PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT Presentation By: Monica Saxe

WHAT IS IT?  Playing a instrument  Where you pick a instrument of choice and make music with it  You could be playing it for years if you wish  You eventually get a connection with the musical instrument  It seems that you can get a sense of mental peace once you have had it for a couple years

WHY DO I LIKE IT?  First of all, I play an instrument.  When time’s are tough for me, I play my instrument and put emotion into my music to express myself  It’s a type of relaxation for myself  I think playing an instrument is part of making me unique

HOW DID I GET INTERESTED IN IT?  I was at the age of 6  My parent’s, brother and I were driving to see Swan Lake  Our parents then asked us a question, “What do you kid’s want to do with your lives?”  They asked my brother first, “Do you want to play piano or guitar?”  My brother chose the “guitar”, and they seemed to be very surprised of his choice.  My parents asked me a similar question, “Monica, would you rather play the violin, or be a pretty ballerina?”  I considered the thought in my young head then I spoke out-loud, “Well, I don’t want to break my legs, so I want to play the violin thing!”  It was a really random moment, but I started the violin, then I got interested and continued playing for 7 years so far.

WHAT KIND OF INSTRUMENT DO I PLAY?  I play the violin  I’ve been playing for 7 years, and started at the age of 6.  I try to practice a maximum of 1-2 hours a day  I’m in a orchestra called “Junior Niagara Youth Orchestra”, it’s the junior division of the organization, I might switch to the senior’s next year.

WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO I PLAY?  I was trained to play classical music, I mainly play it  I sometimes try to print a few popular songs to play for fun  It depends what my concert band, or orchestra decides for us to play  I’m also still learning, I go to a music school, so I also play by a music book.

FAVOURITE SONGS OF MINE  Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi  Viva La Vida by Coldplay  Zigerunerweisen by Pablo de Sarasate  Radioactive by Imagine Dragons  To Play Hide and Seek with Jealousy by Famous Last Words  Phenomenon by Thousand Foot Krutch  Monster by Skillet

WHAT IT INVOLVES?  A Instrument  Music Sheets  A Music Stand  Time  Effort  Care for your instrument

WHY OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD TRY MY TOPIC?  It’s something new and unique  You could always tell your friends you play an awesome instrument  You’ll have a new talent  You never know, you could be famous one day if you put commitment

FAMOUS MUSICIANS  Yi-Jia Susanna Hou (Professional Violinist)  Sting (Singer Song-Writer, Multi-Instrumentalist,)  Antonio Vivaldi (Italian Baroque Composer, Virtuoso Violinist)  Ludwig Van Beethoven (German Composer, Pianist)  Louis Armstrong (American Jazz Trumpeter, Singer)  Johann Sebastian Bach (German Composer, Musician of The Baroque Period

HOW MUCH MONEY DO MOST INSTRUMENTS COST?  The common guitar would usually cost up to $300  An average drum kit could be at least $200  A piano could be anywhere from $3,000 to $100,000  A violin could cost up to $85-$300

WHERE DO MOST MUSICIANS GO?  The most popular singers you know usually move out to live their life in places like: “LA, Hollywood, California, New York, Chicago, Miami.”

WHY DO SOME PEOPLE NOT LIKE MUSIC?  Some people don’t seem to like loud sounds, or repeated sounds  It may be unappealing to them or extremely boring  It’s wasting their time and they have other stuff to do

THANKS FOR WATCHING!