My Motivation to Study Jazz

I adjusted the drum throne one more time before looking at my conductor, nodding my head to signal that I was ready. As she counted in the tempo feelings of nervousness began to take over; doubt, fear, and the urge to play every passage, every fill, perfectly.

All of these emotions were felt when I took the stage at the Vancouver Symphony Orchestras Summer Jazz Program, yet from the moment I heard that first chord, they vanished. I have been listening to music for as long as I can remember.

I would sing and dance to the beats of 2000s R&B that my sisters listened to at 5 years old, and eventually developed my own taste and love for music. In the 7th grade, I saw a drum cover on YouTube video which launched my obsession for not only drums, but music as a whole. I see music as a connection. When I am able to lock in with the quarter notes of a bassist, or accompany under a trumpet solo, I feel much more than just what I am hearing. This addictive feeling of cohesiveness with others drove me to become much more involved in not only the band program within our school, but with others in the community.

In the 8th grade, I went to a summer program at Douglas College, where I formed new interpersonal relationships with other musicians and discovered more about jazz. From there, I began going to jams with other like-minded individuals in the city, attending other programs similar to Douglas, and even played in an honors ensemble for all Surrey Schools.

It has been my love for music which enabled me to learn the drums, as I am primarily self taught (I have starting taking lessons in December of 2017), but also help younger students, lead our schools jazz band, lead a combo, and become proficient in guitar, piano and the euphonium.

The opportunity to be a part of a community of like-minded and driven individuals allows me to create freely and work harder to achieve my goals. Being able to study jazz at McGill would enable me to be a part of such a community, thus allowing me to work even harder to achieve my own, and help with others goals in music. I value the connections I make with others, therefore complete immersion in music that I would receive at McGill is priceless.

It is my passion and love for music that vacates feelings of nervousness and fear onstage. I strongly believe that the connections I have sought out to make in the community will only be amplified as I will be able to create art with those individuals on campus who are similar to me.