Ever since I can remember, music has always been an instrumental part of my life. I would say that I have been raised as a very musical individual. Personally, I would define a musical person as someone who either participates in the creation of music, or experiences music in a meaningful way.
One of the first places I experienced music was at church. When I was five years old we began attending church regularly, and one of the ways in which I joined the church community was by singing in the Cherub choir. I progressed well as part of a choir and learned performance techniques as well as an introduction to reading music. Choir taught me memorization skills, teamwork skills, and leadership skills. It also brought me some lifelong friendships. I participated in choir in various ways, from singing weekly for the congregation, to singing at nursing homes, to participating in Cantatas. When I was in grade five, I had the opportunity to join the Sun City Kids choir that was run out of my elementary school. This provided a great chance to work with new people, and exposed me to more secular choral music. While I only sang in this choir for a year, it was a great learning experience. I continued singing in church choir throughout elementary school and high school, and although I am not part of the adult choir, I still enjoy singing along from the congregation.
As soon as I entered grade six, I knew that I wanted to join band. The instruments were very alluring, and I considered myself to be a very well-rounded student who participated in all possible extracurriculars. I decided to learn to play the flute because it sounded soft and beautiful, and it was also what my best friend had decided to play. During this year I worked hard to learn how to play the flute, but was not very passionate about it. I would often skip band practice in favour of basketball or volleyball. The next year we were given the option to change instruments. At this time I chose to switch to the clarinet and was able to attend many more band practices. I also had a different teacher who taught clarinet, and I responded much better to her style of teaching. I continued with clarinet throughout the end of elementary school. My favourite part of participating in band was attending the year end competition at Canada’s Wonderland. In high school, I chose to take music class but did not have that class until the second semester. By this time, the band had already been formed so I did not participate in grade nine. In music class I felt like a true leader. I continued playing my clarinet with proficiency, and was often used for example or helped to teach the other students. I took a great deal of pride in playing my instrument and felt comfortable in my role as a leader within the group. In grade ten, I chose to again switch instruments and began to play the alto saxophone. I worked very hard to master the saxophone in the same way that I had mastered the clarinet. This was the first year that I had participated in the high school band, performing often and taking part in competitions. By grade eleven I was so in love with my instrument that I decided to take music more seriously and took two music courses. This year, my class did not have a tuba or really any low brass instruments. My music teacher asked me to learn to play the baritone saxophone and I nervously accepted her request. At first I was not happy with this change. Although I learned the specifics of the instrument easily, I did not feel comfortable playing the bass line when I was used to playing the melody. I felt as though I was being removed from the spotlight I was used to having as one of the stronger musicians. In reality, this change taught me a great deal about music and about the cooperation that is necessary to create a successful band sound. In the next semester I switched back to alto saxophone and was ultimately much happier. It was at this time that music lead me to one of the greatest experiences of my life so far - a trip to Bermuda.
One of the first places I experienced music was at church. When I was five years old we began attending church regularly, and one of the ways in which I joined the church community was by singing in the Cherub choir. I progressed well as part of a choir and learned performance techniques as well as an introduction to reading music. Choir taught me memorization skills, teamwork skills, and leadership skills. It also brought me some lifelong friendships. I participated in choir in various ways, from singing weekly for the congregation, to singing at nursing homes, to participating in Cantatas. When I was in grade five, I had the opportunity to join the Sun City Kids choir that was run out of my elementary school. This provided a great chance to work with new people, and exposed me to more secular choral music. While I only sang in this choir for a year, it was a great learning experience. I continued singing in church choir throughout elementary school and high school, and although I am not part of the adult choir, I still enjoy singing along from the congregation.
As soon as I entered grade six, I knew that I wanted to join band. The instruments were very alluring, and I considered myself to be a very well-rounded student who participated in all possible extracurriculars. I decided to learn to play the flute because it sounded soft and beautiful, and it was also what my best friend had decided to play. During this year I worked hard to learn how to play the flute, but was not very passionate about it. I would often skip band practice in favour of basketball or volleyball. The next year we were given the option to change instruments. At this time I chose to switch to the clarinet and was able to attend many more band practices. I also had a different teacher who taught clarinet, and I responded much better to her style of teaching. I continued with clarinet throughout the end of elementary school. My favourite part of participating in band was attending the year end competition at Canada’s Wonderland. In high school, I chose to take music class but did not have that class until the second semester. By this time, the band had already been formed so I did not participate in grade nine. In music class I felt like a true leader. I continued playing my clarinet with proficiency, and was often used for example or helped to teach the other students. I took a great deal of pride in playing my instrument and felt comfortable in my role as a leader within the group. In grade ten, I chose to again switch instruments and began to play the alto saxophone. I worked very hard to master the saxophone in the same way that I had mastered the clarinet. This was the first year that I had participated in the high school band, performing often and taking part in competitions. By grade eleven I was so in love with my instrument that I decided to take music more seriously and took two music courses. This year, my class did not have a tuba or really any low brass instruments. My music teacher asked me to learn to play the baritone saxophone and I nervously accepted her request. At first I was not happy with this change. Although I learned the specifics of the instrument easily, I did not feel comfortable playing the bass line when I was used to playing the melody. I felt as though I was being removed from the spotlight I was used to having as one of the stronger musicians. In reality, this change taught me a great deal about music and about the cooperation that is necessary to create a successful band sound. In the next semester I switched back to alto saxophone and was ultimately much happier. It was at this time that music lead me to one of the greatest experiences of my life so far - a trip to Bermuda.
I was fortunate enough to join about twenty of my classmates on a band trip in which we performed for other schools, performed in public places, and got to experience the beautiful island. On this trip I felt to be at the prime of my musical ability and was given a solo in one of our songs. In grade twelve I continued on with music taking two classes and participating in two bands. By this point music was part of my daily routine and part of my identity within the school.
Another way I first experienced music was in the form of radio. When I was very young I spent a lot of time with my dad who would listen to AM sport stations. One of my first memories of hearing music was on an occasion when I was driving in the car with my mom, who changed the station over to FM. From this moment on I was raised on classic rock music. I remember listening to AC/DC and other big rock bands, and until I went to highschool I did not listen to any contemporary music. In high school I spent much more time with my friends than my parents and began to take more of an interest in what my peers were listening to. At this time I began to listen to much more pop and hip hop music. These were also the main styles of music played at school dances which I enjoyed attending with my friends. I soon became very into popular music and because I was one of the first among my group of friends to have an iPod, I was often in charge of playing music at our sleepovers, or parties. I also took a ‘music leadership role’ at hockey in the dressing room. Before games it became important for us to listen to “pump up” music. Here music had the opportunity to directly affect our mental clarity, focus, and energy levels before taking to the ice. Ever since then I have been a great lover of playlists. I really enjoy creating a playlist based around a particular event, and seeing how the music that is played can affect the attitude and behaviour of the people who are listening to it. I also enjoy creating a playlist based upon a mood, and linking a song or lyrics to a particular human emotion. At this point in my life I did not have a prefered style of music, but I would often tell people “I like everything except for country.” My opinion on country music changed, however, when I had friends who listened to mostly country music. It was at this time when I realized that all genres of music are of value. I do not feel that music should be judged upon its genre, but as a stand alone piece of art.
My most memorable music teacher was my grade six teacher, Mr. McCallum. Although he did not teach us to play an instrument or to read musical notation, he still had a passion for music and is someone who I would consider to be musical. Instead of teaching us music theory, he instead taught us “100 Years of Recorded Music.” In this class we would listen to music from a different decade each week and we would analyze the music based on the instruments we could detect, the lyrics we heard, and other elements that a listener of music would take into consideration. While I may not have learned a lot about technical aspects of music, I did develop a greater appreciation and understanding of recorded music.
Another way I first experienced music was in the form of radio. When I was very young I spent a lot of time with my dad who would listen to AM sport stations. One of my first memories of hearing music was on an occasion when I was driving in the car with my mom, who changed the station over to FM. From this moment on I was raised on classic rock music. I remember listening to AC/DC and other big rock bands, and until I went to highschool I did not listen to any contemporary music. In high school I spent much more time with my friends than my parents and began to take more of an interest in what my peers were listening to. At this time I began to listen to much more pop and hip hop music. These were also the main styles of music played at school dances which I enjoyed attending with my friends. I soon became very into popular music and because I was one of the first among my group of friends to have an iPod, I was often in charge of playing music at our sleepovers, or parties. I also took a ‘music leadership role’ at hockey in the dressing room. Before games it became important for us to listen to “pump up” music. Here music had the opportunity to directly affect our mental clarity, focus, and energy levels before taking to the ice. Ever since then I have been a great lover of playlists. I really enjoy creating a playlist based around a particular event, and seeing how the music that is played can affect the attitude and behaviour of the people who are listening to it. I also enjoy creating a playlist based upon a mood, and linking a song or lyrics to a particular human emotion. At this point in my life I did not have a prefered style of music, but I would often tell people “I like everything except for country.” My opinion on country music changed, however, when I had friends who listened to mostly country music. It was at this time when I realized that all genres of music are of value. I do not feel that music should be judged upon its genre, but as a stand alone piece of art.
My most memorable music teacher was my grade six teacher, Mr. McCallum. Although he did not teach us to play an instrument or to read musical notation, he still had a passion for music and is someone who I would consider to be musical. Instead of teaching us music theory, he instead taught us “100 Years of Recorded Music.” In this class we would listen to music from a different decade each week and we would analyze the music based on the instruments we could detect, the lyrics we heard, and other elements that a listener of music would take into consideration. While I may not have learned a lot about technical aspects of music, I did develop a greater appreciation and understanding of recorded music.
Throughout my life, I have found that I have a great appreciation for live music. I have always enjoyed listening to bands play live as it is such a raw was to communicate the passion that one has for the instrument they are playing, or they lyrics they are singing. I attended my first major concert at the age of thirteen and saw the Jonas Brothers at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Since then I have seen over twenty-five major acts live in concert. I was even lucky enough to win a ticket to the Boots and Hearts music festival this past summer. Musical events have become one of my favourite sources of entertainment and I look forward to attending many more in the future. I also feel it is interesting that we attend different acts with different people in our lives. It is amazing the bond that music, and a mutual appreciation for the same performer or songs can create between two people.
Overall, I feel that I am heavily and consistently impacted by music each and every day. It was not until writing this reflection that I have fully come to the realization that music has been so interwoven into my life. Based on the variety of ways I have participated in the creation of music over the years, and in the many meaningful ways I choose to experience music in my life, I would continue to argue that I am indeed a very musical person.
Overall, I feel that I am heavily and consistently impacted by music each and every day. It was not until writing this reflection that I have fully come to the realization that music has been so interwoven into my life. Based on the variety of ways I have participated in the creation of music over the years, and in the many meaningful ways I choose to experience music in my life, I would continue to argue that I am indeed a very musical person.