35 Projects

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRSJdJfVm7E

Symphony No. 9 composed by Antonín Dvořák in 1893 is a complex piece composed of four movements. In May of 2023, our orchestra was tasked with playing the final movement, IV. Allegro con fuoco. With this piece lasting about 12 minutes, it was one of the hardest and most amazing accomplishments I have done throughout my life so far. Instead of including a video of just me playing, I thought it would be more important to show the entire piece because that is what truly made an impact on me and helped create a bigger picture on how music affected me.

I have been playing the violin since I was in fifth grade when everyone in my class had the opportunity to play whatever instrument they wanted. I came from a musical family where my parents played in band and my brother played in both orchestra and band. I would often watch my brother’s concerts growing up and it was one of my favorite things to do. Although I went to both his band and orchestra concerts, my favorite was watching him play in the orchestra. I was perplexed by the way the players fingers glided across the strings and how they would sway with the music they were playing or even play with their eyes closed at times. Listening to the music myself calmed me and made me feel relaxed.

By the time I started playing, the music was easy for me. Throughout elementary and middle school I was usually one of the top four chairs. The top chairs are assigned to the best players in the orchestra. By the time I got to my junior year of high school I was playing in the top orchestra with the best players. Although I was not in the first chairs, I was still grateful that I had the opportunity to play with such amazing and intelligent players. Our conductor, Joshua Reznicow was brilliant and always pushed us to play famously hard and notorious pieces.

Around January of 2023 is when he assigned Symphony No. 9 to our full symphony orchestra and at first glance of the piece I was already stressed about the complexity of it. Every day at school we would have class in the morning for about 45 minutes with just the string players and then twice a week after school we would play with the entire symphony orchestra. I would also have lessons once a week for an hour with just me and my lesson teacher where we would practice the pieces that I was playing. Although playing for me was stressful at times, it was a great way for me to destress and relax. Once my fingers and bow hits the string and the music flows, I feel euphoric and I get a feeling that is so extraordinary. Listening to music is one thing, but being able to play it is even better. I can still remember the goosebumps that I get everytime that our ensemble plays the first note of the piece.

Playing this song greatly increased my mood and helped me to feel better about whatever was going on in my life during that time. I remember how I had finals and my final weeks of highschool left while we were playing and the stress of it all just kept building and affecting my mood making me tired and angry. Not only did creating music help me mentally, it helped me physically. I felt more active while I was playing music even though the piece was incredibly hard and it took a lot of hard work to be able to move my fingers, arms, and body throughout the entire song. The strain on my body did not affect me as I was so in tune with the music and trying to create it that I took little notice. Actually playing the piece in front of an entire crowd including my family was an amazing feeling. I was so proud to be able to play such an amazing and powerful piece and also be able to spread music and the joy of music to others in my life.