Music is so much more than what we hear on the radio. In fact, a good amount of the music out there today is crap. Synthesizers and techno beats, in my opinion, are NOT music. And it's not a display of talent. It just means that you have access to today's technology. Our generation seems to have lost track of REAL musical talent. There's a few good rock bands, don't get me wrong. But we have surely been robbed of jam bands. That's why so many of us listen to music that is older than we are! Sure, I enjoy some of today's music. But they don't have the talent of great bands such as Pink Floyd or Journey. Bands that you can blast and jump up and down on your bed playing the air guitar to. Or talents like Elton John and Billy Joel. I love to close my eyes, sing loudly, and play air piano to their songs. It's this kind of music that you can feel.
Recently, my boyfriend introduced me to the movie "August Rush." And I loved it! It's awesome that this little boy can hear any noise and turn it into a musical rythym. Music is something that touches your soul. Something you can feel inside of you. No matter how bad of a day that I have had, I can always put on music and heal myself. Which really makes me think about my own music days.
I was in the school band for a few years. I started playing the clarinet in the 6th grade. I took the class as am elective. Reading music and playing clarinet seemed to come so naturally to me. I started doing really well in band class. I always complained about practicing. I complained even MORE when my Mom put me in extra music lessons after school. Even though I didn't practice much, I still did better than many of my bandmates. In the 7th grade, I was placed into the 8th grade band, leaving several of my friends behind.
I continued band in high school. I was part of the marching band. We had a great teacher and a HUGE band. Even with all of these people on the field, our band was still great. We kicked ass at all of our competitions. We were super impressive. We worked hard everyday in class and several times a week at practice. Those days were some of the best days of my life. I fit in well with everyone. In fact, it was the only thing that I was ever good at. I was a pretty average student in regards to grades. But music-- I shined in the category... Unfortunately, the mind of a high school student revolves around social status. And on the social scene, band is NOT cool. Especially after American Pie came out and band camp was never looked upon the same way. So, being seventeen and dying to be popular, I gave up my passion to hang out with the "cool" kids.
That was one of the biggest mistake of my life. I tried to act like I didn't like it. I even tried convincing myself that I didn't like it. In reality, I just didn't like the fact that it was messing with my social status. Now, I barely talk to any of those people that I gave up music for. I have a LOT of regret for that. I mean, hell, I had FREE music lessons. All the way from learning to read music to advanced playing and marching. And my parents paid for my instruments and all of my extra material. All I had to do is learn and play. But I was "too cool" for it. How pathetic is that?!?
Lately, I've been getting the urge to start playing again. Since it's been about six years since I've picked my clarinet up, I'm basically starting from scratch. I don't even have a clarinet anymore. So I have decided to start saving and buy a new instrument. Cause now that I am less than two months shy of turning twenty-four, I realize that playing music is the only thing I was ever good at. I'm not a school super genius. I can't play sports. I can't cook. But I was damn good at playing clarinet. Maybe in a couple years I'll be good enough again to join a local adult band. But I will have to work on it a lot. Back to square one. My boyfriend better get ready to hear lots of squeaks coming from our bedroom. Cause it's definitely hard to avoid squeaking.
So the moral of my story is to follow your dreams. If you are good at something, stick with it. No matter what others think or say. Because if you do what I did, you'll wind up regretting it. Not only do I have go back track and start over, but I also missed out on opportunities to be an extremely advanced player. But, I can't regret my decision too much. It's too late now. For now, I will just make it a point to practice as much as I can. Once I start, I know that I will re-find the passion in me that is music.
I now know
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