<p>Hey PeytonCline,</p>
<p>I read the article on you on Pulaskinews.net and I noticed that I share many of the same interests. I'm a very competitive trumpet player who makes my state's All-State band every year. What kind of things did you do with your trombone during high school?</p>
<p>Hi, cornetking222. In addition to competing for All-State band events, I also participated in various in-state solo and ensemble competitions. I wanted to compete in national competitions (especially the MTNA competition this past year), but other conflicts – i.e. ACT and SAT and other academic contests – arose. Nonetheless, I made sure that I continuously expanded my repertoire and my playing abilities, both through my own practicing multiple times daily and studying with a college trombone professor. Also, as you read in the article, I participated in band camps throughout the summer. I did send a CD to Princeton along with my application to highlight the importance I place on my trombone playing, and also to emphasize that I have been able to balance my activities between academics and music while still excelling at both.</p>
<p>That’s awesome! I’m doing the National Trumpet Competition and trying out for the Honor Band of America this coming year. Balancing academics and music is going to be a really tough challenge. At a summer program this summer, my instructor mentioned the MTNA competition. I think I’ll do that if time permits next year. If someone were to ask you why you’re not going into music, despite having won all those competitions, how would you respond?</p>
<p>That’s a tough one. Well, I don’t want my hobby to become my job. I still want to pursue music on my own time, but I also want to move forward with my academic life. I plan on going into Princeton’s certificate program in music performance as well as participating with the Princeton University Orchestra, so I’m not abandoning music at all. It’s just something I enjoy and I always want it to remain as something I enjoy, not something I feel obligated to do.</p>