‘What Music Means to Me’, by Kitty Smets Year 12, Austen 10
Hi, I’m Kitty, and I’m an a-level music student here at Wycombe high. I think it’s fair to say that I love music. Somehow, I managed to make all my a-levels related to music in some way. I linked it to maths, through an EPQ, and I did an entire art project on it too. I snuck it into almost every period of my school day, we came here in all of our frees, not just because we would help ourselves to the tea and coffee from the kitchen, but because the music department was the place we always wanted to be, and where we felt we belonged. Music, of course, isn’t just about the subject for most of us, or how we learn about it in lessons. That’s what’s so great about it- the fact that, it’s so much more than that. I believe music has a power, to uplift, to make people escape and forget themselves, or forget their struggles. It can move people to tears, and make people laugh. It is something really tied in with our emotions, which is why it’s such an important part of our lives. For me, and many others in this room, it’s not just a hobby. It is an integral part of who we are, something which shapes, and defines us, as individuals. I think that music touches everyone’s life in a different way, making it a very personal thing, but it also unifies us, and brings us together. I was at a concert with the Chiltern music academy at the Royal Albert Hall last year, along with a few others in this room, and our orchestra played a joint piece with multiple other ensembles who we had never met or played with before, from all over the UK. The conductor of this collaboration said something which has stuck with me since, which is that music can bring people together. People who may not live in the same country, or speak the same language, will come together because they connect and speak through the language of music. And that’s something to be shared, somethingI’m really proud to be a part of. It’s the reason why we have concerts, and why we play in ensembles here at Wycombe high, to come together. Through our rehearsals and our concerts, members of the younger years can connect with the older years, and new friendships can be formed. Music to me, means a community, of people that you can share your passion with. There are so many different types of people who we have in our musical community. You might be a performer, a composer, a teacher, or an audience member. I think we should take a second to acknowledge, that listeners are just as significant within the musical community as us performers, so thank you to all the friends and family who are sat in the audience right now, who always support us by coming and listening to the music that we share. We literally couldn’t do it without you. For me, music also wouldn’t have been the same without my classmates. Next year we are all going to be studying music further; I’ll hopefully be finishing my first year at the University of Birmingham, and my classmates will be finishing their first year at conservatoire. I think music has become such an integral part of who we are, that we couldn’t imagine doing anything else with our lives. And I think we owe a lot of that to our music teachers. The music department wouldn’t be what it is without them, so I would also like to take this opportunity to say thank you. At the head of our music block family, you help to make the experience of being part of music here at Wycombe high, really special. We appreciate everything you do, from marking our many essays to leading so many
ensembles. The dedication and support you all continuously give to all of us students here, is exactly what makes the music department the incredible and thriving community it is today. And I know that it will continue to thrive for many years to come. From the bottom of my heart, I think that I will really miss being a part of music, at Wycombe high. Thank you for listening.