Percussion

by Sammie Szeto

The Percussionist

The
Wind Player

I look at the music to see what instruments to prepare

I put my instrument together just like every other time

We prepare to ensure success

I know that I set the rhythm for the band to follow

I listen to the tempo behind me and still try to stay with the conductor

We stay together with the conductors help

I hit my instrument

I blow my horn

We practice for many hours

I count the rhythms in my head

I play the notes and count the rests

I focus on my parts and pretend no one is watching

My sound carries through the room

We make the music flow together

I keep the beat steady

I follow the notes

I don’t even think as I switch to a new instrument

I focus on good sound quality and correct notes and rhythms

We do many things

I focus on the different dynamics and rudiments

I lay attention to the length of the notes and dynamics

The sound amplifies

I fear missing a note of playing too quickly

I hope I won’t squeak or play off key

I watch the conductor’s hands as the tempo gradually increases

I hold out my notes as the song comes to a close

Together we make beautiful and emotion filled music

Biography

My name is Sammie Szeto and I am a freshman. When I am not in school, I like to spend my time by watching football or hockey games, listening to my Spotify playlist, or playing soccer. When I am in school, you can find me in the band room practicing percussion for upcoming events.

How do you resonate with your piece? Why is it personal to you?

It is personal to me because I am in band, and there is friendly competition among the different sections. We joke with each other about the difficulty and the sound of our instruments and music, but we all know that each has its own special challenges. The end result when we all play together is a sound that no individual section can make and that makes it so unique and personal.

Why did you choose to submit this category(s) of artwork/writing out of the many available category options?

I chose to submit a two-voice poem comparing percussion and wind instruments because everyone in band is constantly saying that theirs is harder or better so I decided to show both perspectives as a comparison.

What message do you hope to convey through your piece?

I hope my piece conveys the message that everyone in every group has to work together to be successful and then they will create amazing things. Though there are differences in instruments and music, when we work together we can all make beautiful things.