I spent this weekend at UConn in Storrs doing one of the things I love to do best. Now, during midterm season, this could mean anything from pruning small woodland creatures, to cleaning bathrooms, to building model airplanes out of toothpicks and glue. Or, essentially, doing anything except studying for midterms. So I suppose I should be more specific. This weekend, I participated in the 2010 CMEA Eastern Region music festival at the University of Connecticut. Each year, the CMEA auditions students, grades 9-12, from nearly every high school in the state of Connecticut for participation in regional music festivals.

This weekend, I participated in the 2010 CMEA Eastern Region music festival at the University of Connecticut. Each year, the CMEA auditions students, grades 9-12, from nearly every high school in the state of Connecticut for participation in regional music festivals. These auditions usually take place in early November. Students audition on their instrument or voice part for spots in the festival's concert band, orchestra, jazz band, or chorus. The student is graded on a point system; if the student has enough points, he will be selected to participate in the regional festival in early January, an intensive two-day session of rehearsals which culminates in a professional performance of the rehearsed pieces at the end of the second day of rehearsals.

These auditions usually take place in early November. Students audition on their instrument or voice part for spots in the festival's concert band, orchestra, jazz band, or chorus. The student is graded on a point system; if the student has enough points, he will be selected to participate in the regional festival in early January, an intensive two-day session of rehearsals which culminates in a professional performance of the rehearsed pieces at the end of the second day of rehearsals. Because I go to school in eastern Connecticut, I auditioned to sing as a soprano in the CMEA's Eastern Region (clever, right?) Chorus at the CMEA Eastern Region Music Festival.

Because I go to school in eastern Connecticut, I auditioned to sing as a soprano in the CMEA's Eastern Region (clever, right?) Chorus at the CMEA Eastern Region Music Festival. I think the singing gods may have been on my side that day because I somehow managed to miraculously earn enough points to make the cutoff. And I even had to sight sing at the audition which, to say the least, isn't my forte. Or my mezzo forte, for that matter. Let's just say it's more like my pianissimo.

I think the singing gods may have been on my side that day because I somehow managed to miraculously earn enough points to make the cutoff. And I even had to sight sing at the audition which, to say the least, isn't my forte. Or my mezzo forte, for that matter. Let's just say it's more like my pianissimo. My history with music is kind of amusing. When I was little, both of my parents used to sing me to sleep. My mother has a pretty soprano voice; my dad, a rich bass. I liked to sing along with them.

My history with music is kind of amusing. When I was little, both of my parents used to sing me to sleep. My mother has a pretty soprano voice; my dad, a rich bass. I liked to sing along with them. I made my mother learn the music and lyrics to that Diana Ross song that plays during the credits for the movie The Land Before Time – one of the single greatest movies of all time. (Or perhaps, more appropriately, before time.) No matter how many other songs she'd sing to me, by the end of the night, I always insisted we sing that song. Sometimes I'd make her sing it twice in one night. She wrote the lyrics down on a note card for me. I think it's still floating around in my room somewhere. Come to think of it, I think we still have the original VHS of The Land Before Time existing in some deep dark corner of our house. It's a miracle my mom didn't burn it after being forced to sing that song so many times.

I made my mother learn the music and lyrics to that Diana Ross song that plays during the credits for the movie The Land Before Time – one of the single greatest movies of all time. (Or perhaps, more appropriately, before time.) No matter how many other songs she'd sing to me, by the end of the night, I always insisted we sing that song. Sometimes I'd make her sing it twice in one night. She wrote the lyrics down on a note card for me. I think it's still floating around in my room somewhere. Come to think of it, I think we still have the original VHS of The Land Before Time existing in some deep dark corner of our house. It's a miracle my mom didn't burn it after being forced to sing that song so many times. Since my Dad didn't sing like Diana Ross very well, I was forced to let him do his own thing. Whenever he would put me to sleep, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Gordon Lightfoot, and Peter, Paul, and Mary accompanied him. Needless to say, that was a lot of people to house in a 120-square-foot room occupied mostly by large furniture.

Since my Dad didn't sing like Diana Ross very well, I was forced to let him do his own thing. Whenever he would put me to sleep, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Gordon Lightfoot, and Peter, Paul, and Mary accompanied him. Needless to say, that was a lot of people to house in a 120-square-foot room occupied mostly by large furniture. My parents' musical taste (which really is very eclectic, but is pretty heavy on the singer-songwriter genre) had a considerable impact on mine. If a 3-year-old can have a musical taste. My parents bought me a children's guitar because I (and I quote), "wanted to be just like John Denver." That little instrument now functions very nicely as a ukulele.

My parents' musical taste (which really is very eclectic, but is pretty heavy on the singer-songwriter genre) had a considerable impact on mine. If a 3-year-old can have a musical taste. My parents bought me a children's guitar because I (and I quote), "wanted to be just like John Denver." That little instrument now functions very nicely as a ukulele.

Then when I was 9, I decided to take up the flute. I had actually wanted to play the clarinet, because that was what my sister played in the middle school band, but my parents insisted I try something different – a smart move on their part. My instrumental music skills absolutely paled in comparison to those of my sister. (Actually, my musical skills in general pale in comparison to hers. Then again, she is a music major…)

When I was in elementary school, I was never in any community or church choirs, though I liked singing during our once-weekly in-school music class.

Then when I was 9, I decided to take up the flute. I had actually wanted to play the clarinet, because that was what my sister played in the middle school band, but my parents insisted I try something different – a smart move on their part. My instrumental music skills absolutely paled in comparison to those of my sister. (Actually, my musical skills in general pale in comparison to hers. Then again, she is a music major…) I played that flute through my sophomore year of high school, and though it gained me entrance into some local music festivals, I realized more than once that I was absolutely awful at it.

I played that flute through my sophomore year of high school, and though it gained me entrance into some local music festivals, I realized more than once that I was absolutely awful at it. As a result of my fluting days, my musical ego would probably currently be octaves and octaves lower than it is had I not started singing in the school choir the year after I picked up the flute. I sang all through middle school and into high school and have yet to stop singing.

As a result of my fluting days, my musical ego would probably currently be octaves and octaves lower than it is had I not started singing in the school choir the year after I picked up the flute. I sang all through middle school and into high school and have yet to stop singing. I received a shot of instant confidence during my eighth grade year, when I was selected to participate as a soprano in the middle school version of the Eastern Region Music Festival. Singing made sense to me; I understood it better than I ever understood instrumental music. Every year, I'd perform a solo piece in a concert. I sang in church. I sang in musicals.

I received a shot of instant confidence during my eighth grade year, when I was selected to participate as a soprano in the middle school version of the Eastern Region Music Festival. Singing made sense to me; I understood it better than I ever understood instrumental music. Every year, I'd perform a solo piece in a concert. I sang in church. I sang in musicals. And this weekend, I sang with the best of the best at UConn. It was absolutely incredible to be surrounded by so much talent. You learn so much by rehearsing and performing with people whose ability level considerably outranks your own. More importantly, however, it was incredible to be surrounded by so many singing males. (Wheeler has only one male singer in its 14-person choir, so I freak out when I hear a bass, let alone 50.)

And this weekend, I sang with the best of the best at UConn. It was absolutely incredible to be surrounded by so much talent. You learn so much by rehearsing and performing with people whose ability level considerably outranks your own. More importantly, however, it was incredible to be surrounded by so many singing males. (Wheeler has only one male singer in its 14-person choir, so I freak out when I hear a bass, let alone 50.)I don't consider myself a musician. I know just enough music theory to keep me out of trouble. But I just love to sing. I sing in the shower. I sing in the hallways at school. I sing in the locker room. I sing show tunes. I sing Disney tunes. I sing opera. I sing Dylan. Sometimes I sing opera in a Dylan voice (always interesting).

I don't consider myself a musician. I know just enough music theory to keep me out of trouble. But I just love to sing. I sing in the shower. I sing in the hallways at school. I sing in the locker room. I sing show tunes. I sing Disney tunes. I sing opera. I sing Dylan. Sometimes I sing opera in a Dylan voice (always interesting).And when I go off to college (wherever that may be), I don't intend to stop singing. In college I intend to participate in acting groups and political activist groups. I intend to write for student publications. I intend to peer mentor. I intend to volunteer. But if I were forced on pain of death (and I hope I won't ever be), to choose only one activity in which to participate, I would choose to sing.

And when I go off to college (wherever that may be), I don't intend to stop singing. In college I intend to participate in acting groups and political activist groups. I intend to write for student publications. I intend to peer mentor. I intend to volunteer. But if I were forced on pain of death (and I hope I won't ever be), to choose only one activity in which to participate, I would choose to sing. It gives me a feeling nothing else can beat. (Ba dum tish!)

It gives me a feeling nothing else can beat. (Ba dum tish!)