While playing video games is fun, I spend the majority of my free time (and work time) centered around music. I have 10+ years of experience singing and playing piano and saxophone.
You'll often find me at shows at the local record shops, bars, and theaters. I climb on stage to jam every once in a while, but otherwise tend to play alone for myself.
I joined Thompson's Pop Choir in 5th grade. It was lead by Mrs. Dewitt, the elementary music teacher. I remember most of the choreography we had for Footloose, and a day where I got too much into dancing and forgot to sing, but that's about all. The choir disbanded the next year, and I joined GCCC in sixth grade. If you are not familiar, GCCC is the Grand Cities Children's Choir. There are four choirs: Poco, Canto, Accordo, and Primo. Because of my age and experience, I joined in Accordo. I was one of three boys in the choir, the majority being girls. Alejandro, Grant, and I sang alto, while the girls alterated between soprano and alto depending on the song. The next year, I joined Primo, still an alto. The following year, I sang tenor. The third and final year of Primo, I sang bass. I loved singing with other people who loved to sing. Mrs. Popejoy, the founder and director of GCCC, is one of the best people I know. After graduating from Primo, I became a volunteer assistant, called a GG, with Poco. Poco is lead by Mrs. Winger. She is the nicest person I know, and I loved working with her. My duties as a GG included leading energy checks, helping the kids feel welcome, and guiding them through the music. Meanwhile, I joined the Thompson Concert Choir. I was a tenor in that choir, as there were fewer tenors. I went to NDSU Honor Choir for two years nonconsecutively. I went to the regional small group competion my senior year, and we did pretty good.
I still remember the first time I picked up a saxophone. It was near the end of 4th grade. We went into the band room and the sixth graders were showing us the instruments
they played. We could try out each one and find what we liked. I tried the trumpet, trombone, and flute, but I couldn't get a sound out. There were already too many percussionists,
and I wasn't interested in that anyway. But the saxophone felt right. I made a sound like a duck shot out of the air. The pearly keys were cold on my fingertips. The wooden reed
and rubber mouthpiece tasted bitter with the disinfectant spray, likely not intended for consumption, but it wouldn't kill you.
The summer came and went, with its many adventures, and I returned to school. I couldn't afford to rent a saxophone, so I borrowed one from the school. I used that same saxophone until I
graduated. It was a veteran, passed down for generations. A Selmer Bundy II with dent so large on the bottom it was practically flat. The wires that held the keys in place would occasionally
come undone. Eventually the screws for the cover that held the bottom keys into place came loose, and I replaced them with pipe cleaners and zip ties. But it didn't matter. It was my saxophone,
and old friend, a mentor. It didn't matter if I damaged it, because it knew how to take it.
As time went on, I learned all the tricks and workarounds to make the old saxophone work. We knew each other so well that I was able to join the Jazz Band my sophmore year of high school.
Opportunies arrived for me to switch instruments. I could have learned clarinet to join the orchestra, or learned how to play a tenor or baritone saxophone. But I was dedicated to alto sax.
When the pandemic hit, bringing my saxophone home was my biggest priority. I continued to play in my bedroom, but less and less, until the next school year came.
We were back in the band room, but much smaller. I was the only alto saxophone left in the band. But I was confident. I was at the peak of my playing. Nothing could
stop me from playing saxophone. I even played a solo.
But all stories must end, and I had to say goodbye to the instrument I loved so much. I took all my personal belongings out of the case, gently placed it on the shelf, and asked it to treat the
next student with the same patience and care it had provided me.
...
Around the time I joined jazz band, I discovered a YouTube Channel called Better Sax. They reviewed saxophones and accessories, as well as providing courses on how to improve as a player. I learned
how to adjust the way that I play, and also realized the bad techniques I had been using. Around the time I graduated high school, They had partnered with Selmer to make their own alto saxophone: the true BetterSax.
I was simply amazed by the saxophone. Selmer had been dormant for a long time, and here they were, making a new saxophone when I needed one. With help from my parents and graduation gifts, I was able to purchase it.
It was so much easier to play that the old Bundy II. I could even hit a high C! And it was beautiful. The heavy, hard plastic case I lugged around was replaced with a light fabric case with backpack straps. I couldn't
have been happier with it. Now I just needed somewhere to play. In August 2021, the Empire Arts Center started hosting the Music Box series, a monthly show with an open jam at the end. I was nowhere near as good as before,
but I keep trying, and slowly got better again.
I started taking piano lessons around the same time I started with saxophone lessons. I don't really remember when I decided to start taking lessons, but I do remember the first time I played piano. We got a small piano, I'm not sure from where, but it was in the library/music room in our house, against the wall. I played despite not having lessons, and I think that's what lead into wanting to learn more. My first teacher was my aunt Leighanne. I would go to her apartment in town once a week and have a lesson on the keyboard. Then, I'd go home and forget to practice most days. I took lessons with her for a few months, but she moved to Idaho, so I needed to switch. For the next 5 years or so, Gretchen was my teacher. I'd ride my bike to her house in the spring and fall. There were a few summers where I took lessons, but usually I was out of town for the majority of summer. Gretchen taught me how to read sheet music, place my hands, recognize different notes and chords, etc. She held two performances per year. After 5 years, I decided that I knew enough to finish learning on my own. I then proceeded to stop playing from sheet music for a few years. I instead memorized the chords and played the chords to popular songs while singing along. I became interested in making my own songs and improvising too. I split the time I play between the two forms, and play almost daily, more frequently than when I took lessons. I found the type of music that I was really interested in playing, rather than songs from a lesson book. That's not to say I disliked my lessons or books. Without them, I couldn't do what I do now. A chef follows recipes for a long time before they get good at creating their own. Despite having a lot more experience with improvisation on the piano, I've spend less time jamming on the piano than the saxophone, but I've been getting out there more and more.
I'll be honest, I hardly know how to play the ocarina, but it's fun when I do. I got Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3D as a birthday gift many years ago, and it is still one of my favorite games. In addition to the ocarina, my LoZ interest lead me to create a Link costume for my brother, sewing a hat with the help of my grandma. The ocarina is shaped very differently from the recorder, but they sound pretty similar. Like many kids, I learned how to play recorder as part of my music class in school. For me, this was in fourth grade. I wasn't a big fan of the recorder, with it's shrill tones. I'm sure that there are experienced recorder players out there that sound good, but a bunch of fourth graders who haven't learned breath control did not. I probably could learn how to play flute at this point, but I haven't. I have figured out how to play a conch shell, to my surprise and everyone else who heard it.