How Music Changed My Life

Sheyanne Hughes

Professor Sonia Begert

English 101

26 January 2014

How Music Changed My Life

Music is something that is hard to explain through words. It's something that is explained through instruments; piano, guitar, trumpet, drums, vocals, etc. All are such powerful ways to express one’s self through something other than talking. The way I express myself through music is singing. Singing is something that has always been a part of my life. Ever since I was a small child I would always be singing, even if it wasn't very good, I loved it. As I grew older, I decided to finally take my singing to the next step, choir. 

I joined choir in 6th grade and have continued on with it ever since. Choir is something that people, usually in high school, join for an easy 'A' which, it can be, but when I joined the high school choir, my whole perspective of choir changed. There were auditioned choirs and non-auditioned choirs. Starting out as a freshman, of course I would have to work my way up so I started in a non-auditioned choir. When it came to the auditioned choirs, they were like super heroes to the freshman. They were upper-class men, they knew how to sing, and you could just tell they were happy to be there. It was everyone's, well the try-hard students, dream to be in the auditioned choirs. My dream was to be in Northern Lights, and did I have a ways to go. Northern Lights was an all woman's group. They sang classical songs as well as Jazz. Then there's Jazz Choir which is a mix of men and woman, then there's Chamber Choir. Chamber Choir only sings classical, is a mix of men and woman, and is the top choir. If you were to make it into Northern Lights or Jazz Choir, you would automatically be put into Chamber. With the desire in my heart to be in an auditioned choir, I decided to practice until I made it. 

As a freshman, I knew I wasn't advanced enough to be in any of those choirs, yet I decided that if I wanted to be in an auditioned choir, I had to work hard. Unfortunately, I didn't have time for a vocal coach since I had too much on my plate, but I practiced myself. I would practice at home, increasing my vocal range and training my ear. My hard work paid off when I had finally gotten into Chamber Choir and Northern Lights my junior year. I was so honored to have made it into the top choirs. Northern Lights especially was a small group of girls, ranging from about 15-20 students. Many audition for these choirs, but only a few are selected to be in them. 

One of the most important lessons music taught me was to always go for something I wanted because if I didn't, I would regret it. This being said, in choir we have solos we audition for. Although in my previous years, such as my freshman through junior year, solos were always nerve wrecking to me. Even as a senior they still scared me. Yet, I was determined my senior year to try out for every solo. I wanted to push myself and to not be afraid to put myself out there, especially when it was a solo that I really wanted.  Of course, getting every solo isn't fair, but I did get my fair shares of solos throughout high school. I even auditioned to sing at every fundraiser we had and sang at all of them my junior and senior year. Sometimes, the nerves really get to you, especially when you're listening to the person before you. It really gets to you when all these thoughts fill your head thinking you're going to mess up, or your voice is going to crack, or even that you'll trip going up the stairs getting on the stage. Of course, none of these things ever happened, but nerves are something that always got to me. 

This being said, there was one contest in particular that made my nerves go off the radar my senior year, Solo and Ensemble. It's a contest where choirs from around the district register to sing either a solo, or a group, and compete to go to state and sing. If you make it to state, you compete again to possibly win best in the state. I entered the contest as a mezzo soprano, with a solo. Seeing as this was my senior year, I really wanted to win something, even though I knew I probably wouldn't. Most people who win, or become an alternate, are under the instruction of a vocal coach, seeing as I didn't have one, I knew I'd have to do the majority of the work myself. I picked my own music, and practiced months in advance before the contest. The song I chose was "Silent Noon" by Raulph Vaughan Williams. It is such a beautiful piece, that I knew it was perfect, and of course, my teacher fully supported me and found the sheet music for me. After receiving the sheet music, I would practice for hours a day trying to perfect my tone, sound, and vowels. Of course, every now and then I'd get some help from my choir teacher, but she was so busy helping other students that I basically did all the practicing myself. Thank goodness for my choir teacher who puts on a concert for those participating in the concert. She does this about a week before the contest so that we competing can get most of our nerves out. Even singing in front of my peers I was still nervous, yet my teacher pushed me to do it, believing in me. 

And maybe you're asking, "Well if you're so nervous then why even do it?" The answer to that question is because I love it. I love singing and that amazing feeling you get when you're done, the adrenaline, is all worth it. You just get this feeling of accomplishment. Nothing can ever compare to that feeling. When it was my turn to go up and sing my song, I got so nervous, that when I was introducing the song I sang, I said "Silent Nude" instead of "Silent Noon." It was pretty embarrassing, but the audience all laughed with me, it actually even helped to calm my nerves. 

Yet on the day of the contest, I was still very nervous. When it came time to sing for the judge, I was insanely nervous. I got in front of her, my heart beating out of my chest. All I would tell myself was to breath, smile, and make eye contact with the judge. The piano intro started playing, I started shaking, but as I opened my mouth to sing, I felt something strange inside of me. A complete calmness washed over me. I felt the song through my bones and did my best to sing that song to the best of my ability, just how I practiced. When I finished the song and the piano finished playing, I felt such an amazing feeling of accomplishment and happiness. I had worked so hard for that moment, and to know I was completely happy with my performance made that moment such an incredible one that I'll never forget. It took a while for the results to come up but when they did, I wanted to scream. I had gotten first alternate for mezzo soprano. I hadn't expected to win anything, since I wasn't taking voice lessons, but I at least wanted to try for it. Without music, I would of never fully understood how it felt to be rewarded tremendously for all the hours of hard work you put into something you want to achieve. 

Although I may get anxiety when it comes to singing alone, it is something fun to me. That feeling of anxiety before I sing in front of people is just an obstacle that's in my way. In fact, I felt so good about singing in front of people, that when I sang a solo at my graduation, I wasn't scared at all, I was actually really excited! Everyone gets nerves, but it takes a lot of perseverance to move past them. 

Being a part of music, especially at a young age, is an unforgettable experience. Music is something that will remain in my life forever and is something I will never give up. It taught me to work hard and to never be afraid to go after what I want.