Personal Statement - Elaine Q.

I’ve always dreamt of playing an instrument. Ever since I was little, I dreamed of being able to create beautiful melodies that would flow all around and touch the hearts of others. Therefore, it was no surprise to anyone when I signed up for violin lessons in school. Something about the vibrancy of the strings or how the wooden bow felt in my hand clicked with me. However, as with anything, improvement takes time and effort. Starting with plucking the strings and playing comically out-of-tune notes, I began my musical journey with my dear violin. I wanted to reach my goal of creating heart-felt music. When I confessed this desire to my mom, she gladly helped me locate a private teacher. There was a lot I had to learn! My posture was mistaken, my bow hold was stiff, and my intonation was unideal. Luckily, my teacher was ready to help me fix my problems. Soon, I could play simple but pleasing pieces. After one year of studying with my teacher, my school conductor asked if I would like to try out for the G.T. Orchestra and Sinfonia program. I paused. Never before had I tried out for an orchestra, or even been in any audition. I wasn’t sure if I was qualified. There were still so many techniques and musical forms that I haven’t encountered! Would I be able to do it? Still, I wanted to try. Even if I did not get accepted, it would still be an excellent learning experience. Hence, I told my conductor that I would give it my best shot. When I asked my private teacher about the program, she was slightly hesitant. I could understand where she was coming from. Afterall, although she and my conductor were seeing improvement, I was still rather a novice. Nevertheless, she told me that she would be happy to help me try. We looked at the requirements. I was a bit intimidated to be frank, but much more so excited to challenge myself. Both my teacher and I knew at that moment that we would have to work very hard. I found out about the auditions somewhat late, so we were running relatively short on preparation time. From then on, I practiced the materials often, constantly rehearsed my audition piece, and did my best to fix the problems in my playing that were discovered by my teacher. When the time came for my audition, I was nervous. I didn’t know what to expect since it was my first ever audition, but I felt well-prepared. When I finished, I wasn’t sure if I did well enough to be accepted, but I knew I tried my hardest. I was satisfied and elated when I left the room. To this day, that feeling I felt after the audition tells me it can never hurt to try to achieve a goal, and it is the effort you invested and the things you learned that determines the value of the experience.