My grandmother began teaching me piano as soon as I was able to crawl up on the piano bench. I remember that I loved listening to her play as a little kid. We would have piano lessons and sometimes she was cooking or baking while I was playing. She would come into the living room and tell me what to play and would go into the kitchen to check on what she was doing there. It was so nice to come out of a piano lesson and have food waiting on the table for you! =)
In the fourth grade I decided I wanted to learn to play the flute. It was pretty easy and I even got into the 60 Second Club...and the only flute too...newspaper picture with the principal and everything. Anyway, Mrs. Hemberger and Mrs. Breckenridge were my music teachers in elementary school and they were wonderful. I loved flute lessons with Mrs. Hemberger!
Sixth grade was middle school and I could choose between choir and band. I chose band, partially because I thought Mr. Maiello seemed like a nice guy...and I was right. He was a fun guy, a great teacher, and I learned a lot from him. I was first chair in band all three years of middle school and by the seventh grade I was also playing piccolo. Flute lessons were always fun and jazz band wasn't too bad either. I'm glad that Mr. Maiello let flutes play in jazz band. If I ever teach on the instrumental track, I'm going to let flutes play in my jazz band.
In the sixth grade I also jumped in and joined the Jefferson Township Community Band. I mostly played flute unless Mr. Tummillo needed me on piccolo.
By seventh grade I was taking private flute lessons with Kim and I learned a lot. I didn't practice as much as I probably should have, but I did really enjoy my lessons with her. Not to mention that her kids are absolutely adorable! I actually kind of miss playing flute. I really only get to play anymore when I'm not busy with a million other things.
I joined the marching band in seventh grade...on the drill team. In eighth grade I switched to the flute section since I wanted to try it out anyway. I really enjoyed it and stuck with it. Not long after that I was playing piccolo out on the field. Smaller the instrument, the better. Anyway, I ended up as section leader for the flute/picc section. Oh boy, was that fun...
JTHS Marching Band Shows
7th Grade - Newsies
8th Grade - The Secret Garden
9th Grade - Muppets Treasure Island
10th Grade - Movie Magic
11th Grade - A Christmas Carol
12th Grade - South Pacific
All through high school, even my freshman year (which surprised me), I was first chair in Symphonic Band. Mr. Tummillo rocked and definitely challenged me. I had some awesome solos and he gave me a lot of separate pieces to work on. It was hard to not be bored when I could sight read most all of the music he put in front of us.
My freshman and senior years I took Lab Band so that I could learn new instruments. I took clarinet my freshman year and alto sax my senior year. I really enjoyed it and would play then in Community Band on occasion.
Instruments I Play
Piano
Flute
Piccolo
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
French Horn
Trumpet
My freshman year I also joined every choir I could. I think I was in everything besides the Men's Ensemble. There was Concert Choir, Chamber Choir, Women's Ensemble, The Grace Notes, Madrigal Singers...and who knows what else. I was Lady Elaine in Madrigal...and my mom made my dress for me! I must say that I'm not much of an actress...but I did really enjoy the Madrigal Feast and everything that went along with it. I would have to say though that my favorite years in it were my freshman and sophmore years...just because of the people...it had an amazing atmosphere to it.
So here I am, at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, and my major is nothing other than Music Education! Hooray! Right. The two people who were major influences on my life in choosing this career...my mother and my grandmother. My mom is a 2nd grade teacher and my grandmother was the one who taught me the very first things I learned about music. Both of these women have had HUGE impacts on who and what I am today. Thank you to both of you!!!