The Music's In My Blood

Music is absolutely, undeniably influential. Did I just sound smart? It's like music to my ears . . .

Music makes the movies the movies. I mean, come on! Who would watch a movie that had no sound or background music? Talk about yawn!


iPods would be literally non-existent. Them, and every MP3 player to hit the market. A life with no portable music players? Somebody call an ambulance, cuz I think I'm going to have a heart attack!


I grew up on music. I mean, seriously. Literally, I was a music freak. I started taking piano lessons when I was 7 years old. Miss Suzanne was the name of my first of many piano teachers to come . . . and then go, of course. After Miss Suzanne, was Miss Wright, Miss Wenger (who became a great friend as I got older), Mr. VanMasdam, Mrs. Creswell, and last but certainly not least, Mr. Mayer.


But I didn't just play piano. I HAD to be a part of the band after I discovered one of my friends was in it. So I joined, and like every ingenious 6th grader, I took up the one instrument that I was fully capable of playing on the first day: percussion.


And then I realized it wasn't as easy as hitting a drum with a stick. It was crazy hard . . . but hands down, the most fun thing I have ever done in my life.


Elementary choir didn't do it for me, so I joined Junior High choir, and later on, High School choir. But who joins a choir without trying out for the ensembles? So I got past tri-outs and made it into the elite singing groups of Voices of Joy and Voices of Praise.


But if you really liked to have fun with music at school, you had to be apart of the Handbell Choir. This, with no doubt, was the BEST group to be a part of music and still have the wonderful opportunity of messing around with your friends for 45 minutes a class. Of course, I couldn't just do handbell choir, though. I wanted more. So I decided to become part of the Handbell Ensemble. We were so pumped about it, we even planned a Saturday get-together and went out to eat. Fun times!


And then there was Percussion Ensemble. Could you throw the word "fun" out there any harder? This was my ultimate favorite. After taking snare drums lessons for two years, the drum became my newest best friend. I had the record of being the only percussionist in band who played too loudly (everyone else committed the pitiful crime of not being able to be heard). It was a crime enjoyed committing daily.


Church orchestra became a bit of a drag, but being a percussionist always had its perks. Again, this time on the timpani, I was the only percussionist who played too loudly. Then again, who would not take advantage of having four kettle drums at their disposal? I would not let up such an opportunity that presented itself.


Music groups became only a part of music that I really enjoyed, though. I wanted something different, something new, something fresh to keep the beat alive in me, so I decided that I should try a new instrument my sophomore year that no one ever played: the organ. Now, I can hear you saying right now, "Don't only old grannies play the organ in church? Wait - people still play that ancient instrument?"


Yes, people, I do, indeed, play the organ. And trust me, I haven't grown my first white hair yet. Doesn't anyone remember the classics? Toccata in E Minor? It's like the most famous song ever - but no one matches the name with the song. I guarantee that if you heard the song, you would agree that you've heard it before and that it's a classic. And what about Phanton of the Opera? Don't think any grannies were sitting around, attempting that masterpiece on the organ! That is amazing music. How about "Take Me Out to the Ballgame?" Think your grandma could tough that one out? I don't think so.


Have I proven my point yet, or are you still convince that organ is for loser grandmas in church settings only?


How about those old horror movies. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about . . . half of their theme songs are played on the organ! Ever seen the musical Wicked? Yeah, that's pretty recent. Guess what - they use a freakin' organ!!! And what's the classic song that most brides walk down the aisle to? "Here Comes the Bride." Would you believe that it is played on an organ?


Okay, so I'll get off my organ defense pedestal and calm myself. But I want all five of the people (if five people even waste their time) who read this to know that organ is not an ancient instrument reserved for the boring, old in age losers (and if they play the organ, of course they can't be losers, haha).


After taking percussions lessons for a couple years, still continuing organ and piano lessons, and remaining involved with all of the many music groups, I still felt like I should take something new on in music. And that's when my mom bought me my first real guitar. I had been wanting to actually play guitar since I was a little kid. When I was about 7 or 8, I went to this garage sale and bought this ancient guitar, hoping that I could take lessons up. A couple years later, I went to one of the music teachers at my school, telling him about my interest in taking up guitar. He had me hold the guitar, but once he took a look at my fingers, he told me that they were too small for me to play the guitar. Disappointed, I walked away, figuring that was the first and last time I would ever hold a guitar. Eight years later, I'm sitting with a new guitar, and a contract to start taking my first lessons at a studio. My teacher ended up being a bit of a punk, but she showed me the basics. Sadly, she neglected to teach me actual chords and only taught me how to play a few songs. The exciting and pinnacle of my career in playing guitar is when I got to play a duet with my friend, Carey, in my Senior Recital in high school. The song didn't go over the best, but I'll certainly never forget the experience.


I wish today that I could tell you that I have kept up with all of that amazing music - the band, the choir, the ensembles. Percussion, organ, piano, guitar. All of it.


It had been decided from the very beginning. I was to be a church music major at Bob Jones University. But God had different plans in mind for me.


During my sister's sophomore year at BJ, a number of issues presented themselves that led to her transfer to Maranatha Baptist Bible College. This situation, along with praying, some pros, and a lot of confusion, I made the decision to attend Maranatha as well.


The music program at MBBC did not offer the world like it did at Bob Jones. I went in as a Speech Education major, next to the other two lonely and only speech ed majors at the college. Would you believe that major doesn't even exist now?


Right now, the most music that happens in my life is a little of the fiddling around I do on the piano. Going down memory lane, opening up the old yearbooks, and thinking back to the past is difficult for me. A large portion of who I used to be was lost. Freshman year, I did make some wonderful friends, but friends that did not share any of my interest in music. I truly feel like I lost a part of who I was and had grown up to be. It wasn't until this past summer that I felt like I had discovered a little bit of myself all over again.


I had been going through pictures I had found. Pictures from miscellaneous competitions, events, and trips - many of them dealing with music. Choir tours, handbell trips, nationals, band tours, festivals, state competitions, the whole deal. Can I not articulate how much I miss those times?


I realized that part of who I am was missing, and I'm so excited to say that I'm ready to meet up with a little of my old self again. In one of my older blog posts, I mentioned how I wanted to join the choir and maybe the orchestra as well. I would even like to commute to Madison to take up organ lessons again.


I don't know what that future holds, but I am holding on to the possibility of returning to the music I once loved and played every single day of my life. Music has always been a part of my life, and I don't think I'm ready to give it up quite yet.


To end this post with something random, yet relevent, I'll add the lyrics to a song. It's so true how you can not only be incredibly blessed and encouraged by playing music, but that you can be emotionally swept into a song just by listening to the music - the lyrics, the orchestration, the instrumentation, the instrument or voice from which the music is coming from. When I was sick about a week ago, I had a hard time talking for a few days, and I had more than enough time to be thinking. I thought it was amazing how God had brought certain lyrics from a song to my mind over and over and OVER again that entire week when I became really sad and discouraged.

So here are the lyrics that kept me going from "You're Not Alone," by Meredith Andrews (Verse 2 is my favorite):

I searched for love
When the night came and it closed in
I was alone
but you found me where I was hiding
and now I'll never ever be the same
It was the sweetest voice that called my name
saying

You're not alone
For I am here
let me wipe away your every fear
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest night
and I'm the one who's loved you all your life
All of your life

You cry yourself to sleep
cause the hurt is real
and the pain cuts deep
All hope seems lost
With heartache your closest friend
and everyone else long gone

You've had to face the music on your own
but there is a sweeter song that calls you home
saying

You're not alone
For I am here
let me wipe away your every tear
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through the darkest nights
And I'm the one who's love you all your life
All your life

Faithful and true... Forever
For my love will carry you....

You're not alone for I... I am here
let me wipe away your every fear... Oh yeah
My love I've never left your side
I have seen you through your darkest nights
Your darkest nights
And I'm the one who's loved you all your life
All of your life