evasharman It seems as if explaining through words why I’m drawn to music is as impossible as mapping all of the intricacies of the earth on an 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of paper. Music has existed since the beginning of time, but people have forever wondered why music is so attractive and why we keep coming back to it. However, maybe one of the reasons I love music is that I don’t know everything about it. There’s so much that we as the human species can’t understand, and it’s distressing to think that we aren’t able to fathom even a sliver of the unknown. Sometimes I find myself confused by the mysteries of the universe, looking for knowledge that can’t be found. But perhaps music is a mirror of all that is reality and all that exists only in one’s imagination. Even though I study music theory, I don’t understand why some music transcends all earthly functions. I listen to masterpieces by great composers, yet I still can’t comprehend how music has the ability to stop time and suspend life for a moment. But somehow this comforts me, knowing that uncertainty can be perfect and that in all the darkness of the world there is beauty. Maybe, on my journey for knowledge, I need to realize that music is a path towards contentment with my place on this earth.
Humans are imperfect creatures, so we strive for beauty through music. Music is art, since it’s perceived differently based on interpretation. I think that music is beautiful because one performance is really built upon a lifetime of personal experiences. But although music is personal, I keep learning and expanding my musical ideas through listening to other recordings, receiving advice from my teachers and other musicians, and participating in various ensembles. I’m discovering new things daily that inspire me and motivate me to continue my journey.
Because music means a lot to me, when I see news about orchestras and organizations that are struggling due to low involvement, I’m sad that classical music is underappreciated by so many. Maybe it’s because people have built an impression of it upon only the few overplayed pieces they’ve heard, or maybe it’s because people are so caught up in their busy lives that they don’t have time to learn about something that is unfamiliar. Although recently some classical music has made its way to the mainstream, notably with Sheku Kanneh-Mason’s Elgar album placing among the U.K. Top 10 Charts, it’s often difficult to see other musicians across popular media. But I strongly believe that if everyone could take one moment to listen to amazing music, to the symphonies of Beethoven and Tchaikovsky, or of Brahms, or Mahler, they’d be able to hear something that it seems only us musicians have found.
The young generation will be responsible to keep classical music alive and available at a high level. These musicians are the ones that will make new discoveries on how to diversify music and bring it to new audiences. They will keep traditions alive but also move music forward. As a student pianist and violinist myself, I think it would be extremely helpful for others like me to have a resource and community. With Young Classical Musicians, I want to inspire other musicians by talking about my experiences, reviewing musical performances, and interviewing other musicians, teachers, and conductors. On that note, we’d love to hear from you, so please reach out to us! Let us know what you’d like to see on this blog or if you want to share your story. I hope that you’ll join the community and come along on the journey with me!
-Eva Sharman
