For the class, I’m taking Music in Our Lives. We have to write a personal musical autobiography. (Lameeee. Kidding Kidding!) Hmm, where should I begin?! 16 YEARS AND 3 SCORES AGO!! No, I’m just kidding. But seriously, from as long as I can remember I have always been around music. From when I was a kid to now, my dad has always been the musical one in my family. My mom likes to pretend she is…but I rather eat my cat alive than listen to her sing. And I don’t even have a cat. My dad on the other hand, he is definitely on of the people I can credit for my early entrance into the classical and jazz world. From the generic, Mozart and Beethoven to Mahler and Chopin; I was entranced by the sounds just a few people working together could make. By first grade, I was singing along with Charlotte Church, actually believing I sounded amazing. (Until that one faithful day when I was compared to a cat, dying from rabies.)
Jazz! My god what a genre! CD 101.9 was a station that played smooth jazz 24/7, which was on in my room 24/7. It wasn’t until much later that I discovered “real jazz”. My discovery of jazz easily has to be one, the greatest moments of my so far teenage life. It’s definitely up there with making into Small Ensemble, and getting my first viola.
So in 3rd grade, I played recorder (along with the rest of world) and it’s a chapter in my life which I do not like to talk about… It was dreadfully boring and dull. Except for the fact I loved to show off my personally ordered blue recorder while everyone had the dreary beige ones. Other than that, music was the worst class of the day.
4th-6th I was in chorus (Whatevs~) but more importantly, 4th grade was my glorious and magnificent introduction of the Viola into my then meaning-less life. In fourth grade, I was so intense on the viola I had to wear bandages on my finger tips. It was extreme, man. I’m saying extreme. Then NYSMMA came in 6th grade…and I really try to block that out of my memory one hundred percent…because it’s so shameful to speak of.
Currently, I’m in the TMLA Orchestra, and the St. Boniface parish ensemble. I’m taking lessons in a desperate attempt to increase my viola skill in hopes of being able to join the Long Island Youth Orchestra, and also in an attempt not to be stuck with viola 2 parts. Even though I’ve been told they don’t exist… You never know what those arrangers will come up with next and I’m not taking any chances. I also compose a lot, it’s mostly for fun. If I catch a funny tune in my head I write it down and then write it out. It’s quite a lot of fun actually! Usually I make duets, and such. Anyway, I really do hope they sound nice. You know family and friends are like obligated to say whatever you make is lovely, even though it sucks.
Music in my life pretty much works, generically. Variations of pop, rock, world music (Cobra Starship, Suemitsu & The Suemith ,The Beatles etc.) for getting hyped for activities such as getting off the bus or leaving school. Classical (Ravel, Handel, Vivaldi) for daily life, or if I’m having a particular moment of having the need of feeling classy. And a strict diet of jazz (Chris Botti, Michael Buble, Miles Davis) while sleeping.
Music is a tough topic between some of my friends and me. For lack of better words it’s usually: “Yo, Tessie what the hell are you listening to?!” One friend I have that shares some of my musical taste is Paloma. Paloma has introduced to me to a lot of Spanish music like, romantic ballads and cumbia, bachata. From Spanish genres to whatever is playing on 106.7fm I can always depend on Paloma when I’m in to mood for a lite fm air guitar jam to John Mayer’s “Say what you need to say.”
