Prompt #2
Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud, and how does it relate to the person you are? *
I am well versed in the melodious etudes of Chopin, the frivolous works of Rachmaninoff, the complexities of Beethoven’s muse. I went to CSSSA, California State Summer School of the Arts, with a mountain of readiness. My glass fortress was shattered when they presented us “Lancaran Kembang Jeruk”, a Javanese Gamelan piece.
CSSSA is a month long training program which consists of a variety of different artistic ‘majors’. I was put into the Music program as a piano major. Contrary to my expectations, the music department was given various classes depending on their skill in the area of music theory. Since the previous year I had completed a Music Theory course, I easily was placed in the highest group, thus giving me less a wider selection of classes than other people. My agenda ranged from the homely private lessons from my accomplished teacher, to the foreign chimes and drums of Bali and Africa.
I easily practiced hours and hours to hone and perfect my performance pieces given by instructor during our private lessons. The skills that I used here were routine, things I had learned due to previous years of practice. With my piano, I learned the Beethoven, the Mozart- anything that my private teacher could throw at me. With a few hours of practice, I tuned and worked at the pieces.
Contrary to my expectations, the foreign genres were the excruciatingly difficult. Since this had been my first time exposed to these areas, I had trouble keeping up with the rest of my class. I was faced with an increasing workload, and I could not solve my problems by myself. I remember sitting with my instruments after class for hours, trying to understand the simplest of chants, rhythms, and signals. What I practiced during this time went through one ear and out the other. My practice sessions were often fruitless.
Out of desperation, I contacted my roommates and asked them for a tutoring session. Contrary to what I had expected, the learning experience was very pleasant. I can remember, as my new tutors chanted African words over and over again while playing on various drums, chimes- whatever I had problems with. I would work on the piece for hours until each syllable was in perfect harmony with the sound of the beating drums.
After hours and hours of practice, I had finally completed my arsenal of African Drumming and Balinese Gamelan, it was time for the performance. Needless to say, the performance went flawlessly, each of us in perfect unity. The African Chanting during the performance was exhilarating.
I had walked away from CSSSA a completely changed person. Before now, I had not encountered the Balinese section of music, so I had no idea how to keep up with the class. This experience involving my future friends changed the way I viewed my studies in a way nothing else could ever do.