Snowberger,+Autumn

**My Goals **

 * 1. Improve intonation- **I can do this by practicing with a tuner and learning the pitch tendencies for each note. I can also practice holding long notes and sustaining the proper amount of air to keep notes in tune.


 * 2. Strengthen embouchure- **I can do this by practicing more in general. Practicing more in higher ranges will also help.


 * 3. Improving high notes on bassoon- **High notes typically have complicated fingerings that I am still learning. If I do exercises all in high ranges, I can soon become adept at playing way above the staff. In addition, I would like to finish learning the full range of the bassoon.

These are very good goals for you! I'll be excited to see your work on these and how they improve your playing!!

Loved the essay! You have quite a story to tell, and it's not over yet!!!!


 * How Music has Shaped My Life **

Music has been a part of my life since about first grade. My love for music started whenever I joined my church's children's choir. I wanted to be just like my sister. However, after the first rehearsal, it was obvious that I could never sing as well as her. I never quit though, sticking it out until I was too old to be in that choir. Then, in fifth grade, I decided to play a band instrument. At first I wanted to play trumpet, but somehow my family discouraged me from it. I eventually chose saxophone and instantly loved it. I'm pretty sure that my biggest accomplishment then was learning how to play "Mary had a Little Lamb" from memory. It was pretty amazing how much all of us learned from fifth grade to sixth grade. We went from playing "Ode to Joy" out of our Essential Elements books to playing songs from Pirates of the Caribbean. I remember my mom saying to my grandma, "You won't believe how good she sounds now." It really means something to me when other people can see the improvements that you have made.

That following summer was our first season of marching band. I was so intimidated by all of the older kidsss and especially the music. I sat beside Caleb Gildea at the first music practice, and he sight-read all of the songs almost perfectly. I thought that I could never be that good. But, as time went on, reading that "hard" music got easier and easier. Then in the winter of seventh grade, Mr. Laird asked me to play bassoon. I went home that evening, got on You-Tube, and searched for bassoon videos. Once I heard it, I knew that I definitely wanted to at least try it out. Soon enough, I learned a double F Major scale and was playing a few pieces at our spring concert.

My eighth grade year was probably one of the most prominent musical years so far. Not only was I surrounded by amazing musicians, but I was surrounded by amazing friends. The band room was always the cool place to hang out during the day. A few of us went down to the band room each day during study hall. Marissa Rosensteel, Sarah Kordish, Maddy Martinsen, Aaron Logue, and I always had something fun to do. We had N*SYNC dance parties on the stage, played frisbee with drum heads, and learned to play different instruments, all in the process of getting ready for the PMEA All-State Conference. PMEA was the most fun I had that whole year. The bus ride there was full of energy. Our performance was the best we had ever played any of the music. Then we walked around to see all of the displays and try out instruments. The best part of that was playing a $24,000 bassoon. Whenever we got home that night, I tried to convince my dad to buy me one. It's not a surprise that he said no!

Ninth grade flew by and the next thing I know it was tenth grade. Marching band was the first taste that I got of the senior high. The juniors and seniors were so welcoming, and it felt like we weren't new, but had been in that band for years. Caleb really helped us all grow as musicians and as people. He was always there to help and was never negative about anything. I looked forward to Fridays just so we could play at the football games. I was always excited for the last couple periods of the day because of band. Then district pre-auds came. Auditioning against people from outside of Hollidaysburg was completely new to me, so I was super nervous. The greatest moment of that night was Mr. Sheehan saying, "Twenty-five of us auditioned, and I have twenty-five folders in this box." What a relief! Going into each festival I told myself that I wanted to do the best that I could, no matter what the outcome was. My audition at districts was pretty decent, but I didn't want to be too conceited about it until I actually knew the results. When they called us up onto the stage the next morning--from last to first chair-- I was suprised whenever Alexis's name was called before me. It boosted my confidence so much for knowing that I had beaten one person. Then Regionals came and we were waiting on stage to see who was going to States. Whenever the lady said,"Bassoon one... Autumn Snowberger," I was astounded. I never thought that I would be going to the All-State festival as a sophomore. Two months later, I was in Lancaster. Our concert was the most amazing thing I have ever experienced. After we finished our last song, "The White Rose March," that room full of thousands of people all stood up. I couldn't stop smiling. It was truly gratifying to be on stage with such talented musicians and being acknowledged by music teachers and parents from all over the state.

Music is such a huge part of my life. I enjoy being around the friends that I have met from band, and most definitely love playing the music. Because of band, I have considered different careers in music- from music education to music technology. Even if I don't pursue a career in music, I will never stop playing bassoon and saxophone. Music is a part of me that will be there for the rest of my life.