in my household, jazz was usually played during dinners, my mom would paint a few times a week, and my dad seemed to always spend at least an hour a night fine tuning his classical guitar skills.

Five years ago, I was introduced to the subject of band by my best friend and that introduction sowed the seed to join. The next decision I faced was the important choice of an instrument, which was not very hard for me. I chose the clarinet because it was the only one that responded with a grateful sound. Without my license and parents working late at night, I had to search for a ride since I assumed my friend, who attended band on a different day, could take me. Getting up an hour earlier than most students proved to be a struggle for me, but as time went on it became less challenging. Joining band was and is more than a musical exercise for me; it equates unity with harmony, personal growth with rhythm, and benefits with melody on the larger playing field of life.

instruments used in the jazz era are direct reflections of the feelings of the 1920s.

I started playing the clarinet in 5th grade, when all of the students had to pick an instrument and be taught how to play it, and at the end of the year play in a school concert. Before 5th grade, we all had to learn to play recorder, to this day I do not completely know why I disliked the recorder and only ever learned two songs on it, whether it was the sound or the feeling, or how my music teacher taught it to us, I always disliked the recorder in elementary school. But in 5th grade I wanted it to be different, I wanted to be able to say that I played an instrument in school, and carry that skill with me through life. After thinking for a while I settled on the clarinet, I originally wanted to play the saxophone, but the school was having a shortage of saxophones and I settled with the clarinet. When I first played my clarinet it

"It is music that includes qualities such as swing, improvising, group interaction, developing an 'individual voice', and being open to different musical possibilities" that how Travis Jackson defined jazz music. Jazz is a genre of music which is characterized by its taste which is usually different and distinct from other types of music. While jazz can be played with various instruments such as saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, drums, and guitar, it can also be played by a human voice. This kind of music is popular in certain countries especially in the United States, where it is started, and in Brazil. The reflection of jazz music can also be seen on many countries as the cultural diversity plays an intrinsic role on enhancing this

In tenth grade a new band teacher, Mr. Avi came around with an enthusiasm for music, I never saw with Mrs Becca. Avi would instruct the band to play something and If we were not sounding our best he would express it by tstomp heavily, and yelling “No, No,No!”. he would run to his tuba and start playing the rhythm for us. His eyebrows lift up dramatically synchronizing with every breath he took. Music was becoming less of a class to pass and more of a enjoyable place. I would get a new piece of music in school, run home and practice on my trombone. Through eleventh grade I joined Longy and boston conservatory. I started walking around listening to bands and orchestras on my ipod and imagining myself playing with them, moving my hands in the same motion as if I were playing my trombone. Whenever I felt stressed or excited about anything I would run to my Trombone. Whatever I heard about how to become a better at trombone player, the advice went in both ears and just stuck.

Famous jazz saxophonist and educator Ahmad Alaadeen once said “Jazz does not belong to one race or culture, but is a gift that America has given the world.” Jazz is a style of music that everyone knows and loves. It is a style that’s both smooth and sharp, a style that created words such as “cool” and “nice”. A style who has roots as old as time, and helps shape music we love and here today. Jazz draws form styles such as blues, folk, marches, ragtime. From contributors such as Scott Joplin, Charles “Buddy” Bolder, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong. To more modern contributors such as John Pizzarelli, Tom Waits and Elvis Costello. These are only a few modern Jazz performers who help shape the genre jazz we all love. But what is it about jazz that makes people like it and what are its origins. Jazz music has life and has evolved from slave folk songs and spirituals.

I learned my first instrument, the alto saxophone, in seventh grade while in my middle school band class. From the moment I learned the alto saxophone to the extent that is music theory, I fell in love with music. Since seventh grade, I have learned the alto and baritone saxophone, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, and music theory. Each instrument requires months upon years to master the techniques of playing. An aspiring musician can learn an instrument in a few months, but to be truly great, a musician spends decades learning. This may be intimidating at first, but the rewarding benefits of music are limitless. Every musician follows a similar step list to achieve his or her musician talent.

Throughout my life, I have been taken by music. However, it was not until my 8th grade year in middle school that I realized that I could be a musician for the rest of my life. Before that, music just seemed like something to keep me out of trouble. I wasn’t the best player at that time, and I still knew very little about it all. How could someone ever live off of something like that? By the end of my 8th grade year, I knew that I didn’t care. What I did know was that I wanted to be a musician until the day I died.

But Harvey and I shared something in common: Music. We were both students at Toledo School for the Arts, a private charter school in Toledo, OH where students grades 6-12 explored the arts together. Some students took theatre classes, some visual arts, and, like most of my friends, music. In many ways, music had already saved my life. In the 6th grade, I was stuck at a middle school I hated. I tried to make friends, tried to talk to teachers, but I failed in all of those. But I had one activity I couldn’t live with out: band. That is where I learned to play percussion. I learned to play drums, timpani, and a very annoying dingy set of bells, called a glockenspiel. My loving parents got ready early every morning so I could attend practice. Little did my parents and I know, this sacrifice would pay off for me.