Brumbaugh,+Jessica

Jessica's Page

Goals (October):


 * 1) **Become a louder player **. I have struggled greatly by not being able to project my sound. I may be able to play my part well but if no one can hear me then there is no point. I play as loud as I can sometimes such as in the beginning of Old Home Days but for some reason I just do not project well. I am hoping to succeed with this goal by practicing by myself more and, especially with districts approaching, I will be more inclined to-do so. I will determine my success in this goal by listening to recording from concerts. Move the air!!!
 * 2) **Learn to properly play tempos and especially rhythms **. Recently it's become more apparent the fact that next year I will need to step up to the plate to replace Mike as a leader of the F Horns and its slightly scary but I can be successful. What makes me the most nervous is my terrible interpretations of rhythms. I seem to be incapable of properly playing them by myself. Once someone plays it correctly for me I am fast to catch on but as a leader I will be the one playing the rhythms for others to fallow. To pursue my goal I am going to write out certain difficult rhythms by beat then clap them out loud or sing them.
 * 3) =====**Prove myself at Regional's **. Last year I did ...okay... at regional's but this year I am really looking forward to doing well and hey maybe if I do well enough, states! I'm counting on the fact that the really good players will get stuck playing in state orchestra ( I wouldn't call make State Orchestra getting "stuck") so there will be a greater chance for me in band. As a musician in band and as a French horn player I feel as if I'm not recognized as a great musician and I would really like to prove myself to my peers that I can play confidently by myself and not in the shadow of my incredible predecessors. How will you monitor this goal and what is your plan to obtain it? =====

Music surrounded me as a small child through piano lessons and church but by 7th grade I had quite piano and was desperate for an instrument. One day after drama practice Mr. Laird approached me and plainly stated, “You look like a French horn player!”. For the life of me I could not remember what a French horn was and all I could picture was a distorted curved trumpet. I asked all of my friends and finally after school I asked Mr. Laird and he showed me. The next day my schedule was changed. The first three months I played Mary had a little Lamb in the small practice rooms covered in small blue dots that I got lost in all the time!
 * ESSAY**

Slowly all of my friends began to be in band and my social life began to revolve around music. The determination to do well in band influenced my school work as well and I began to become more dedicated to school and receive higher grades.Because of the rarity of my instrument I was given multiple opportunities such as county band in 8th grade, full orchestra, and PMEA. In 8th grade we reserved a student teacher by the name of Chelsea Morgan. She helped me incredibly not only with notes and pitches but with confidence as well. We still keep in contact and she is currently dating a friend of Nathans at PSU (funny how things come around in big circles). In 8th grade I also met a new friend Michael. Mike is an amazing leader and has taught me more than just music but life lessons. Because of Mike I have valued the importance of leaders even more and hope that in the future (senior year) I can be as a great a leader as Mike was to me for the past five years!

I can thank music for giving me the wonderful friends I have today as well as a boyfriend. Who knew that music would land on the list of quality's a guy must have to date me! My entire The after school activities keep me busy and gives me a family outside of my genetic one. To come to school and know that there are 100 people there to back me up and love me is more than I could ever ask for as a student!

Great essay!