Music to Me Winners
Congratulations to all of the wonderful entries!
There were so many good entries that our committee had a very hard time choosing our finalists becaus they felt like all of the entries were winners! Thanks to everyone that entered!
The entries are in no particular order.
Special Place for my Family
My earliest memories of music around my childhood home were of my mother singing along with vinyl LP's on our record player . To this day she still sings with the voice of an angel in her church choir .
Secrets" which to this day I ask her to play for me when she is home. Through many years of practicing and playing the piano , flute and now the harp , I always enjoy hearing my daughters play something for me . This is a picture of Jennifer practicing on a harp borrowed from a very special person who is a concert harpist here locally.
Music will always have a special place in the lives of my family.
Too Much Practice
This is a picture of me when I passed out and went to sleep from practicing all day and all night. This photo shows how big of a role my music is in my life. This picture also shows how much time and effort I put in my music. Finally this photo shows how important my music is to me. I am using my time practicing rather than playing the game.
Different Aspects of Music
This collage of pictures defines what music means to me. Just as there are many different aspects in this picture, there are many different aspects in music. Music brings everyone together, just like I have demonstrated in this picture. Music doesn’t care about what color you are, where you are from, or about the people you hangout with. Music is just pleasing to the soul and ears and everyone can relate to it. Music can also be played and heard in many different ways as I have shown in this picture. No matter how you like to enjoy it, everyone loves it in his or her own way. Music is special to me and if there was no music in this world I don’t know what I would do. Music brings out people’s emotions from inside. Last, my picture shows those who make music. These people help to bring us music so that everyone can enjoy it. Music brings the world together in perfect harmony. Without music, there will be nothing to dance to, sing to, listen to, or no reason to use musical instruments. So, what do I think that music means? Music means diversity, music is joy, music is power, music is inspirational, music is love, music shows different cultures, music is meaningful, and music brings everyone together. This is what music means to me.
History and Legacy
I took this picture last summer during the Turner Picnic in Gravel Springs Mississippi., of Sharde (Thomas) Turner and The Rising Star Fife and Drum Band.
One has to ask, How did drum and fife music find it's way to the delta? Are the roots as far as Northern and Western Africa, or even Britain.? Could it be thousands of years old? If you think about music as an oral and cultural tradition how did this music stay alive so long and travel so far? Or like Jazz is it one of America's true
classical music forms?
What's very sad and alarming to me, is that we have lost Otha Turner, along with R.L Burnside, Jessie Mae Hemphill and Junior Kimbrough, practitioners of hill country blues. Otha died about five years ago at 94, and was possibly the only african american cane fife players in a vanishing musical tradition. However, Sharde, his gradaughter is keeping the history and his legacy alive.
Sadly languages die, traditions become extinct, music programs get cut from school budgets....
Along with the Evans', the Thomas' and the Burnside brothers, (the families and relatives that have kept the Turner picnic going for fifty years)...and Sharde Turner. My faith was restored a little this summer, and this picture reminds me of how transforming hearing the live experience can be. Keep the blues alive.
Musical Hands
At one year old, my son is already full of the same wonder and fascination with music that I had as a boy. At the center of that wonder and fascination are the hands of my father - his grandfather - passing his love of music to our youngest generation one note and one chipped key at a time.
Music to Me Finalists
The following entries (in no particular order) were Finalists in the Music to Me Contest, either by popular vote on the website or chosen by the committee.
Amy's Hands
This is a picture of hands that express the emotions of
the soul thru music. Sixteen years ago, they were small little fingers that were directed to middle C. Now they
are the graceful technically adept hands of a young woman. These are AMY’S HANDS.
I began to teach Amy piano before kindergarten, sitting thru each practice session to show my support. There was a special jar filled with paper scraps for her to draw from at the end of each week after practicing “with no grumblings.” The small pieces of paper would list things like, “Amy gets to go to bed ½ hour later on Friday night,” or “Amy gets to choose bubblegum flavored toothpaste next time.” She began to blossom and excel.
Now Amy is a senior “ scholarship” music major at Union University in Jackson, preparing a 30 minute memorized “ senior recital” of Debussey, Mozart etc. I could listen to her for hours and this mother is humbled and proud.
A Little Blind Girl Taught Me To See
It was with great trepidation that I opened the front door of my house that day in 2006. What on earth was I thinking! I didn't know anything about teaching music to someone who was blind! But there she stood, the most beautiful little six-year old little girl. Her name was Caia. I took her hand and led her and her mother into my home. I was so nervous, but not little Caia. She immediately spoke up saying, "Hello, I understand that you are going to teach me to play the piano. I hope you also teach me to sing, for I love to sing."
After nine months of study, I presented Caia in my group music recital at Beth Sholom Synagogue, She accompanied herself on the piano as she sang, and then I played for her to sing. Many in the audience wept.
All I can say is that I am still understanding what it means to work with someone like Caia who has taught me to see with my ears and heart and mind. What complete joy there is in seeing persons such as Caia learn and develop musically as well as a total person. Also, as Caia learns, I too continue to learn and look and hear and feel music a little differently because of the influence on my life of this small wise person. I have become the blind person who has learned to use her other senses, not just sight and hearing and feeling; but love and understanding and patience; while Caia has become the sighted person who has taught me how to really begin to see. What a journey I am having.
Sharing Music with Sister
To me, music is a gift that can touch anyone and everyone. Being able to share this gift with my sister is an honor. Seeing her tackle a difficult piece allows me to feel what music really is. The feeling of accomplishment from hard work and perseverance is the feeling above all others.
Another Language
What music means to me is so much and very important. It’s a way that I can express my thoughts and feelings. It’s just like reading another language that you could understand. Every time I play the violin I feel that if I try my best I could be someone in the world.
Beautiful Life
This is a photo of a 14 year old violinist from Holdenville, OK. She has been studying the violin for over 4 years. She fell in love with the instrument after her older cousin, and photographer of this photo, started pursuing a professional career as a fiddle player and private teacher. Katy's talent is very versatile and is completely raw. Her training with her cousin has changed her life in many ways. Katy comes from an athletic family and music isn't a big deal when it comes to activities. She has decided to take a different turn in her life and pursue something different. She has struggled with overcoming some anxiety and nerve issues while studying the violin. She now confidently performs in various events and concerts and holds her head high with the confidence that music has given her. She is an inspiration to those who are afraid to go against the grain and step out of their box. She is an active music student that is working hard to learn everything she can. She now has plans of starting her own private teaching studio after high school. With this story, it proves that music can shape your life to it's most beautiful result.
Kash Violin
I am happy to be doing new experiences in music. In this picture, I wanted to show that I love playing violin. I love playing violin because I learn more about the past and history. It is a very fun instrument to play with, and I get to meet new people, like teachers, during the years I learn violin.
"Wake up, let's go play!" I am astonished that I get to use this invocation most mornings with my youngest son. For me, music provides the context for daily practical parenting seminars. While we play violin, we practice getting along, patience, and loving one another.