Staff Member Describes Impact of Music on Life

When I was eight, I asked my mom if I could start playing the cello. It could have been because I had seen my older cousin playing it over Christmas, or just because it looked cool; I honestly don’t remember. But here I am nine years later, still playing in the school orchestra––now, on upright bass. At the age of 17, there are relatively few things that have been a constant in my life for almost a decade, but playing a musical instrument is one thing that has. However, I didn’t really appreciate or even acknowledge the role that music holds in my life until recently.

As a kid, I had never been very good at practicing, mostly due to the fact that playing an instrument came relatively easy to me, and I could usually get by with minimal effort. In my mind, the idea of playing every day was right up there with making my bed and washing the dishes.

However, each day of practice, although I despised it at the time, chipped away at this negative mindset about playing that I had. By high school, the word practice no longer sent chills up my spine, but this was partly due to the fact that I rarely had to practice. My parents were passed the point of monitoring my habits, and with the busyness of school, swimming and volunteering, I usually opted for free time instead.

Fast-forward to the beginning of junior year. By then, I was no longer taking private lessons, so my bass playing basically consisted of 90 minutes in orchestra class every other day.

As a junior, I was under more stress than I had ever dealt with. One day, needing a break between my history essay and my chemistry lab, I decided to pick up my bass rather than resorting to the usual hour-long Facebook fest. What started out as a few minutes of jamming out to “Sunshine of Your Love” turned into an hour of improvised runs and jazz tunes, and I hadn’t even realized as the time flew by. For the first time, I actually enjoyed playing the bass.

This hour took me away from the stress of normal life and let me just enjoy myself without the thought of tests, swim practices or deadlines. It was better than any feeling my iPod could provide.

For the next couple weeks, when I felt like a million things were rushing around my mind, I would pick up my bass and forget about it all.

For the first time in my life, orchestra became one of my favorite classes at school, and as I look back, I see how much it has brought me.

For one thing, orchestra has allowed me to meet so many interesting and quirky people who I wouldn’t otherwise have gotten to know: it is a place where you can be yourself and not worry about what anyone thinks.

The experiences that orchestra has brought me will always stick out in my mind as highlights in my journey of being a musician. I have had the honor of making state orchestra the past two years, which comes with a three-day workshop in Wichita where you meet great musicians from all around Kansas. Being at state showed me how much time and effort some people put into their instrument, and how talented they are because of it. There aren’t many places where a high school student would have the opportunity to play Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique with other high schoolers and have it sound decent, but at state our final concert was not just decent; it was incredible.

Playing the bass has helped me work through some tough things this year by helping me express myself and put my emotions, good or bad, toward something that will have a positive effect on my life. I know that whenever I am overwhelmed, my bass will always be there, no matter how bad a mood I am in.

Although I never would have thought so at the beginning of my high school career, playing bass and being involved in orchestra have become important parts of my life. I hope to continue playing bass in the future, not just in college but as an adult as well. I know that no matter what age I may be, there will always be things in my life that are hard to deal with, and I take comfort in the fact that whether I’m happy or sad, young or old, alone or surrounded by people, I will always be able to pick up my bass, forget about the world and just play.