Weir,+Tessa

Tessa's Page

*My Goals*
1. Try other auxiliary instruments (e.g. Timpani, Bass, etc...)

I usually played little auxiliary instruments in Junior High, but now I want to expand on that. I want to play some bass and timpani at some point in Concert Band.

2. Improve on the mallets

Practice them more. I have a piano at home which helps me alot with mallet music. I can try and play different kinds of music pieces to help improve my skills on the mallets.

3. Play time signatures better (e.g. 5/4, 6/8, etc....)

I usually have trouble with tempo changes involving 5/4 and 6/8. A lot of the time I might count wrong or too fast/slow. I want to get more help from the older persussionists to help me understand these different times signatures.


 * What Music Means to Me and Six Words to Describe Me as a Musician**

Music means a lot to me. It's fun to make music, and to listen. I love listening to music, because it's a really good stress reducer. I have always found lyric-less songs to be very comforting and relaxing. The music we do in band has always amazed, since each piece intrigues me even more than the last. Music has brought me closer to my friends, my family, and God. I have a lot of music at home that always listen to, both night and day. Music is the way I deal out my problems; I find a song that I can relate to and connect with it. Six words to describe me as a musician are dedicated, comfortable, talented, proud, yearning, and focused. There's not a lot of things I'm __dedicated__ to, but music is one thing I always cling to. I put my heart and mind into every I do that is musical. I am always ready to go to all the practices or rehearsals, no matter what it is. I am always prepared for band, because it excites me. I am __comfortable__ with playing music, because I find it fun and very relaxing. At the end of the day, all my stress is gone due to my love of making music and being around my fellow musicians in Concert Band. I feel comfortable playing what I know, but I do enjoy trying newer things. I feel that I have a __talent__ in the musical area, because a year ago, I had just started playing guitar and already I've very good at it. My guitar teacher is very impressed at how fast I have caught on to new chords and playing songs. Every lesson, he tells me about how great my playing is for a beginner. I've also really improved with percussion. I used to always to the auxiliary instrument in Junior High, but I later started to try snare, mallets, and timpani. I have found the timpani really fun too! My skills have truly improved a lot in different ways. I am __proud__ of how I sound on and off the marching field. I am proud of what I //can// do very well. What I'm not proud of, I remind myself to work on it later. This pride makes me confident in myself and happy all the while. I also find myself yearning for more. I always want to play more music. I love the songs and stand tunes we play during games, but I still want to learn more. I am always excited to see our new music whether it is in Concert or Marching band. I want to learn more instruments as well as percussion and guitar. I am also very focused in band. Because I have ADHD, I am a bit hyper and inattentive sometimes. I still goof off regularly, but when we start playing I am very __focused__ on the music. I don't get distracted as much as I usually would, because like I've mentioned before, it's very exciting and something that I really love. Since I must pass all my classes to do band, my passion for the music has improved my other skills as well. It has helped me to focus in other subject classes as well. I feel as a musician that music can help me relax and gives me something to look forward to. I am dedicated, comfortable, talented, proud, yearning, and focused as a musician. I am really proud of who I am as a musician, and hope to keep this feeling for a while.