<p>Hey there. So I kind of wrote one part of this before I had rehearsal/concert this morning and I've just stated to write the second half now. And I've made up my mind.</p>
<p>School: JHU (aka no core courses required).</p>
<p>Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology
Minor: Music</p>
<p>I'm currently 16 and I've played the violin since I was 4 years old. I kind of have a love-hate relationship right now because I was forced to keep on playing in my school orchestras up until grade 9. As you can probably tell, I started to tremendously dislike the violin and I grew sick of it.
Spring of Gr. 9, my band teacher said that they needed double bass players, and I knew my mom would force me to do music in one way or another so I volunteered (anything to stop playing the violin).</p>
<p>I stated off not liking it that much. But as time went on, I started to enjoy the unique voice it had, the trembles of the strings, the low octaves, and everything else in between. I started to audition into a bunch of different orchestras--in which I made it for all of them. Soon, I had joined my hometown's greatest youth orchestras. And that's where I met my teacher.</p>
<p>Needless to say, he's a really inspiring and modest bass player and you know, even if I hated the violin, music has become such an important part of my life, I don't think I'll be able to give it up. JHU has the perfect minor program too, so I really want to take it.</p>
<p>I just came back from playing a concert with my teacher (we're both principal bassists) which was a great honour since it's hard to be exactly matched with your teacher (if he's first stand and you're sixth, you'll never get a chance to play with him), but it was awesome because we were the (vocally) loudest people in the theatre and our solos were pretty awesome.</p>
<p>I know it's too early to say for now, but do you think if I chose music as a minor I could do it? I really, really love playing this instrument. I don't think I've ever enjoyed music as much as I have now and this past year has been a blast (7 different orchestras!). My supplementary essays for JHU also revolves a lot around music, since that and volunteering is pretty much my EC's (along with 2 sports but that's another story).</p>
<p>I've never been certified. I've never touched theory. I can barely read the bass clef but learning it shouldn't take too long and I have brilliant (almost perfect pitch ears)(which is how I survived the past year). I love working as part of a team. I can't sit 6 hours a day with my bass but I certainly can for 2-3 hours. I'm interested in the history of music. Soloing not so much because I've had bad experiences with the violin but I can get over it with a bit of practice. The only major solo piece I've played is Lieutenant Kije but I'm starting to work on the Bach Cello Suites (my teacher's teacher taught it to my teacher and now my teacher's teaching it to me!)</p>
<p>So. I've got heart to do it. The question is, is this enough? Or should I give up because I haven't gotten certified for anything yet?</p>
<p>Thanks.</p>