In Harmony by Cheryl

In Harmony by Cheryl - June 2018 Scholarship Essay

I have been in band for seven years now. That’s almost half my life. Since entering high school, I’ve dealt with hard AP courses, stressful exams, and much more. But the one class I can always count on to take my mind off of things is band. Playing music requires a significant amount of concentration, but it also requires emotional investment and active listening, as well as working as a team. No matter what I’m dealing with, I can forget about it when I play music. I can also express how I’m feeling through my music, which is just as therapeutic as talking through my problems with someone. Band is a class where you don’t have to worry about your grades, and you can learn and have fun at the same time.
Even though not everyone is talented at music and not everyone likes playing instruments, they would probably still enjoy the feeling of playing in a group. Sure, not everyone wants to sit in a practice room and practice etudes with a metronome, but playing in an ensemble is a unique experience that you won’t understand until you experience.
Another concern could be a lack of instruments, but if everyone really did join band, our school could partner with local music stores and work out a rental system so that everyone could have an instrument to play for at least a year.
To put it dramatically, if there’s one class that has changed my life forever, it’s band. I’ve made the most friends, and it’s opened up the most opportunities for me. As a music teacher myself, nothing makes me happier than spreading my love of music and seeing it help others.