A Passion For Music by Daniel

A Passion For Music by Daniel - June 2018 Scholarship Essay

A 10 year-old boy sits at the piano. As his fingers began to lazily meander on the keyboard, he began to think. He thought about the purpose of music. Does music merely entertain us, or does it hinder academic progress? Or does it somehow benefit academic progress? Should schools even require it as a class?
In spite of these doubts, this boy continues to pursue music. As he continues to pursue music, his grades in math and German improve. It seems as if science smiles upon him for “accidently” developing the left side of his brain. Not only does he experience academic improvement, he begins to develop an intensifying passion for music.
As his passion for music increases, he strives to improve his musical talent. He practices “those boring scales” with a new fervor. He practices his music more slowly to create the timbres that he desires. Interestingly, he begins to edit the essays he writes. He carefully analyzes them, scrutinizing for any grammatical misdemeanor. As his skills improved, he begins to see that music can be interpreted in many different ways.
He begins to experiment with music. He plays a certain piece faster or slower, meddles with rubato, and strikes the piano keys in different ways. This experimentation leads him to ask a question? Can I arrive at the same answer in math using a different approach? How can I change my essay writing style or interpretation? He begins to experiment with math and writing. Through this process, he learns that sometimes many correct processes exist in math and that many correct interpretations and styles exist in writing. He begins to solve problems with an open-minded approach.
As the years passed, he continues to improve in academics, strives to improve as an individual, and approaches life with a more open-minded approach. He is now 19 years old. As he contemplates on his past, he thinks, “Wouldn’t it be awesome if everyone can experience the development of intellect, the passion to improve, and the approach of open-mindedness through music? Why should we wait to incorporate music as a requirement into our curriculum?”