“First Chair” I played the flute for six years, 5th grade through sophomore year in High school. Playing the flute was something that I enjoyed the most but I wasn’t so good at it. Even though my parents couldn’t afford a real flute, I have always rented the flute at a music store for that 6 years. In band, being the first-chair meant everything. Meant that you were the best or the best in your instrument ensemble. I, on the other-hand has always been last chair ever since middle school, the very last seat. Even during concerts, I was at the very end by the wall and was hardly noticed. It lead to depression because I practiced and practiced so hard yet, I was last. But freshmen year of high school, it challenged and affected my flute experience greatly. I was given the opportunity to become first chair through an …show more content…
The fighting to become first-chair have challenged and taught me a lot about myself. I thought that I was never good enough, but I worked so hard and practiced so hard that I was able to received first chair. I was on the verge of giving up but my experience becoming first seat also taught me that if you want to be the best it takes time and patient. I realize that you will not achieve or be successful at something until you really set your mind into it hard enough and work hard for it. “The Effort” Me and my dad hasn’t always see things straight. I grew up with only brothers and I knew my dad favors them more over me. I have always though that in a way, my dad didn’t love me the way I see how he does for my brothers. When it comes to my brothers, he will shop clothes for them and or giving them more allowance. When it comes to going out, my dad would rather take the boys and have my mom take me. I was a tom boy and so being a daddy’s girl meant everything for me but for him, he didn’t exactly care. Culturally, my dad doesn’t really show and say he
We were all friends to begin with, no bragging about who was the best instrument section in our band, just a friendly group of kids ready to play. My band teacher was one of the funniest teachers I had. It had been a few years of constant playing, to meet him. One by one, we would have yet another song to add to our Rehearsal. We would do theory day some practices.
Where I learned how to become a leader through the leadership ensemble within the marching band. Where in my senior and fourth year of marching competitively, I became the Drum Major, and earned the Best Drum Major Award at the Roxbury Marching Band Classic Competition. From marching band I progressed into jazz music, where I became the lead alto saxophonist in the top jazz band at my school during my junior and senior year. I was also one of three saxophonists in the top band at my school. I picked up the clarinet, the flute, and the soprano saxophone on my way through high school, and have played all three as well in my performing ensembles. I played in the pit orchestra of the theater production of “All Shook Up”, and was the principal saxophonist at my high school. Too be short, I am very involved in all things music in the past and currently. Band and music have been a place for me to rely on, something that brings me joy when sad. Allows me to express myself through sounds and through instruments. It is truly a talent and a hobby that I hope to continue through college and through life because of the joy it brought me and creative outlet it was throughout my
My father still communicated but it was never the same. I was forced to grow up without that father figure in my life. I was never able to attend a father daughter dance or even seen my dad at one of my many extracurricular events. As I got older the foundation of how I was raised was still intact. I started to be known as a disrespectful child. Not because I was actually disrespectful but because I did not change myself to fit in with the other people. Being in a small town most of your teachers knew each other so they would talk and that gave me that reputation. I started to defend myself when I felt I was being mistreated or singled out. I still did not say yes ma’am, no ma’am, yes sir, or no sir. The older I got the more I realized why that was such an issue. I was raised by a northerner but I lived in the south. During slavery days if you didn’t answer your master in that way it was sought out that you were disrespectful. That certain subject has been carried on throughout the south for many years. I begin to understand that fully and I found other ways to answer and say things so no one would consider me
Music has always been one of things I excelled in. In elementary school it was required to be in music but second in 5th grade you have the option to be in band. I was in band for 6 years before I stopped and I went to 5 honor bands. I played tenor saxophone and was 2nd chair all six years. Jazz band was something we had in middle school and high school. We had 2 jazz bands in middle school. Jazz one was for 8th graders and jazz two was 7th grade. I played in both. My first year I played tenor 1 and 2 and the second year I played baritone saxophone. My 9th grade year I played only tenor one. We didn’t have to audition but the students who plays that instrument normally would have first say in who gets 1st, 2nd and sometimes 3rd part. That
My father stated that he didn’t know how to do hair, but he learned through trial and error. My dad did burn the ends of my hair one time while trying to curl it, but I lived. My father told me that he never thought about how much he would have to go to the store to buy our famine products for us and never knew how much we needed it because my mother did all of that. My father stated that he was able to see how much my mother did that he didn’t realize every day for us. Yes, my father has always been in the picture, but he left all the “girly stuff” for my mother to handle with us. My father stated that he didn’t realize how much my mother did and it made him more appreciative in the
After this point, I begged my father for an instrument. Now I don’t know about you but when I was in middle school we were forced to learn how to play the recorder. As a small socially awkward person, I really grew to enjoy playing it, so naturally, I picked up the clarinet.
I learned that you have to work hard to complete your goals. I continued this determination all the way through middle and high school. When I joined band in 6th grade, I practiced my flute at least 30 minutes a day at home. I eventually started to see incredible improvement in my playing ability. My everday hard work led me to be part of life-changing groups.
When I was a Child, I have never stopped wondering what it would be to fly in the sky. I had tried to jump from sofa or bed with an opened umbrella in my hand，and imagined myself as a flying bird. As I grow up, those wonderful fantasy become faded in my brain. I still like flying, and I had experience something like helicopter tour, but never a real fly. I always have the thoughts to explore life, to experience
When a music program at my elementary school was offered to fifth graders, I decided to join the program. I chose the violin as it was a beautiful sounding instrument that I heard most often in Broadway musicals. The violin was also one of the most challenging instruments to play. Within the first few months, some of my classmates quit the music program out of frustration of playing such a difficult
Although I loved playing the piano, I also began to play violin when I was around nine years old. About a year later, I tried out for the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) and I made it! MYSO was a great experience, but I quit it after about two years because it just wasn’t for me. I remained in my school orchestra and attended other music-related events, such as recitals and our annual Solo & Ensemble festivals. I also began private lesson where I could focus more on playing as a soloist.
From the beginning, I learned how to play the flute basics much faster than all of my classmates, and the music came easy to me. Continuing into middle school, I was first chair all three years. The music still came naturally to me, and rigorous practicing was never necessary. When I got to high school, I was immediately placed in the first chair in the Freshman concert band. That year I proved myself as a top player with my audition for Junior Districts. I received the highest score out of everyone, making me the top flute
Down the road, for my last “show and tell” I played a song I had memorized two years before, I had no nerves this time. I knew my song by heart this time around. I had played solos for large crowds, for judges, and for my family, the people I wished to be proud of me more than anyone else. When I pick up a flute, following the rhythms feels natural, taking it high and low is instinctual. I haven’t just learned music, I have learned from
Of all the instruments laid out on display, only one caught my attention. I was thirteen at the time, and naturally, my eye was drawn to the shiniest of the group. I had never heard the sound of a flute before, aside from the cheap imitation of one on my family’s electronic keyboard. Nevertheless, I picked the pretty, gleaming, easy-to-carry flute on that first day of band class. Three years later, I can’t imagine playing anything else. What started off as blind luck and an attraction to shiny objects is now a part of my life. Playing an instrument is always a worthwhile investment; you develop a skill that many people only wish they had, you have opportunities to meet other musicians, and you may even get to travel in a band setting. But in order to reap the benefits, you first have to learn how to play.
My father has influenced my life in several ways, for staying in my life he has taught me about priorities and responsibilities. When my dad tells me things he does it in a unpleasant voice, he claims that’s just the way he talks but I
However I did not have a big problem being in that class, the only issue was there were no instrument like a keyboard piano. The instrument that I picked was the brass flute since it looked easy to learn. As I continued to practice playing the flute in my Beginning Band class and rehearse after school, I mastered to which keys to press and how to blow properly in the riser. To be able to play at a slow tempo, regular tempo, and swift tempo. As matter of fact, I also learned to work well and play all together with my classmates and my flute partner, Robbie Lee. From being in this class, My Beginning Band has taught me skills of playing an instrument besides a keyboard piano and gave me more knowledge about music. Somehow being in that class, it inspired me to teach myself to sing well and show people that I do not just draw, but that I know how to sing and