My First Impression of a life of music - Nathaniel Zhang

" The true beauty of music is that it connects people. It carries a message, and we, the musicians, are the messengers."    
~ Roy Ayers

Before I first left for my college visit to the Eastman School of Music, I was always the only one among my friends to studied music. Compared to everyone else, I was heading down a very different path, and I was reminded of that everyday at school. While my friends discussed math and science problems, I pondered the best way to interpret the meaning and context of my repertoire. When my friends collaborated on computer science projects, I rehearsed concertos with my piano teachers. However, as I toured the Eastman practice room buildings and concert halls, music and musicians were everywhere! Even in restrooms, talk about repertoire, lessons, and music theory filled the air! In my introductory lesson with Dr. Alan Chow, I was absolutely amazed by the way he taught. From measures, he showed me all sorts of textures, tones, and interpretations. From phrases, he showed me characters and emotions. From sections, he showed me the context and significance of the work. From my lesson, I had become truly enlightened. Even though the students there all played different instruments, everybody spoke the same language. Coming to Eastman was a truly inspiring experience, for it showed me how music connects everyone together.

A picture of my friend John Cao at the Eastman School of Music