This essay is hopefully better than the karate one I did earlier, as well as having a more distinct voice. The topic was pick a person(s) and describe what influence they’ve had on you. I chose my mom and dad because they both were concert pianists.
critique is welcome, of course!
Looking up at my clock with a tired groan, I knew that trying to go back to sleep was hopeless. Just a minute ago, I, like most teenagers, was sleeping. With little to no warning, I was thrown out of my slumber by a flurry of musical notes. Most people would be startled by waking up to such a racket, but it is a regular occurrence for me; both of my parents are former concert pianists. This constant bombardment of C sharps and D flats has been an influence on my life since I took up my very first instrument, the piano, when I was seven years old.
I chose the piano for a variety of reasons; it sounded cool when my parents played it, so I thought that it would when I did too. Also, we already had a piano in the house, and because my mother was a piano teacher, it seemed economically sound for her to give me lessons. Sadly, I discovered that most people are not born with the innate ability to drill out arpeggios. Quickly becoming frustrated due to my childish mentality, I decided to end my journey into Pianoland as quickly as I had started it, much to my mothers dismay. I was not yet mature enough to fully appreciate music. Besides playing simple pieces to show off to my musically illiterate friends, I would not take up another instrument until the fifth grade.
When I started playing the trombone for my middle school band, I was happy at first. There were far less slide positions on the trombone than keys on the piano, which tricked me into thinking that the instrument was easier to play. However, soon I realized that in order to become skilled, I actually had to sit down and practice scales and pieces. My mother helped me slowly become better through her knowledge of piano. Four years and many hours of practice later, I slid into first chair in the trombone section, but I was still unsatified; something was missing. I needed a new instrument.
All throughout my life, I always enjoyed watching people play percussion, but thought that the sets were too expensive. I expressed this longing to my mother, and was delighted when she brought me home a five piece drumset for Christmas. I finally found my niche; for a few years now, drums have been a huge part of my life. Perhaps because of their musical background, my parents are amazingly tolerant of the crashing of cymbals and the bashing of the bass drum for hours on end. I try to practice as much as is possible without interfering with my studies.
Beethoven and Bach as well as other classical musicians have been a staple in my life for as long as I can remember. Through this influence from my mother and father, I have grown both a great love for playing musical instruments as well as listening to music. From the genres of rap to rock to classical, I appreciate all kinds of music. Even though I might not get to sleep as late as some other seventeen year olds, I wouldnt give away one note of that noise that wakes me up every morning.