Undergraduate / 'acoustic guitar' - short answer response for Common App [4]

Before I play acoustic guitar, i make it a point to put myself in tune with the instrument. The etudes and exercises can wait; a clear mind is essential for any sort of education and application. To begin, I always make sure its body is pressed flat and firm against my chest, like a badge; loose straps are not for me. My next act is a heavy pluck of the deep low 'E' string, followed by a long breath. That lonely bass note knocks on the back of the guitar and is let into my body. It recalls the simple, but powerful drone of a Buddhist chant. Instantly, I feel warm and full, as if a Christmas dinner had just been eaten. I let the sound hum inside me until my head feels light. The note rings until its lost somewhere between my heart and my spine. Finally, I exhale and begin to play.