11th
My six years as a student composer …
Whenever someone asks me what the VMP is, I seem to find myself at a lack of words. It took me quite a while to figure out why this was. Initially, I just figured it was complicated to explain how the mentoring process works with students posting their works. It habitually seems to take several minutes of explaining before it dawns on people what a wonderful project VMP is. Then, however, I came to a realization; it is not because I can’t explain myself well, it’s that there are no simple words to explain all that VMP does. The way the online mentoring process works is simply the beginning.
When I first started-around about age 9-I had a different view of the Opus events than I do now. It was great to miss a day of school, eat a good dinner with friends, and hear some incredible music. I have to admit, however, that it was kind of frightening to stand up in front of the big, scary adults and tell them how to play my piece. What a strange feeling that was! The five musicians that year, the members of the Constitution Brass Quintet (my elementary school music teacher’s husband happened to be the tubist) were warm and welcoming, and invited me to tell them anything about my piece.
Years later, as I see all the 4th, and 5th graders going up for the same rehearsal that I first had (though I swear I was never that small) more than six years ago. Six years is a long time; however, it also feels like it’s going to be over far too quickly. I plan to pursue music (both composition and flute performance) in college, and even though I’ll have top-notch professors wherever I may end up, the idea of working without the MIDI project kind of scares me. I’m more frightened now to be leaving the project next year (at least as a student composer) than when I first had to stand up in front of that brass quintet in 5th grade.
Zach Sheets
High School junior
