Towards the end of my first day of classes at Andover, I began the exhausting trek to Graves Hall. I had naively assumed it was near Bulfinch Hall. After realizing my mistake, turning around, sprinting to the crosswalk, cautiously and responsibly crossing the street and chasing a random upperclassman to beg for directions, I arrived at my first Music-225 class sweating, panting and late. From the first day, Music-225 and I have had a tumultuous relationship.
Although I took piano lessons from first through sixth grade, I am in no way a musician nor do I have any musical knowledge. Music class at my middle school was often a free-for-all. We would gossip and chat under the pretense of learning songs on the guitar or piano. I had expected Music-225 to be somewhat easier than my other classes at Andover.
It isn’t. Starting with that first sweaty class, I have been challenged. I have struggled to detect rhythms and memorize notes and scales. I have tried to fathom sharps and flats, timbre and the overtone series. I have received grades lower than ever before.
I am not alone in this struggle. Many of my classmates remark that music is their most difficult class. There are frequent sighs of frustration and pleas to the teacher to re-explain the subject matter during class.
Yet, I am not bothered by my poor music grades. I am disappointed when I receive a 57 percent on a quiz, but I don’t get upset or wish I had crammed the night before. I don’t freak out or beg for extra credit.
I am nonchalant about music because I know that it is highly unlikely that converting scales from harmonic minor to pentatonic minor will appear on the SATs. My anxiety is assuaged when I remember that I don’t plan on becoming a music teacher, composer or the next Lady Gaga. I am not and have never been passionate about music; I don’t plan on ever taking music lessons again or pursuing a musical career. My disinterest in music leads to a lack of motivation to excel in Music-225. As ignorant as it sounds, I honestly don’t care about music.
Currently, four-year students are required to take one art class, one music class and two additional art, music, theatre or dance classes. I propose a general four-class requirement which can be fulfilled by any combination of art, music, theatre or dance classes. This would allow students to pursue subjects they are genuinely passionate about.
One of the joys of Andover is discovering and pursuing your passions. With more choice in course selection, students would have more time to take classes they enjoy and would spend less time stressing over classes that don’t interest them.
At Andover, hard work is the norm. But hard work is infinitely more rewarding when driven by passion.
Caroline Lu is a Junior from Andover, Mass.
