Background in Music Education Justice Hawley The Beginning
Background in Music Education Justice Hawley
The Beginning It was in 5 th Grade that I was convinced by a friend to join Orchestra the next year, as we were moving on to middle school. Even after signing up for Orchestra, I was not scheduled into the class and almost did not take it. It was only because of my Orchestra teacher that I am a musician today, because she went out of her way to make sure my schedule was changed so I would have the opportunity to take a music class. This marked the beginning of my musical career, the beginning Orchestra at Madison Middle School
The Instrument Coming into class the first day of 6 th grade, we were all tasked with choosing the instrument we would play. Our orchestra provided four options: the Violin, the Viola, the Cello, and the String Bass Our teacher demonstrated the sound of each instrument by playing something on each instrument It was only because she played theme to Star Wars that I picked the violin
An Early Love After beginning to play in Orchestra, I soon came to enjoy playing the violin I would practice every day, and would often read ahead in the books we were given, practicing harder and harder music Throughout middle school, I learned a variety of music that went above and beyond the music we played in class My teacher was very instrumental in helping me expand my talent and guided me to succeed in music
Fond Memories Throughout middle school, I made many musical memories, including making some of the best friends that I had in middle school and beyond Playing solos, taking trips to Hummingbird Music Camp, and meeting great musicians and people were just some of the many rewards music brought into my life during middle school One piece of music I remember very fondly was a piece entitled “The Joy of Bach”, based on a fugue from Bach and arranged by Deborah Baker Monday I love this piece because of the great times I had rehearsing it as well as our teacher telling the group we had played it perfectly one day, still the only time I’ve ever heard that in an ensemble!
On to High School After finishing 8 th grade at Madison, it was time to enter high school I began to attend Sandia High School, where I was able to continue to learn under my previous orchestra teacher, as she works at both Sandia and Madison Being placed in the Advanced Orchestra as a Freshman, I was gifted with the experience of playing with very talented musicians who inspired me to be better My love for music grew in high school, aided of course by my music teacher, who became a larger impact in my life as the days went on
A Love for Classical Music As my experience in music grew, so too did my love for classical music I avidly listened to a variety of classical music, which only increased my interest and love for music Some of my favorite pieces of classical music are the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, Dvorak’s 9 th Symphony, and Bach’s Second Partita for solo Violin Mendelssohn Violin Concerto Dvorak Symphony 9 Bach violin Partita 2
Albuquerque Youth Symphony In both my Junior and Senior years of high school, I played in the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program This program gave me the opportunity to play symphonic music that was not offered in public schools, as well as learn under different directors and observe different styles of teaching I was also able to travel to Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle, and British Columbia with this program and perform, as well as learn from even more great musical minds across the country
Latter Days of High School As high school progressed, I was given more and more responsibility in the orchestra by my teacher I was the concertmaster of the orchestra, helped with bowings and fingerings for the violin parts, and even played a huge solo with the orchestra my Senior Year I was always asked to help my fellow students, and I believe this opportunity given by my teacher was a key factor in my decision to pursue music In high school, I was also able to travel to Kansas City, as well as Los Angeles, which only gave me more time with teachers who shaped my musical experiences
Conducting My Senior year of High School, I fell in love with conducting I decided that my goal in life was to become the conductor of an Orchestra My teacher took time out of her life to teach me basic beat patterns and how to cue sections as well as read scores My high school teacher even allowed me to conduct the Orchestra multiple times In high school, I have conducted the orchestras of both Sandia and Albuquerque High School as well as led Sandia at their Academic Award ceremony, with no teacher. This left me completely in charge to lead the group alone with no supervision These tremendous opportunities would have never happened if not for music teachers that believed in my abilities and nurtured my passion for music
Arriving at Music Education As high school neared to an end and college and adult life loomed over me, I began to think about my future more closely In thinking about this, I realized that I would not be the person I am today if not for the hard work and dedication of so many music teachers that sacrificed endlessly for me and my personal good I too thought about the conducting profession. I came to the conclusion that there is no good conductor that is not at their root a teacher. Conducting, in its quintessential elements, is nothing more than teaching. It then seemed logical to me to pursue a degree in Music Education, to be a foundation for my future studies in conducting I was accepted to UNM, and I hope that I can have an impact on others’ lives such as so many music teachers have had on me
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