A Note-Worthy Reed

Parents and Guardians,

Does your child sing, play an instrument, or want to learn how? I am inviting your child to join our music program! Here we have a place for every child to explore, learn, and grow as a person and a musician.

Research shows that children who participate in music grow in more ways than one. For example, involvement in music helps develop the brain, provide an emotional outlet, and improve academic performance in children. Every child has natural musical tendencies just waiting to be put to good use.

As famous musician and teacher Shinichi Suzuki (1898-1998) once said, “If a child hears good music from the day of his birth, and learns to play it himself, he develops sensitivity, discipline and endurance. He gets a beautiful heart.” Here we introduce good music of all sorts and develop all of those traits in every child. Composer Aaron Copland (1900-1990) encouraged listening of all types of music in an intelligent and unbiased way in order to understand music. We have a variety of opportunities for all types of music, including choral, jazz, band, and everything in between. Here in our music program we also give music as a valuable tool your child can use their whole life to express themselves. Finally, as famous jazz musician Duke Ellington (1899-1974) said about complex emotions: “You’ve got to find some way of saying it without saying it, and that’s where music comes in.”

With the opportunities we have to learn to sing, play any instrument, and make music a lifelong tool, every child has a place to flourish and grow. Most importantly, YOUR child has a place here. We invite your child to sign up for our choirs, bands, orchestras, musicals, and music lessons!

Sincerely,

The Copland High School Music Department

For more information, call (708)224-2811 or email dukesuzuki@gmail.com

Music is such a large part of my life and sense of self that without it, I would not really know who I am. Of course, I have other things that make me who I am too, like other interests, personal beliefs and values, and my perceptions and interactions with the world. Music, however, is a part of every aspect of my life. I’m always listening to music, for one. I find music that aligns with my values, alongside the most important music for me being ingrained in church services. I participate in a variety of musical opportunities, whether that be playing organ for church, participating in band and choir at school, teaching piano lessons, or just practicing in a room alone. I send music I love to the people I love. I play and sing music with friends for fun. I sometimes even write a little music (although that is a secret not to be shared yet).

When I am alone in a practice room making progress on a piano piece, all of my worries of the day and or tomorrow seem to vanish. It is just me and the music and a joy of playing. When I am singing in church, I do not feel musically above or below others. I am one with the group and feel joy from it. When I play in a band, I find my voice among the ruckus of everyone trying to find theirs. When I listen to music on the way home, I feel tension leaving my body and I am content with my being.

All of these musical items have become such a part of my daily life that, without it, I would not know where to turn. Yes, I have other hobbies, like weaving and painting, but even then I am listening to music. Even without music playing from Spotify or the next room, the music of daily life cannot be avoided. The beautiful sounds of nature, of joyful chatter, of someone clicking a pen in frustration. Even snow falling seems a type of music. Music is everything, and everything can be described using music. Every indescribable feeling is describable using music. It is a part of every culture in the world and has been for all of human history. It is part of me, yes, but I am not unique in that. It is part of everyone. I am everything I am without it, but muddier. Music gives me a sense of purpose, clears my thoughts, and wraps up all my traits in a nice little bow. Music is me and music is you, too.

The meaning of music has been fairly consistent all of my life. The focus has always been joy. I am filled with joy hearing good music and participating in it. Sometimes, that joy means full blown happiness. Other times, that joy means a break from what else is going on in my life. And occasionally, that joy just means realizing feelings that I would not have resolved otherwise. In any case, music for me brings out every feeling I have and puts in into something not quite describable in words. It is a soul-soother in every sense.

Now, taking almost all music classes, I realize that my personal joy of music doesn’t always translate to school. Joy of music alone doesn’t mean musical progress, performance, or anything else required of music majors. Musical joy doesn’t bring musical knowledge. However, I know that my life of music after school, whether that be in a classroom or at home with children, will be joy-focused, not knowledge or performance focused.

For me, musical knowledge is sometimes a burden. I can’t always play or listen to music without picking apart its flaws. I do want to be a better musician for the rewards it brings; the satisfaction of reaching a goal, the enjoyment of a piece once it is worked through, and the ability to play music at a higher level and continue to improve. However, when I just want to sing for fun or try out new music or listen to music of any kind, it is both a gift and a blessing to know what’s “right” in the music. It is nice to recognize chord progressions and musical ability without much thought, but it isn’t always nice to hear (and not be able to “unhear”) musical flaws. Sometimes I do just want to sing without making everything perfect, or listen without worry for the perceived musicality of the performer. A little knowledge, then, is a dangerous sing… er, thing.

Regardless of these inhibitions, or because of them, the meaning of music has not changed for me in transition. It will always bring me joy and I will always love music. It will always be a center point in my life. I will always be uplifted by music in church, soothed by playing music, and inspired by the musicality of others. The meaning of music to me is more than the quality of music; music alone in its joyful noise is enough for me, and will continue to be enough for me regardless of where I go as a musician.

I have always been involved in music in some way, and always have known it would be a part of my life. Through church, school, music listening, and individual musicianship, music is ingrained in every aspect of my daily life. Music as a career seemed almost toO obvious of a choice. I am interested in many other things, and would have been content in almost any educational area. Thus, I gave many other areas considerable thought.

Any other career would have felt okay, but not perfectly right. The fact that I kept musing about music was telling to me (and others). Even my mom, who is very settled in the STEM field and encouraged all of us kids to get an education, told me that my delusions about other careers having a life-long appeal would wear off as soon as I started college. With that in mind, and considerable thought about what my life would look like without music, I knew that I could not let music fall to the wayside in any way.

Even though I had some doubts about making a career out of my musical interest, I have always seen myself as a teacher. Whether that was an elementary teacher, an English teacher, or a music teacher, I knew that I had a desire to teach. The combination of my teaching wishes and my musical wishes combined until I could not look away from the music education path. Try as I ignore it, I cannot.

I even tried to convince myself that there were already too many music teachers in my family. I felt that I had to pave my own path. However, I already have just by existing as myself. Just because I share a main interest with older siblings and parents does not mean we cannot exist as separate individuals. That was one of my delusions about why I could not teach music.

To aid to my slowly strengthening music teaching aspirations, I was able to lead a youth choir, putting together programs, finding music, and working with the choir to make a joyful noise. This positive experience told me that, “Yes, you can teach music.”

I then started to take piano lessons again, filled with imposter syndrome about how many other students were more advanced and better suited to the musical role. In addition to fellow students being good musicians, I have been surrounded by older, talented musicians in my work with choir projects. I have to remind myself that those 40-somethings and 20-somethings have one thing I can’t possibly have, which is extra years of practice. I had to be reminded myself noT to compare my musicianship with professionals and adults and family members who I have so much to learn from. Even thinking of the last year, I am able to do so many things musically easily that I struggled with a year or two ago.

After realizing this imposter syndrome was rather delusional, as well as being reinforced by those same people I look up to, I finally decided I could not ignore the call of music education. I subscribed to the idea with some ideas of “band-eur”, though I had been forewarned about the trials of music study. I knew it would be a lot of work, but a lot of reward for every minute spent. Thus, the call of music teaching, though somewhat pushed away, was finally answered. I hope it serves me well.

When I think about how similar or unique each person is, it’s hard to say whether it’s our similarities or our differences that make a stronger impression. In terms of similarities, I think each person has common hopes and desires, wishes and needs. It’s the fulfillment of those hopes and dreams or lack of fulfillment of  wishes and needs that shapes how each person views the world. Though someone could have entirely different experiences than me, we would still be similar in that we would desire for human connection and kindness. I want to break down, or de-compose, my individual experiences a little here.

Now, when thinking about what makes mE unique, I have to examine my individual experiences and how those have shaped my view of the world. I grew up in a large, musical family who valued honesty, hard work, and Christian values. This generally positive childhood gave me the opportunity to explore any creative wish I had. Seeing my older siblings flourish in their adulthood and growing into my own with them has aided to that creative itch. I have been able to try a little bit of everything, with some success.

In the creative department of ideas, I am tied to many different things. I want to write about each one a little bit, starting with music. Music is one of the most important things in my life, so most of these posts will be relevant to music in some way. Thus, I cannot explain the full weight that music has on my life in one paragraph. I started playing the violin at age 5, taught by my music teacher dad in the living room. A year later, I began to take piano lessons at my church. I would walk there with an older sibling or three and we would all take our turns playing. After a move, I was taught a little bit by various family members, until I figured I could teach myself. At this age, I began playing oboe as well. I began to play organ for my church and participate in choirs and recording projects. I also did band and choir through my school, which aided to this. I would love to dive into each of these experiences, but that will have to wait until a later date. Instead, I want to point out that my experiences in music from a young age have shaped my unique view of the world. Because I was so exposed to participating and listening to music at all hours of the day, I can’t see the world from the view of someone who has no musical appreciation or knowledge.

I have always been a “classical” music junkie, which is rather unique in the age of electronic and pop music. Musical value aside, a lot of the appreciation and love I have for all sorts of “oldies”, as in from 300 years ago, comes from avoiding music that has contradicted my values. I prefer to avoid music that promotes drug use, sex, violence, or unkindness. Much modern day music is founded on values I do not agree with, so it is easier to avoid entirely than to weed through. Now, as I have had so much exposure to classical music, choral music, hymns, and everything in between, it has been easy to find music to love. My “liked” playlist is comprised of 700 pieces that don’t include anything I disagree with (except perhaps a few controversial chords). This consistent exposure to good, wholesome music has shaped my view of the world to a large degree and stabilized my values.

Tangent aside, I believe my love for “classical” music (very much including baroque, medieval, romantic, and much of modern band and choral music), is somewhat unique. Although many musicians love and appreciate these genres, I find that exclusively listening to those (very diverse, though grouped together) genres is not the norm for people my age. I don’t mean to sound elitist, as some believe classical musicians to be, but I do believe my love of classical music has made my musical knowledge more advanced and my desires as a musician more diverse than they would be otherwise. There are so many pieces out there that I haven’t listened to, played, or experienced that my musical listening experience will never grow stale! So many composers to explore, so many styles to play, so many pieces to listen to for the first time and love time and time again.

I did say I wouldn’t write too much about music this time around, but I must have lied! I want to share a few more things that I have a lot of love for that make me unique. As a creative individual, I have explored many different types of art. I have always been into embroidery and sewing, as well as drawing and painting. Within the last few years, I have gone on stints with things like jewelry making, clothing design, and excessive embroidery. Now, I have been a textile art lover for a couple years, and see it continuing. I have been weaving wall hangings and am starting to learn how to use heavy floor looms to make blankets, scarves, and everything in between. I think my somewhat grandma hobbies make me unique, as I never have any excuse to be bored. With everything I try, I am very aware that a lot of things I make won’t turn out exactly how I wanted, but I am no longer defeated by creative failure. On the contrary, every failure gives me one more tool to make the next project more successful. This mindset has translated very well to all aspects of my life.

One other thing that makes me unique is my love of school. I feel that a lot of rhetoric about hating learning and school is pushed in daily life, some more valid than others. Though there are parts of the education system that are not conductive to joyful learning, learning in itself is so rewarding. However, my world view of school is very much shaped by my easy education success. I have always been able to pick up on new things quickly, test well, figure out logical subjects like math, and write essays with large degrees of success. I am aware that I have not done anything to earn me this privilege. I am learning to see new things from the point of view as a frustrated student through personal teaching experience and desire to be able to connect with students who struggle with learning. That is another new thing to learn and love! My education success makes me unique because I know that nothing stands between me and difficult material but my desire to learn.

Now, these things I have discussed do make me unique to some degree. They are not, however, unachievable to any other person. Anyone can love music and school and try new creative things. Thus, they are still similarities to other people, as every person wants to find things to love and enjoy.

There are other things in my life that make me unique, such as values, behavior, family, desires in my future, individual failings and strengths, and every thought I’ve ever had. Clearly, I am rather wordy, so it may turn into a book if I discuss each individual item in full detail. Regardless of each item and my desire to share every passing thought, my uniqueness doesn’t make me special. My similarities to every other person and my inherent value as a person make me special. Every person is special because they feel, desire, and love. Again, though someone could have entirely different experiences than me, we would still be similar in that we would desire for human connection and kindness. This is my human experience thus far, de-composed.