A Club for Musicians by Ashtyn

A Club for Musicians by Ashtyn - September 2019 Scholarship Essay

If I had the chance to implement a high school extracurricular activity, I would create a space for musicians or those interested in music. There are already many extracurricular activities that have to do with music- there is marching band, orchestra, symphonic band, among other things, but there should be a place where people who want to pursue music outside of school can come together and collaborate.
I have played an instrument for most of my middle school and high school career. I started out with the piano, and then I moved on to the guitar and bass. I have also been interested in playing instruments with other people outside of school. It has been hard to find people to play with, and to find time to play. Creating a club for multiple musicians to come together and talk about music, and to help and teach other people, would solve both of these issues.
Pursuing music outside of school should be something that schools endorse more than they already do. Playing an instrument can greatly benefit a student academically. When you are playing, both sides of your brain are activated, and that increases memory power. Musicians are more mentally alert. Studies have shown that the also have enhanced spatial reasoning and literacy skills.
Music can also help people emotionally. It is great at clearing up your mind when you are stressed. My instruments have been the only things over the years that have managed to tame the anxiety that has always ruled my brain. For many, music is their only friend; it is the only thing in this world that makes them feel like they are not alone. That is one thing that the club would accomplish- it would bring musicians together, and show them that they are not alone.
There is a negative stigma associated with playing instruments among many students, that it is something that are forced to do, that playing instruments is only for the easy band grade and that is it. Creating this extracurricular would encourage students to pursue music outside of school, it would help them converse with other students, and it would provide them with opportunities to play with other people that they wouldn’t have usually gotten. It would also help them academically and would give students skills that will benefit them well into their life. There are clubs for artists to come together, for those who like reading to come together, so there should be a club for amateur musicians who are playing outside of the academic curriculum to come together and converse about what they love.