1. One day I was sitting in my Mom’s 2000 green Ford Explorer and I said to her
“Mommy, I know I’m listening to jazz because my foot begins to tap and I just can’t
stop it!” I was nearly five years old when those words came out of my mouth. From
that day forward, music has impacted every aspect of my life. I could name the
voices of Nirvana, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam,
The Beatles, and many more bands and artists by the age of seven. I do not play an
instrument, but I am a huge fan. My mom instilled the love of music in me.
When my peers start talking about their first concerts, my adrenaline starts
pumping and my eyes light up. When it’s my turn to talk, I proudly say Dave
Matthews Band. July 21, 2004 was a day I will never forget. My mom surprised me
by taking me to experience my first concert. I could feel the energy as chills ran up
and down my body. I can still envision the beach balls floating high in the air only to
come back down and land on the audience’s fingertips and lifting back up again. Live
music creates a sensation of belonging. Yes, I was only eight years old when I
attended the show, but it was important to my mother to start me off with a high
quality experience. I fell asleep five songs into the show and my mom had to carry
me out early, but that is where it all began.
Today, as a show approaches, I still get so excited. I tell friends and family
about it, hoping they will join in on the experience. My enthusiasm ends up being
contagious and the number of my friends attending grows immensely. Concerts are
my safe zone. I feel like I can express myself in any way, shape or form. The people
are all there for the performers, my friends are with me, the energy in the room is
positive, and I’m surrounded by live music. There is nothing more beautiful in my
eyes.
The community at a venue is like a bubble. It builds up, floats for a while, and
then pops. The buildup is my favorite part. I’ll listen to the artist’s albums for weeks
imagining what the show will be like. The floating period is when I’m at the show. I
am in an entirely different world taken away by the sounds of the guitar strings,
bass, and drums. But when it’s time, the show is over, the bubble pops and the
momentum to see another show starts again.
Music creates a balance in my life. It lets me escape from the everyday
stresses, and gives me the most comfort. Luckily, music is never dying and will
always follow me. As I get older, the more music becomes my oasis. The memories
of the performances and the memories I make at shows with my friends will stay
with me forever. When I go to college, I will be entering a community of strangers. I
cannot wait to create new experiences and develop new friendships in the next four
years to come.