As ninth grade approached, I received spontaneous inspiration to join the school orchestra as a violinist. My decision was challenged by critics, my musically talented sister and the media, who concluded the journey to become an adept string musician must begin in childhood, or be pursued by those who held musical experience. Throughout the summer, I aimed to master scales, practiced “Happy Birthday,” studied music books, and even watched “Learn Violin in One Hour!” on YouTube. Despite my efforts, I was far from prepared for my first day in the Milpitas orchestra. Monday, August 18th, over sixty trained students glided their bows over their strings, naturally hitting each note, while my fingers fumbled, strumming wrong notes as I struggled
Thursdays at Cal State L.A. seemed like any other typical day- warm, busy, and tiring. However, on December 2, 2015, something was particularly different; not only was it the last day of class before finals, but there was also a Mariachi concert directed by Cynthia Reifler Flores. As I was walking towards the State Playhouse, I thought about how the music would be composed. The first thing that I expected was the music to have a quick, upbeat tempo, something that would be played at a festival or a party. I walked through the screen door and was given a pamphlet. In it contained detailed information about their programs, musicians, Flores’ biography, and the prodigious mariachi group. After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, the doors
George Helmholtz, as the head of the music department at Lincoln High School, is very determined with his regular students and the gifted musicians of the band. Each semester and year at school he dreams of “leading as fine a band as there was on the face of the earth. And each year it came true”. His certainty that it was true was because he believed there was no greater dream than his. His students were just as confident and in response, they played their hearts out for them. Even the students with “no talent played on guts alone” for Helmholtz.
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
I have played an intrinsic role in my school’s band and orchestra department through helping organizing performances, teaching classes, and tutoring individuals. On a regular basis, I am responsible for directing and teaching classes including beginning band, with grades ranging from fourth to twelfth, and more advanced ensembles like concert band and marching band. I also play an important role in their performances sometimes by directing and other times by contacting venues to organize dates and times for the shows. I also dedicate time during the week to help beginning players
The Philharmonic Orchestra performed at Lindenwood University Friday March 3rd at 8 O’clock. The Orchestra was under the direction of Robert Hart Baker. I have never attended a live orchestra performance so it was eye-opening to listen to the beautiful sounds that arose from the array of instruments in the orchestra. There were about ninety members and more than half of the members were string players which consisted of a lot of violins, cellos, and basses. Behind the strings sat the brass and woodwind instruments which consisted of trumpets, trombones, tubas, clarinets, flutes and oboes to name several. The percussion section was aside the woodwinds and brass. A choir followed in the last piece played and were placed behind the wood winds and brass.
At only three years old, Ma learned to play the violin and viola. Under the direction of his father, Ma became a fluid violinist. Around the age of 5, he began to beg for a much larger instrument to play. Had he been left alone to select an instrument, he would have chosen to play the double bass. Of course, his parents knew the bass would be much too large for Ma to play, so he compromised, and decided upon a cello. It was very difficult for Ma’s parents to find a small enough cello for him to play upon, so Ma had to learn to play a viola with an endpin to simulate a cello.
The first time I picked up an instrument was at the age of 7 when I was in third grade. You can call it fate, luck, or my destiny but I was one of the three students that was able to join my elementary orchestra. Of course like any kid, I was afraid if had the ability to do such a thing. I mean it’s not every day you’re recruiting into the arts. I kept asking myself “can I do this? Will I fit in this group?” in other words can I be part of the classical music culture? It wasn’t till my first school concert where I had my first solo of “My Heart Will Go On” the love theme from Titanic that I was able to express the countless hours put into a 15 second solo. After that experience I never questioned if I belonged to the culture. Instead I focused on the next story I would tell on stage with the music score in
Music has always been an important part of my life. Upon entering the fifth grade, my parents bought me a flute, at my insistence. After moderate success playing the flute, I saw greener grass on the other side of the musical fence. Singing just had to be easier than making music with a long metal pipe. My perception and reality did not exactly match. Singing has its own subtleties and complexities which are not readily apparent to the casual observer. Abandoning the flute for singing, I began taking voice lessons in the tenth grade. My voice teacher was very experienced and encouraged me to pursue my interest in music beyond high school. After much deliberation, I decided to major in voice during college. This path would be fraught with unforeseen difficulties and exciting challenges.
As the dull scent of chalk dust mixes imperceptably with the drone of the teacher's monotone, I doodle in my tablet to stay awake. I notice vaguely that, despite my best efforts in the shower this morning after practice, I still smell like chlorine. I sigh and wonder why the school's administration requires the students to take a class that, if it were on the Internet, would delight Mirsky (creator of Mirsky's Worst of the Web), as yet another addition to his list of worthless sites. Still, there was hope that I would learn something that would make today's first class more than just forty-five wasted minutes... It wouldn't be the first time I learned something new from the least likely place.
I began taking violin lessons at the age of four and have since shared my music with others in many ways. I have been in the community orchestra at Jacksonville University and am in the first violin section of the University of North Florida's string ensemble. When I performed on violin for 4-H's Share the Fun event, I placed first at the county and district levels and second at the state level, and was later asked to play at the 4-H Foundation Dinner and two Volunteer Recognition Dinners. The most unusual playing job I have had was when I played for a sale at Rhode's Furniture!
Even with his newfound knowledge, school was still not interesting, and it was actually worse than it had been before. Now, along with his dislike of the teaching methods, his classmates disliked him for being somewhat of a loner, and because he was so much more intelligent than any of them. His lone passion outside of science was playing the violin, which he continued to do throughout his life. His love of the violin stemmed from his love of classical music, which his mother encouraged him to listen to. But because of his difficulties associating with his teachers and fellow students, he dropped out of school at the age...
No, Sam can’t sue Mary for breach of contract. Although the basic terms of price and property (the violin) had been contained in this case, the violin with price displayed is an invitation to treat, not an offer. Offer is defined as the expression of one person’s intention to others to have a legally binding agreement, so an offer must show the intention of the offeror (Mary) to make
I am pretty good at music theory literacy but I have not always been. Just like anything you have to learn how to do, you have to complete simple tasks before you are an expert. We are not all born with the ability to read music. The sad part is there are probably only six kids in the classroom now who can read music. The fact is that I used to hate music theory, I just wanted to sing in the choir and play in the band. The thing is that I have always asked too many questions.
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.
I feel proud to have grown up in a musical environment, as my grandfather was a professional musician who played in several professional symphony orchestras, my mother learned violin from my grandfather, then my older brother from her and then I did. On the other hand, my father is a former Fulbright Scholar with a DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) degree from the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. Although they have all have been a tremendous inspiration, it was my own will, passion and love for music that led me to pursue such career.