There’s a difference between liking music and appreciating it, and for a long time I thought I understood the difference. I really had no idea what it was like to fully appreciate music, to see how important it was in my life.
It was a couple weeks into my AP Music Theory class and our teacher decided to have us listen to music. He plugged his laptop into the speaker and pulled up an orchestral version of Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor. The piece is 15 minutes long. We were to sit there for 15 minutes, no talking, to horsing around, no “Mr. Ebersold can I go to the bathroom?” 15 minutes submersed in music. And so it started. It was different from when I usually listen to music. After a few minutes I actually started to think, well not so much think as remember. I remembered little things; some things I had no recollection of, but they were so vivid. They played out like a battle in my mind. They were quick and swift; a memory of my late grandfather would quickly be replaced by a single I hit in tee-ball. I could feel my eyes rapidly moving under their lids, like I was having a nightmare. Then a chair creaked and all the thoughts went away, leaving the darkness of my closed eyes. I opened them and looked around. It wasn’t until then when I noticed a wet streak running down my cheek. It was from that moment that I understood the power music had over my life.
Music has made such an impact on my life. Music has allowed my to open my mind. It has made me think, sometimes about things I don’t want to think about; about life and death, about religion, about politics, about my basic morals. It has brought me enjoyment. It has brought me to tears. Music has allowed me to define myself. It has allowed me be my own person. I don’t tend to follow suit with the music I listen to. I don’t listen to certain music because it is the most popular. Instead I express my own path by picking the music that means the most to me. Same thing in other situations, I don’t want to fall into the monotony of following. Music has taught me to lead my own path.
Music has also brought me friendships that will last forever. Seven years ago I attended Maine Summer Youth Music camp for the first time. After all these years I’ve built strong relationships that will last forever and increased my love for music; something that would’ve never happened if I hadn’t picked up that clarinet in the 5th grade.
Every string I’ve plucked or note that I’ve played has allowed me to open doors to new friends, adventures, and understandings to whom I really am. That’s why I will keep music in my life forever, so I can keep opening new opportunities with its melodies.
Evaluation:
Here it is, the 3rd of my three college essays. This is the essay I sent out with my college applications. I’ve never done more editing on one piece of writing. Even though there was technically three “final” drafts, there was one product. This piece of writing tested my editing skills and habits the most. I couldn’t count the amount of times I read this essay out loud. Editing every line until it was exactly what I wanted. I used a lot of peers in this whole process as well. My teachers, my parents, and my college advisers all helped in the process of writing this. Peer editing is an important and useful tool in the editing process. It brings me back to my last essay when said I can understand books better after I hear how other people interpret them. I can better understand my writing when I hear other people’s thoughts on it. The most important thing with this essay was keeping my voice through the whole thing. Keeping your voice while describing who you are is extremely important in this essay. Other than your grades and extracurriculars, this essay is the only way a college is going to know who you are. Time is a very important thing when writing and essay. Especially time to edit. As I’ve learned from the multiple college essays I’ve written, you need time for more than just one read through to edit your writing.
It was a couple weeks into my AP Music Theory class and our teacher decided to have us listen to music. He plugged his laptop into the speaker and pulled up an orchestral version of Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor. The piece is 15 minutes long. We were to sit there for 15 minutes, no talking, to horsing around, no “Mr. Ebersold can I go to the bathroom?” 15 minutes submersed in music. And so it started. It was different from when I usually listen to music. After a few minutes I actually started to think, well not so much think as remember. I remembered little things; some things I had no recollection of, but they were so vivid. They played out like a battle in my mind. They were quick and swift; a memory of my late grandfather would quickly be replaced by a single I hit in tee-ball. I could feel my eyes rapidly moving under their lids, like I was having a nightmare. Then a chair creaked and all the thoughts went away, leaving the darkness of my closed eyes. I opened them and looked around. It wasn’t until then when I noticed a wet streak running down my cheek. It was from that moment that I understood the power music had over my life.
Music has made such an impact on my life. Music has allowed my to open my mind. It has made me think, sometimes about things I don’t want to think about; about life and death, about religion, about politics, about my basic morals. It has brought me enjoyment. It has brought me to tears. Music has allowed me to define myself. It has allowed me be my own person. I don’t tend to follow suit with the music I listen to. I don’t listen to certain music because it is the most popular. Instead I express my own path by picking the music that means the most to me. Same thing in other situations, I don’t want to fall into the monotony of following. Music has taught me to lead my own path.
Music has also brought me friendships that will last forever. Seven years ago I attended Maine Summer Youth Music camp for the first time. After all these years I’ve built strong relationships that will last forever and increased my love for music; something that would’ve never happened if I hadn’t picked up that clarinet in the 5th grade.
Every string I’ve plucked or note that I’ve played has allowed me to open doors to new friends, adventures, and understandings to whom I really am. That’s why I will keep music in my life forever, so I can keep opening new opportunities with its melodies.
Evaluation:
Here it is, the 3rd of my three college essays. This is the essay I sent out with my college applications. I’ve never done more editing on one piece of writing. Even though there was technically three “final” drafts, there was one product. This piece of writing tested my editing skills and habits the most. I couldn’t count the amount of times I read this essay out loud. Editing every line until it was exactly what I wanted. I used a lot of peers in this whole process as well. My teachers, my parents, and my college advisers all helped in the process of writing this. Peer editing is an important and useful tool in the editing process. It brings me back to my last essay when said I can understand books better after I hear how other people interpret them. I can better understand my writing when I hear other people’s thoughts on it. The most important thing with this essay was keeping my voice through the whole thing. Keeping your voice while describing who you are is extremely important in this essay. Other than your grades and extracurriculars, this essay is the only way a college is going to know who you are. Time is a very important thing when writing and essay. Especially time to edit. As I’ve learned from the multiple college essays I’ve written, you need time for more than just one read through to edit your writing.