A chill went down my spine as I walked past the judges and down through the aisles of spectators to the lonely piano in the center of the stage. My hands were cold and shaking hard. A feeling of terror came over me as I wiped the sweat off of my forehead with the cuff of my shirt and I climbed the stone steps up onto the stage. I turned to face the bright lights and the multitude of people there to watch my performance. I glanced at one of the judges and he signaled me to begin. I took a deep breath and smiled. After all, this is the feeling that I live for. I slide my nervous fingers across the keys, and begin to play. It was incredible, and by the end everyone stood to their feet and clapped. If only Rachmaninoff himself had been there to applaud my performance.
No matter what age, race, or gender you are, there is a language that we can all hear and understand. A powerful language that can change the way you think or the way you look at something. It can move you to do something unexpected and adventurous or open up your mind to new thoughts and dreams, and personally, I adore this language. Ever since I can remember, music has intrigued me. From the minute I could make a noise, I would sing, I would scream. I loved it. I have been playing the piano for twelve long years. Along the way, I have learned to play other instruments, such as the cello, trombone, and the guitar. Music has introduced me to new friends, places, new feelings, and ideas. It has shown me that I can perform one evening in a symphony, and the next at a heavy metal battle of the bands concert.
Different genres of music create different moods. For example, if I were to draw a picture while listening to Beethoven. It would be very different than if I had been listening to Metallica. Music adds. You can add music to any given thing, and it can alter the way you see or feel about it. What would the movie Braveheart be without the sound of Irish bagpipes and drums playing in the background, other than Mel Gibson fighting bad guys in a plaid kilt? Obviously music has played a vital role throughout time, speaking in a language anyone can understand, influencing and portraying, introducing you to new aspects of life, and personally, it has been a critical part of my life, and I love it.