Prompt: 2. As you prepare to pursue a career in music, theatre, or dance, what are your thoughts on the relationship between arts and the society? How relevant has your art been to your community and to you?
"Um...hii." Silence. "Okay...well...I will play a piece called ...uh..Arabesque by Debussy. I hope you like it..." my voice trailed off. I began to volunteer in the Health and Rehabilitation Center as a pianist in Burcham Hills, a nursing home a few blocks away from my house. I wanted to practice performing in front of an audience as well as do good to the community. An elderly woman with a frown tightly grasped onto a roll of towel, while another resident sighed as she leaned against her bony arm. I have always thought that elderly people prefer songs like "You are My Sunshine" and "Amazing Grace" over classical music. Was it mistake to play the wonders of Beethoven, Chopin and Debussy? Would they disapprove my performance?
My shivering hands touched the cold surface of the piano as I began the piece. Soon, all my fears dissipated away as everything came to life through the piece. Heaven's door opened and the sun peeked slowly out of the cotton candy clouds. My heart fluttered and the grace of Arabesque swirled throughout the solarium. The final notes faded into the light. I smiled not because of the small claps of appreciation, but because I saw smiles on their faces, that I have impacted them with my performance.
I am able to overcome my hardships by sharing my joy, sadness, and anger to my audience through piano. Music is essential to the society, because it provides a way to communicate by capturing expressions that cannot be put into words. I believe music has the power to emotionally impact the life of each individual unlike any other, as it did to the residents of the nursing home.
"Um...hii." Silence. "Okay...well...I will play a piece called ...uh..Arabesque by Debussy. I hope you like it..." my voice trailed off. I began to volunteer in the Health and Rehabilitation Center as a pianist in Burcham Hills, a nursing home a few blocks away from my house. I wanted to practice performing in front of an audience as well as do good to the community. An elderly woman with a frown tightly grasped onto a roll of towel, while another resident sighed as she leaned against her bony arm. I have always thought that elderly people prefer songs like "You are My Sunshine" and "Amazing Grace" over classical music. Was it mistake to play the wonders of Beethoven, Chopin and Debussy? Would they disapprove my performance?
My shivering hands touched the cold surface of the piano as I began the piece. Soon, all my fears dissipated away as everything came to life through the piece. Heaven's door opened and the sun peeked slowly out of the cotton candy clouds. My heart fluttered and the grace of Arabesque swirled throughout the solarium. The final notes faded into the light. I smiled not because of the small claps of appreciation, but because I saw smiles on their faces, that I have impacted them with my performance.
I am able to overcome my hardships by sharing my joy, sadness, and anger to my audience through piano. Music is essential to the society, because it provides a way to communicate by capturing expressions that cannot be put into words. I believe music has the power to emotionally impact the life of each individual unlike any other, as it did to the residents of the nursing home.