The Beauty In Music by Taylor

The Beauty In Music by Taylor - December 2016 Scholarship Essay

If there is one thing that every culture has in common, it would be music. Music is something that has no rules; if you want to throw a bunch of rocks at the ground or make random sounds and call it music, than that's what it is, music. There is no rulebook that says that the only way something could be classified as music is if it sounds beautiful, because something’s beauty is defined by every person differently. I have been in love with music since I was very young, whether I was playing the piano or organ with my grandma or any other instrument I could get my little hands on. As I grew older, I started to understand how different instruments worked and what unique traits they each had. I eagerly awaited the day in fifth grade when we could finally join band and make music. Since that day I have been hooked on band class and anything to do with band. One such thing I have always been intrigued by is conducting and how it exactly works. Then one day I got the chance to find out and accomplish one of my life goals.
Our band’s drum major was graduating, and my band teacher was having auditions for the next assistant drum major. I really wanted to try out, but never thought I could actually do it. Thankfully, my parents and friends constantly reminded me that I'd never know unless I tried. So I did, and much to my surprise, after countless hours of practice, I came into the band room one day to see my name up on the board. I was the new assistant drum major. Over the next few months I practiced and continually got better and better. Flash forward to the next year, now I am the drum major with a lot more responsibility than the year before, but I knew I could handle it. A few weeks later my band teacher informed us she was pregnant and would be leaving us for maternity leave. Of course we are all excited and happy for her; however, that’s when I realized, I just gained more responsibility than I originally thought I had. This would mean I would be in charge of our pep band and would have to learn how to conduct all of those songs, help the substitute, and much more. Yet, I still knew I could do it, and so far it's been going pretty well.
Becoming drum major is one of my proudest accomplishments in school and in life, because it has taught me about responsibility. There is a whole band counting on me to be there and to lead them when the substitute can't. They are all depending on me to be at every pep band so they can play. If I'm not there, I have not only let myself down, but everyone of my classmates. Along with learning responsibility, I have gained more confidence and friends. Before becoming drum major I was just one of the random kids who was in band to play what I needed to and that was that. But since becoming drum major, I have come out of my shell and have became closer with all of them. We really are more like a family than classmates. We all have each others’ backs; if we need help, at least one of them will always be there. I have no problem getting in front of the class and conducting them anymore; I'd do it in a heartbeat. Everything I had had problems with before either went away or has become easier.
Music has changed my life in a way that almost nothing else could have. Had I not tried out to become drum major, who knows how long it would have taken me to leave my comfort zone. Since then I have not only gained confidence, but I have also gained friends, and more importantly a family, who I can turn to whenever I need. Music is something I will be a part of for the rest of my life, long after I graduate high school. If music did not exist, my life would not be what it is now, and I’m forever grateful for the person who first made music.