I recently just finished up my time working with the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra. At the last concert, I was so thoughtful about music. What it is. What it means to me. And why I like to listen to music and perform and create music. This is something I wrote as I was listening to these incredible musicians. After you get a chance to read it, I'd like to challenge you. What does music mean to you? You may enjoy it, but was do it do for you, something you may not recognize initially until you really get to think about it.

Music is a constant expression of the rest of the world. Whether we create for the enjoyment of creation or it's a metaphorical or literal need of letting go, music has the ability to start a revolution (that's right). One note, one symphony, can effect someone's heart that can move them to do something more. It's an art form that doesn't take very much to move you, but sometimes you may not know why it moves you. Is it the notes? The melody? The key? Music moves. Music isn't like drawing, but it also isn't like film. It's auditory. It uses something rather than your eyes, in it's rawest form. But there is something very encouraging about watching musicians. Whatever kind of emotion during performance, happy, contemplative, sad. It's transformative. But performers, usually, don't live in those worlds. There is real life through those eyes. Yet they do it anyways. It's easy to take granted this art form, because it's everywhere, but when it touches your heart, there truly isn't anything like it.