Caleb Mapp Engl 1101 Literary Analysis Part 1 When you hear literacy what do you think of?

Probably books, dictionaries, and English class. That is the automatic stereotypical form of literacy. But literacy is so much more than that. Architecture, Dance, Art, and Engineering can all be considered to have their own forms of literacy. Another form, which my personal favorite is the literacy of music. The terminology, symbols, rhythms, and much more combine to create the powerful language of music. I first learned to understand the language of music from a woman named Mrs. Beddingfield. She was my middle school music instructor. I first began learning music when I entered middle school in 6th grade. I began with the clarinet. Mrs. Beddingfield taught me the basics of music. She taught me how to read the music; to relate the symbols with correct letters. Then where to place my fingers for different notes and how the different fingerings correspond with the letters for the notes. Many of the basic terminology as well. Also a few different types and styles of music. These lessons taught me to understand the basics of music, and how to play music. How to understand the language. While learning the basics a slowly began to realize how to express myself in music. How to really convey emotion in my music, rather than just playing it black and white. The more I knew about music and the more comfortable I got with the language the better I became at expressing myself through my music. My interpretation of the music combined with the composers intention for the music, and my directors interpretation mixed and created the powerful emotion and affect to deliver the message or meaning from the music. While going through the process of learning music and understanding this new language, I had many different feelings and senses that I experienced. Learning music is no easy task and because of this I felt lots of frustration and bits of anxiety while learning and mastering this art. I also felt lots of fun and

excitement while doing something new and really growing as person. Becoming a more well-rounded person. I felt a great deal of success while playing after every piece I played and every performance. It is one of the greatest feelings of all. Even with that being such a great feeling, there was still very much frustration. I feel that much of the frustration came from the task of having to change the way I thought. I had to learn to associate old terms with new symbols. I had to learn to give new meaning and definition to things. Also the correct pronunciation and definition of words. The terminology used in music is all Italian or Italian based. Instead of saying smooth and connected the composer would put Legato which means the same thing. Or they would say allegro con spirito which means lively with spirit, so we would play at a brisker more joyous tempo. As you learn to play and really begin to comprehend the music and become good at what you do, the feelings change. You gain a sense of freedom and expression .The more you learn and more you play the stronger these feelings get. They are what really grows and creates a feeling of love and immense passion for music as a whole. Loving to listen to music and even study is one thing. But once you learn to play and create music it becomes a whole new ball game. Its a different experience that can create this insatiable desire to create music. There have been many influences and factors that have affected my musical career. Of these, I would say have four primary literacy sponsors. The first would be the wonderful woman I mentioned earlier, Mrs. Beddingfield. She was my main instructor for 3 years. She taught me all the basics and got me started in music. She really sparked the flame for my passion for music, and helped me hit the ground running and have an excellent start. She still continues to teach me more about music and about life today. After a flame is sparked for a fire you must feed the flame and build it so grows into a fullfledged fire full of warmth. This process was taken up by a man named Mr. Bowman, who a few of us ever so affectionately call Bobo. He was my High school band director. He took everything I had been taught previously and went levels deeper with it. He really showed me how to paint a picture. To really play the music, and not to leave it so black and white. To more into the music than what was on the

page. He taught a little musical theory, and basic composition. He said that if you knew composition and how to write your own music you would be able to understand the other works you are playing better. My third literary sponsor was a man named Mr. Gardner, who went by Batman. He also went deeper into things. He helped me to combine music and marching. To combine and school. To combine music into all aspects of life. He taught musical lessons as well as life lessons though music. He helped me with marching. Marching is way to be a part of the music without playing the music. When combined with playing the music it is invigorating. It takes a toll mentally and physically but its worth it. He helped to condition me mentally and physically, so I could bring my music and marching to a whole new level. Middle school and high school were two of the biggest institutions that influenced me. Another is place called Music & Arts. That is where I got all of my instruments and supplies. Also where I took private lessons. It can be considered one of my primary literary sponsors.