Making Music

When I grew up, I did a lot of different things, and I was pretty much willing to try anything that caught my interest. In middle school, I had stints playing tennis, soccer, and basketball. I took drawing and painting lessons. In more searching for something I liked, I tried inline skating, roller skating, and ice skating. There’s not a ton I stuck with, but something that I haven’t given up since I tried it was learning to play an instrument.

I picked up the violin in fourth grade, why, I’m not totally sure I remember. Maybe I just wanted to be in orchestra. I probably thought it looked cool. It’s still clear why I picked the violin, though. It seemed to me the most versatile (just judging from all the solo pieces violinists had) and also it was the lightest. I didn’t want to carry around a heavy instrument. In hindsight I kind of wish I had picked up the cello, because I’m more drawn to its sound. But it’s not like I’m unhappy I know how to play the violin.

It’s just so cool to be able to make music. I’ve always loved listening to the expression of people’s creativity. I visited the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, and they had some amazing exhibits that had demonstrations of the instruments from around the world. Music is the voice of the soul, a language that speaks to everyone. I really love playing in an ensemble and making music with other people.

Preceding college, I played in orchestra, sang in chorus, and marched in marching band. Entering Northeastern, I decided to join pep band and chose the flute. I didn’t join NUSO because I hadn’t brought my violin to college with me. It’s kind of wild that I’ve been playing flute for two years now.