Road to
Success Students discover and develop their musical passions while adjusting to quarantine
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ver 23 million creators pub- still do some in person socially distanced lish their work on Spotify and ensembles, which is more true to the SoundCloud, hoping to be dis- spirit [of music],” Kuhn said. covered by and become the “next big Unlike Buendia and Kuhn, sophothing.” Paly students only make up a tiny more Justin Gu began his career in music fraction of the artists seeking a career in playing piano when he was very young, the cutthroat music industry. but not because he wanted to. “The only Senior Marina Buendia has had a reason why I play piano is because I was passion for muforced to,” Gu sic her whole said. “I still don’t “Quarantine definitely life and plans on really want to making a career inspired me, just because play piano.” in the music in- I’m alone with my Gu moved dustry, starting from the piano with attending thoughts more, which is to the trumpet Berklee Col- when it’s easiest for me in elementalege of Music ry school and in the fall. Like to write music.” moved to the Marina Buendia French horn in other aspiring artists, Buendia middle school had the chance to focus more on music after his cousin recommended it to him. during COVID and online school. “It’s But as Gu transitioned to high school, he been way easier with online school just stopped playing in band. “It just started because I have all my equipment with me to get repetitive and boring, because I at all times,” Buendia said. don’t like performing under pressure,” Beyond logistics, Buendia’s songwrit- Gu said. ing has also benefited. “[Quarantine] However, Gu still enjoyed music and definitely inspired me, just because I’m still wanted to play for fun even after alone with my thoughts more, which is leaving band, so Gu pursued music at when it’s easiest for me to write music,” his church where he led worship. He also Buendia said. picked up guitar after his youth group Sophomore Atticus Kuhn has been leader taught him. “It just seemed to fit playing viola in the school’s orchestra for my idea of what I wanted to do with mufive years, ever since he fell in love with sic,” Gu said. the sound of the viola. “I enjoy the expeSince learning the guitar, Gu rience of playing with other people in an doesn’t worry about practicing ensemble setting,” Kuhn said. repeatedly and he found guitar During the pandemic, Kuhn has not to be a nice balance between been able to attend school orchestra in- musicality and relaxation for person; instead, each individual mem- himself. “I like it when it’s ber of the orchetra records themselves casual, because I don’t like playing and they are stitched together in preparing for big concerts or post to bring concerts to life. Outside of anything,” Gu said. “I do my school, however, it’s a different story. “I homework and then whenev-
Text by ERIK FENG and COLIN LAI • Art and design by ELLIE ROWELL
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er I feel like it, I just play guitar for fun.” Although music plays different roles in the students’ lives today, one thing is certain, it heavily influences many of our daily lives—whether it be in our professional life as in the case of Buendia and Kuhn, our personal life like Gu’s or simply jamming out to a song on the radio. No matter what your relationship is with music, like air is vital to human bodies, music is the oxygen for our soul. As we each have listened to a variety of music in school and at home, music has nurtured our minds for as long as we can remember. High school is a key time to discover your passions and strengths as well as your struggles and dislikes. Students who find the time to balance their school and musical life are able to rule out whether they want to pursue music as a career or follow a different path. Music fosters bonds between listeners across the globe, and not only enriches our lives, but defines our character and is a means to express oneself.
