I finally decided to get a blog. This is sort of an attempt to keep a journal without actually doing it. I used to be so good at writing in my journal throughout highschool but once college came, journal writing went wayyyy down on my list of priorities. In fact, I technically should be studying or practicing right now instead of writing this. I don't know how well I'll keep up with it but I thought it'd be a good thing to do. My sister sends out family emails periodically about her life/school, etc. and a few others in my family keep blogs. I love being able to read them and stay updated on how their lives are going.

As long as my blog is titled "Ramblings of a Music Student" I might as well start off my first entry with some ramblings about music. I came to a break through in my musical life last week. I have had music in my life ever since I was born. I come from a very musical family and have been surrounded by it, worked on it, loved it/hated it, had it running through my brain constantly, and been woken up by some kid's music lesson going on in the next room pretty frequently. I had periodically thought about choosing something other than music for my career choice but it's been something I have always felt I needed to do and I couldn't imagine my life without it. I was one of the few kids who actually knew what they wanted to go in to once they hit college. However, there's a difference between knowing what you want to major in and knowing what you will actually use your major for. People have asked me for years what I wanted to do with my piano degree. Up until this past week I have never had an answer for them.

I chose piano performance as my degree because I wanted to push myself to become the best musician I personally could become. I essentially chose my degree for personal development as opposed to getting a degree for a guaranteed successful career. Being at music school surrounded by tons of other musicians, my eyes have been opened a lot more as to how I work as a musician and what I personally have to offer. This past semester, I realized that I have a very strong love of teaching. I suppose I should've seen it coming... everyone in my family are natural teachers. I've been teaching piano students for a few years now and have always enjoyed it but through a mixture of my teaching experiences since I've gotten here, seeing how my former and present teachers operate, and Spiritual guidance, I really feel like that is my true calling as a pianist. Ever since I had that epiphany, my attitudes and opinions about everything music related has completely changed. I was committed to doing music before, but now I feel like my desire to do it, my love of it, and the way I practice/study music has jumped to a much higher level.

Something that I have always wanted desperately to do is to be able to help others and inspire them with my music. That has been my main focus as a pianist my whole life... I just didn't know exactly how I was going to do it. I had an experience a couple weeks ago where I was able to teach a student and see him grasp everything I told him. I could tell that I explained things clearly and I was able to watch him get excited as he understood the music. Not only was he inspired, but I was as well. I felt a strong connection, understanding, and love of the music I was teaching him. I felt it so much more than I do when I'm practicing my own music. I love the music I'm playing and I try to look closely and find all the details in it while practicing, but when I teach music to others, it suddenly becomes much more clear and exciting.

So long story short, I'm going to be a teacher. Woohoo! On that note (hah, get it? note? music? Lame, I know.) I'm going to wrap up and go study for the two tests I have tomorrow.