Lauren Bowen

 LAB2239

October 17, 2006

Inspiration in C Major

   Lawrence W. Speck proclaimed that in order to “expand [a] position of leadership [one] must truly be an agent for positive change.”¹ As I peer out on to this fascinating campus, I ask myself if I could “truly be an agent of positive change.” Should I “pursue a profession that offers a decent standard of living and perhaps a dollop of prestige?”² Or, should I follow the passions that have blossomed inside of me? The choice that I make sets the path that I will follow in the future, and, in turn, will determine the change that I make in others’ lives. I have prepared for this transition to college, but I have not prepared myself to transform others.  However, after combing through my passions, goals, and ultimate desires, I believe that I could be a catalyst in others’ lives by means of motivation. Many people lack a certain push or nudge needed to prompt a specific aspiration or dream. I, too, fell into this same trap of confusion, but found the light at the end of the tunnel. For me, this light happened to be the film Amadeus. As a young musician at the age of eleven, I felt as if I shared the same complex as the main character, Salieri. Salieri felt the need to create and share music with everyone. I felt this same urge at a young age and, ever since, have questioned my ability to instill musical knowledge in others. Amadeus defined my inner angst and articulated my need to further my passions. Mahatma Gandhi once noted that “you must be the change you see within the world.”  For each individual to take on the role of altering lives, “the journey into the future [must be] fueled by talent, character, and hard work.”³ Both music and film instilled certain attributes within me. Particular attributes that, without, would not have carried me to where I am today. Without music and film acting as outlets of freedom and expression, I would not have the same principles and habits. In all, it seems as if the only way to be an agent of positive change is to pursue what I love the most and know the best: music and film. By using my talent, character, and hard work, my positive change would be to motivate others and spread inspiration to many with music and film.

When it comes to music, I cannot verbalize my appreciation.  It would be easier to insert Tchaikovsky’s fifth movement for horn or Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” to sum up my love.  My passion began with years of watching my older sister play the flute.  I found it mesmerizing how she could blow air through a long pipe and out came the sweetest, most pleasing melody.  Soon enough, my day came when I was a mere sixth grader anxiously awaiting my interview with the band director to determine which instrument suited me the best.  From the second I laid my eyes on one, I knew that the French horn would be my instrument of choice.  I practiced every day hoping to earn the coveted first chair in beginner’s band.  The A-flat major scale was the main part of our chair test and, luckily, the only thing I had practiced that week.  From the second I sat in that honored seat, I found it hard to move. With enough hard work and determination, I was surpassing my wishes and reaching for something much less tangible: success.  As I entered high school, I strived more than ever to become the best possible player I could be.  I noticed that with every extra hour of practice a day, I was slowly growing as a musician and as a leader.  Not only was I noticing this growth, but my band directors and peers were as well.  Surely, I was due for some type of reward for my hard work.  As junior year rolled around, I worked harder than ever on etudes and scales, hoping to earn a place in the region band.  My efforts, however, carried me much further than I ever anticipated.  That year, I made Texas All-State band.  I surpassed the level of region band, moved forward past area band, and was ranked as one of the fifteen best French horn players in the state of Texas.  This honor solidified my strength as a musician. The respect I gained for music created “a habit of mind [that] formed which [has lasted] through life, of which [my newly gained attributes were] freedom, equitableness, calmness, moderation, and wisdom,” as Newman mentioned in “The Idea of a University.”⁴ From that point on, I resolved to inspire others through music, hoping that they, too, would find an outlet for their personal aspirations. 

Now, as a freshman in college, I often find myself reexamining my musical pilgrimage and how it has completely altered my senses.  Much like Gustav Mahler, I strongly believe that “what's best in music is not to be found in the notes.”⁵ Although melodies may be moving or trigger a certain feeling, the true inspiration is the knowledge and expansion of thoughts one grasps when focused in this field.  On my pilgrimage, I have learned that through music, “any kind of knowledge, if it really be such, is its own reward.”⁶

So now I ask myself, how could I possibly convey this appreciation of musical knowledge to others?  The answer lies in my second passion: film.  In seventh grade, my mother went to Circuit City to purchase a new camcorder.  Little did I know that this purchase would breed a whole new passion.  From the moment the camera came out of the box and into to the palms of my hands, my days became short films.  I began viewing my life as a series of scenes that I could record and make into a movie.  This newfound perspective on my days increased my love for film.  Soon thereafter, I started to make my own short movies and music videos to share with my friends.  I was surprised at how elated I felt after finishing a video and decided that I should go into radio, television, and film when I entered college. Though it is a leap from hobby to possible career, I have just started to dip my feet in this large sea of media. Before entering college, I decided to watch Amadeus again to rekindle that feeling of musical stimulation. This viewing not only revived my passion for music, but also opened my eyes to the aesthetic genius the film encapsulated. The masterpiece this movie proved to be furthered my desire for creating touching films. Paired with the compelling music, I was left in awe after my second viewing. Once again, Amadeus shined through and provided me with a newer and more vivid idea of where my future was headed. The perfect combination of gripping music and incredible film techniques encapsulated my personal aspirations. This movie not only spread new light on my future, but also gave me a template to refer to when in need of motivation.

Now, with these two passions at hand, how could I inspire others through my love of music and film?  The solution is easy: simply create influential films and incorporate powerful music in order to convey easily the importance of music appreciation.  If only it were that easy.  I don’t plan on filming a movie and adding in music and automatically seeing the change that I wish to make.  I do, however, want to “create artistic and emotional beauty…[create] a satisfying narrative, and come up with inventions the world didn’t know it was missing.”⁷ The inventions I aspire to produce run along the lines of mixing film and music hopefully to create a more accepting mind-set of music.  This is not to say that our society is numb to the importance of music.  I would like to instill the same emotions in others as the ones I had the day my hard work paid off.  I realized that my knowledge in music was enough of a reward and should share this prize with others.  For that reason, I whole-heartedly “throw [myself] into [others’] state[s] of mind, [hoping] to influence them…[and coming] to an understanding with them”⁸ in order to create my positive change. 

With my aspirations stated, I can now answer why I feel the need to influence or inspire others.  As I was growing up, I found it hard to become motivated. Gradually, I realized that other people, such as my sister, had an effect on my interests.  Therefore, I wish to act as the motivator for those who do not have an aspiration. I do not hope that others find an aspiration in music and music only, but rather an interest in anything at all.  The incorporation of music in my films would hopefully trigger an interest and potentially create a newfound admiration for this art.  By being a human catalyst in others’ lives, I believe that I could provide the motivation many lack. Although it may be a long time for me to reach my goals, my potential for change is immeasurable. For example, I can envision a time where audiences will be viewing a film of mine.  Suddenly, a dramatic scene takes place wherein “Andante Cantible” by Tchaikovsky slowly eases its sound into the film.  The audience would then become enthralled and, in turn, butterflies would fill everyone’s stomachs and a select few would be inspired by the scene and feel motivated to accomplish a lifelong goal or create a new interest.  As Gustav Mahler said, I believe that it is not the actual rhythm or notes that makes music what it is, it is the feeling one receives when music is played.  Through music and film, I hope to ignite certain feelings, passions, and aspirations in others much like the ones I have experienced in the past.  Just knowing that I influenced one person would fulfill a lifetime of personal wishes.  Because music has been such a beneficial knowledge to me, I could not help but spread this knowledge to others through film.  This pilgrimage I plan to embark on would fill in a missing puzzle piece in my life.  I have connected the pieces that have given the musical knowledge as well as the pieces that have given me the passion for film.  However, a gap will always reside within me until I feel as if my spreading of music through film has left an impact on at least one individual. By acting as the motivational catalyst, I will help individuals find a missing puzzle piece in their own lives and act as the push many seek to accomplish goals.  I can now view my pilgrimage as either ending or just beginning.  Years and years of hard work and an open-mind have allowed me to excel musically.  Now, as the winds of change are blowing, I aspire to create the same ideals such as open-mindedness and inspiration in others’ minds.  Therefore, my musical pilgrimage has come to a close, but my motivational pilgrimage has just begun. 

The Varying Aspects of my Future 1

Word Count: 1,864

1. Lawrence W. Speck, “The Core Purposes of the University”, in Explore Texas, ed. Jerome Bump (Austin: Jenn’s Copy & Binding, 2006), 298.
2. Daniel H. Pink, “Revenge of the Right Brain”, in Explore Texas, ed. Jerome Bump (Austin: Jenn’s Copy & Binding, 2006), 324.
3. James W. Vick, “The Core Purposes of the University”, in Explore Texas, ed. Jerome Bump (Austin: Jenn’s Copy & Binding, 2006), 298.
4. John Henry Newman, “The Idea of a University, 1852”, in Explore Texas, ed. Jerome Bump (Austin: Jenn’s Copy & Binding, 2006), 309.
5. Ron Nelson, “The Music Makes the Difference”, Relative Rhythm, 2006, http://www.relativerhythm.com/.
6. John Henry Newman, “The Idea of a University, 1852”, in Explore Texas, ed. Jerome Bump (Austin: Jenn’s Copy & Binding, 2006), 309.
7. Daniel H. Pink, “Revenge of the Right Brain”, in Explore Texas, ed. Jerome Bump (Austin: Jenn’s Copy & Binding, 2006), 326.
8. John Henry Newman, “The Idea of a University, 1852”, in Explore Texas, ed. Jerome Bump (Austin: Jenn’s Copy & Binding, 2006), 311.

-Lauren in the QVMS Beginner Band 1 p.2: Picture taken By Lifetime Pictures

-The TMEA Patch every all-stater receives 1 p.3: Picture from http://www.tmea.org/

-Documenting the festivities at a party 1 p.4: Picture taken by Alex Park http://utexas.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=30001300&op=6&o=all&view=all&subj=1544220010&id=1544220089

-My Light at the End of the Tunnel 2 p.5: Picture taken from http://movies.warnerbros.com/amadeus/

-The varying aspects of my future 1 p.7: Pictures used from Microsoft Word Clip Art Gallery

-Watermarks (p.1) are from Microsoft Word Clip Art Gallery