College Admissions Essay: How Music Changed My Life

My eyes are closed. I can feel my heartbeat in my ears, beating in time to the bass drum. Is this a spiritual experience? I stand in the crowd, surrounded by hundred of people feeling the same vivid emotions as I do. The music is what connects me to these strangers. It’s the common thread running from my veins into theirs. We’re all having a life changing experience, right there in that small music venue. But for the band on stage, it’s just another night on tour, going through the motions, playing songs they wrote years ago. And yet, my heart is telling me one thing: This is what I want to be someday. I want to change people’s lives. I want influence the dreams of individuals everywhere, just like those musicians who have influenced my dreams.

I learned two instruments my Senior year. This experience has taught me that if you are truly committed to something, you can achieve it, even if you didn’t start young.

In the first grade, I picked up a clarinet. It was my sister’s, collecting dust while waiting for me to play it. From the moment I produced my first sound, an ear-piercing squeal that frightened my dog, the path of my life took a turn for the better. I began teaching myself for the following three years, along with learning from my sister how to properly play the beautiful instrument. The music pushed me out of my comfort zone: concerts that forced me onstage, tests that made me play difficult songs, and teachers that pushed me to be an exceptional player. From the shy elementary school student I used to be to the outgoing band member I take joy in being today, music has shaped my everyday life.

When words fail, music speaks. Music starts off as five lined, four spaced staff. The four spaces spell out the word face, F.A.C.E., which are the names of the notes. The five lines stand for: Every Good Boy Does Fine. Most people think an artist just write the words down, makes it rhyme and POOF!!, You have yourself some music. Although this is true, music has thousands upon thousands of creative steps you must take. There is a lot more to music, and a lot more I’m still learning though.

The summer of my freshman year I auditioned for the bassline at my high school, not knowing what to expect out of the year and without knowing any upperclassman. It was at one camp when I noticed our percussion tech started sending people home and switching people around on drums. Then at last there were four snares, two tenors and five basses. I made the line. I was on bass five, the biggest and heaviest, but I made it.

All of this contributed to me joining the marching band, beginning in eighth grade, which has taken over my life now, in the best way possible and given me a defined place. It’s nice to be a part of something like

Dance is one of the major things that defines my identity and it is an interest that had become so meaningful, that without it my application would be incomplete. This has been able to shape me throughout the years, from discipline and maturity all the way yo leadership and teamwork. I find dance as an art work, that it is easy to make mistakes and fall, you just have to learn from those mistakes and get up twice as strong as from where you started. Dance is to look above and beyond and just let everything fall into place without hesitation.

When I was younger, I loved to watch musicals on our small tv at home, especially The Sound of Music. I would sit for hours, watching it over and over. I learned all the songs by heart and would walk around the house singing “Doe a deer, a female deer” over and over until I was blue in the face. Finally, my parents took me out to see Hairspray on Broadway. Throughout the whole musical, I kept asking my parents where the music was coming from and after the show, they took me down to the pit to meet the orchestra. From that moment, I wanted to play one of those instruments. I realized that even though pit orchestra isn’t the most focused on the element even though it wouldn't be a musical without it.The music sets the mood, foreshadows and tells a

For a year, I danced to polka music every night. I was a preschool student at the time, and after a long day of coloring and napping, I would cut loose on the dance floor that was my living room. I would often put an expression of awe on our parents’ faces with the physical absurdities I was capable of. It felt as though every facet of my life as a toddler was brought together in these moments, and the music perfectly represented this phase of my childhood. I have since realized how powerful an effect music has on me, and how the music that I love always seems to define the stage in my life which it occupies.

Most days, my head reminds me of a snow globe. As I wake every morning, my thoughts get shaken up and gently rain down in my mind, condensing into full, solid ideas. Most days, I think up fantasies.

I sat and listened to the beautiful yet invigorating song being played on the piano. I reminisced about the future, when I would be able to play such a complex piece of music. Six years later I sat awaiting my turn to perform this piece of music I had so long dreamed about. I felt butterflies dancing in my stomach, but at the same time I felt a sense of peace and contentment. I played this song flawlessly and from that moment on, I knew that I wanted to use my knowledge and talent of playing the piano to change the world for the better. I desired to impact young, aspiring piano students just as the song that impacted my life so long ago. I long to do so by studying music in college and continue to teach piano.

“I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music.” This famous quote said by Billy Joel does a good job describing the way music can affect people. Different songs can impact people, change their moods, or bring back memories related to a certain tune. Each person, however, has their own unique taste in music; one song can be loved by one but hated by another, it all depends on our personal taste and what we can relate to. This made me wonder, what does the music I listen to say about myself? Do the lyrics define who I am as a person, or do I simply like songs because of the beat? As I looked at my top ten playlist,

Ever since I was a small child, I have loved music. The strong, steady beats, the

Music, it's a part of everyone's life. From childhood sing-a-long songs, to garage grunge music, and everything in between music is everywhere. Growing up with an extremely musical background it was in my genes that I would become a musician. Playing music has helped me become the person I am by being a release for my anger, broadening my future and make new friends..

So I started saving and betting on my educational results with friends and parents and after a hard work for two years, I was able to buy a guitar, keyboard piano and singing success program. I was