The bridge to the music I love by Lizzy

The bridge to the music I love by Lizzy - December 2024 Scholarship Essay

When I first began studying music theory and taking voice lessons, I encountered a profound academic challenge that tested my abilities in ways I had never experienced before. Until then, my musical journey had been largely self-taught. I learned songs by ear, developed my own sense of timing and pitch, and instinctively understood how melodies fit together. Music was something I felt in my bones, something intuitive. But when I stepped into the world of formal music education, everything changed.

The shift from learning music by ear to understanding its technicalities was both exciting and overwhelming. For the first time, I was asked to analyze music on a much deeper level— to understand scales, chords, intervals, and the structure of harmony in ways I had never thought about before. My natural ability to pick up melodies felt disconnected from the theoretical concepts that were now being drilled into me. I often struggled to apply what I had learned in theory to the songs I had memorized. The terms and symbols on the page, once foreign to me, felt like a barrier rather than a bridge to the music I loved.

Voice lessons, too, were a huge adjustment. While I had always sung instinctively, I had never considered the technical aspects of my voice. In the beginning, my teacher’s instructions about breath control, posture, and vocal placement felt mechanical and unnatural. For years, I had relied on my gut feeling when I sang, but now, I had to break down each note and phrase, understanding the anatomy and science behind every sound. It was frustrating to realize that singing wasn’t just about producing sound; it was about mastering technique. I found myself struggling to control my breath, produce a clean tone, and match pitch with the precision expected of a trained singer.

This combination of theory and technical challenges was humbling. I had built my identity around being a “natural” musician—someone who could pick up a song and play it or sing it without much effort. Suddenly, I was faced with the reality that there was much more to music than my intuitive understanding. For the first time, I had to learn the language of music in a systematic, methodical way. I had to let go of the idea that I could continue relying solely on instinct and embrace the structured, often painstaking process of mastering the technical side of music.

At times, I felt disheartened. I would compare myself to others who seemed to grasp theory and technique with ease, while I struggled to connect the dots. However, over time, I began to see the value in this academic challenge. Learning theory gave me the tools to understand why certain progressions in music evoke specific emotions. Voice lessons taught me how to care for my instrument and use it to its full potential, something I had never considered before. Gradually, I learned how to marry my natural musicality with the technical aspects of voice and theory.

Through persistence, patience, and the occasional breakthrough moment, I began to grow. The combination of formal training and my self-taught background began to complement each other. Music was no longer just a personal experience but an intellectual and emotional exploration, as well. The technical side of music transformed from something intimidating to something that empowered me to express myself more fully and thoughtfully. This journey has been one of both frustration and triumph, but ultimately, it has taught me the importance of perseverance and the power of learning something new, even when it feels difficult.