I still remember the glisten of it when my sister first opened the case she brought home. Since my sister was a flutist, I was intrigued as to why she had brought a large case home. I watched every movement as she put the instrument together until she played. At that moment, I swore that I was going to learn how to play saxophone. Fast forward to my freshman year, and I was a percussionist in marching band and saxophonist in the wind ensemble and jazz band. Nonetheless, I decided I was going to be the best musician and student I could be all year. When the second semester came, there was an event for my band program where students played as soloists or in chamber groups in front of judges. This excited me because it meant that I could get help on how to become a better musician. So, I signed up for four performances. Those four included an octet, a quintet, a duet, and a solo. I learned about how to balance volume depending on the different group sizes, the importance of having good tone, how to subdivide, and how to play musically. Then, at the end of the night, my band director asked me to come see him. There in his office was him, the assistant band director, and all four judges I played for. Then, they all congratulated me for working so hard throughout the day and taking advantage of the opportunity to not only share my music but expand upon it. But, not everything came so easy, later that year, I had to quit playing percussion and switch to marching tuba.I was no longer enjoying the people I was with because they were drama-queens and the tuba section needed more numbers. Et voila, I was learning a new instrument. This came with a challenge. I’m a woodwind player and tuba is a brass instrument so the mechanics and the embouchure are different. But, after a lot of practice, I was able to play well and easily switch between the two. While it meant that I had to sacrifice half of my time I usually spent practicing saxophone, it helped me gain a better understanding of time management and expanded my capabilities as a musician, which came in handy my junior year. In my junior year, my school’s drama club decided they wanted a live band to play music for their musical. This responsibility was left to the jazz band. But, theatre music isn’t like jazz band at all. I had to learn two new instruments: flute and clarinet. Luckily, I already knew how to learn a new instrument because of my time as a tuba player, but this time I didn’t have four months to get good, I had a month. So, I hit the grind and every day after school I’d pick up either the flute or the clarinet and I’d start practicing. By the time the musical was in full motion, I was playing the part comfortably. In some songs I was playing saxophone, in others I was playing flute, some I had to play clarinet, but in most of the songs, I was switching between all three. While it took a lot of focus and effort, it was exciting and enjoyable, as well as a great learning experience for me. Now, I’m choosing to pursue a degree and a career in music. I would like to make my own music and teach. I know that it means I have to continue working hard, but it’s something I’m looking forward to accomplishing.