DON'T TELL ME!!

If you are a musician, you know that waiting for audition results can be very stressful. The results bring joy to some and cause sadness for others. Results are something you want to find out on your own, not by being told from someone else-who isn't even in your section.

Tonight I came out of a meeting to look up the results from my auditions, and before I could even look-some kid was telling me how I did while I was telling him that I wanted to find out myself..Well, some of you may know what it's like if you make me very angry-and that is what this person did. For those who were there and heard me raise my voice at the individual-I apologize...but something needed to be said to the individual. What he/she was doing was not right, and I'm sure it upset more people than myself. Luckily my results were in my favor, but what if they wouldn't have been and this kid told me..how would he/she like it if that happened to them? I would assume he/she wouldn't like it--so why would they do it to me?!

Why the trumpet? Why music?

A lot of people ask what made me want to play the trumpet or why I have chosen to study music in college. To be honest, there isn't a simple answer. 

Growing up in a musical family, music was always a part of my life. You always went to hear dad play, whether it was with the QPB, QSOA, or him filling in with another group. Some may not know, but my mom can play the piano, so music is truly a family affair.

Many people have that concert they went to or the recording they had that made them want to play a certain instrument..but I truly don't remember having something like that that made me want to play the trumpet. I kind of remember always liking the sound of brass instruments the best, but didn't think anything about it.  

One memory I have is when I was able to go hear the QSO during their Young Peoples concerts..I can remember one year sitting in the front row with all of my classmates when my dad came down to talk to me, and then all of the brass section was waving at me-yes, I felt special. At those concerts, they always picked a few kids to come on stage for a song..I remember my dad asking who I would sit by if I was ever chosen, and I was always like "I have no clue-but probably somebody in the brass." 

So when I was in fifth grade I chose to play the trumpet and began taking lessons as well as playing in PMO band. I immediately fell in love with the trumpet, and obviously never looked back. But why the trumpet? I have no clue-my dad said you should try the trumpet-so I said okay. Later I realized that it was kind of a family tradition, too, because my great grandpa had played the trumpet along with my grandma and great aunt. 

So that answers the question of why the trumpet(sort of)..but why study music? Well, that's hard to answer-because there are so many responses I could give. And in my opinion, the two questions go hand in hand. A lot of people have that one band director and/or private teacher they give credit to-but I would have to give credit to more than just my private instructors and band directors. So many people in my life are involved in music, and each one has helped me on my journey of continuing to study music in college. Since I began playing in the QPB after my freshman year of high school, I have gotten to know and become friends with the many musicians I grew up watching each summer. And I would say the same to everyone in the QSO, especially the wind and percussion players(both past and present). Each of these musicians have reinforced the many things I was taught from my private teachers and band directors. But without my private teachers, there is no way I would be where I am today. I am very blessed that I had two wonderful trumpet teachers before going to college-one during grade school and the other during high school. Each of them taught me not only about music and the trumpet, but also about life. My parents have always been supportive of my music journey, as well. Without all of these people, I wouldn't be studying music today. Many of these people are more than just my peers, they are practically family. My trumpet teachers, band directors, and all of my fellow musicians who are band directors and private lesson teachers are what have inspired me to study music in college. 

As I was traveling in the car today, I was listening to one of my favorite CDs- Alternate Voices(Dr. Greg Jones).  When Nightsongs came on, I began thinking about these two questions, which led to me writing this post.

As I am about to begin my sophomore year at WIU, I would just like to say thank you to all of my former, current, and future music teachers and mentors for all of the support, encouragement, and inspiration!

(If you want to know about why I'm studying music therapy, check out the post entitled "What are you going to do with THAT degree?)