1. 2259 Epperson Road
Canton, GA 30115
April 18th 2012
Judges, Senior Project
Creekview High School
1550 Owens Store Road
Canton, GA 30115
Dear Judges:
Hello, my name is Rachel Whitted and I’m an oboist here in the Creekview Wind Ensemble. I
also play in the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra, have participated in marching band all four
years of high school, I have been in Rocketry for two years, and play oboe in Due West United
Methodist Church Orchestra. My senior project goal was to teach a middle school student how to
play the oboe. This project has enabled me to decide that I, without a doubt, want to be a
musician for the rest of my life. I will be enrolled as a Music Performance Major at Georgia
State University in the Fall of 2012.
My research paper topic was about Music Education and how little we value it in today’s society.
I believe that Music Education is very important in young students and greatly shapes their life
and helps them learn valuable life lessons and gives them a great hobby to have. At first it was
difficult finding someone enthusiastic about learning the oboe and with time available in their
schedule to learn it. When I met my student, thanks to help from Mr. Carter at the middle school,
I knew she was the best student with a great drive and desire to learn. I have been teaching my
student, Sydney Holden, throughout the year and both of us have made considerable progress in
different ways. Sydney has learned how to read music proficiently, use her air to create a smooth
sound on the oboe, and how to form an embouchure properly. I have learned a lot through this
process and most of it I did not plan to learn when I first decided on this project. As I continued
to teach Sydney I learned that I need to learn how to make and adjust reeds. Another problem I
did not anticipate was the poor quality of the middle school oboe that she has been playing on
and it constantly falling out of adjustment. I have been able to learn how to adjust oboes, a rare
skill, from teaching her. I am now able to adjust oboes, which has been greatly beneficial to
Sydney and me.
My project as a whole ties in very clearly with Music Education. I am very passionate about how
important music is in the lives of young students. This project has been such a joy that I am
positive now that I want to pursue music after high school. I plan to be a Music Performance
major and eventually get a doctorate in Music Performance and then teach oboe at the college
level. I also want to teach private lessons to oboe students and various other woodwind students
after I become proficient in other woodwind instruments. I want to continue performing and
hope to play a part in a Symphony Orchestra and I hope to be a professional and accomplished
musician.
This project has been really beneficial and I have really enjoyed it. It has helped me confirm my
desire to pursue music as a career. I believe that a lot of students have negative opinions on this

2. project, but I believe if everyone keeps an open mind they can get as much enjoyment and
experience out of it as I have. Thank you for the time you have taken to read this letter and
consider my project.
Sincerely,
Rachel Whitted