I have always been drawn to music.I grew up listening to my mother play pieces by Beethoven and Chopin on ourpiano in the living room. I thought thislevel of musicianship was untouchable, somewhat magical. My mother noticed myinterested and gave me my first instrument, a guitar when I was twelve.
I grewup with the internet, it was easy to start to learn some of the basics of theinstrument, and start to seek out other musicians. I played in various rockgroups in high school. I had the opportunity to take a classical guitar classat a community college. My interest inmusic continued to grow, and I decided to pursue my passion more seriously. I had heard great things about MSUDenver and auditioned for the Jazz program.
I didn’t know much of anythingabout Jazz going into the program. From Miles Davis to Bill Evans, these nameswere unfamiliar to me. This wasn’t a bad thing, every day I was learning somethingnew. I had never been so motivated in my life.
I greatly improved musically andintellectually. Private lessons showed me how valuable one on one time can beand the importance of education. I took both classical and jazz guitar lessonswhich helped me understand a greater scope of music and the guitar. I learned how vast music is and that it couldbe studied for a lifetime and still have more to learn.
This concept has helpedmy find a love for studying music daily. Music presented other prospects. Oneof the most rewarding was teaching. I have been teaching guitar andpiano privately now for about 3 years. I started with just a couple families,and my clientele grew through recommendations. Last year I was offered anopening at Graland Country Day School to teach a guitar class as well as some privatelessons. My role at the school has continued to expand over the last year, andI find myself able to survive financially solely through music.
I never wouldhave dreamed that music could be so fulfilling, and I owe it all to myeducation. Many of my friends have attended DU’sjazz program and all of them rave about the faculty. I would love to get achance to study with them in hopes to further my opportunities in both teaching as well as performing.
I wouldeventually like to teach at the college level in some way, I think this wouldbe a great step in that direction. DU’scampus is also much closer than any other graduate performance degree, so it wouldbe a perfect fit. Music is the path I have chosen to take, the career I strivefor, and the life, no matter how challenging, I intend to live.