What first got you into playing the viola and singing in choir?

• I’ve liked music from a young age but especially singing.  So when I saw a poster for after school choir I was eager to join. I have a good singing voice but at the time I had no concept of notes, I only tried to sound like whoever was singing. To me it was an opportunity to take something I loved, singing, and develop it into something greater. I got into the viola purely by chance, I went to the school’s instrument night to choose an instrument because I wanted to play music not just sing it.  I chose the viola because I couldn't join the band so I had to choose between cello, violin and viola. I wanted to play the viola because I had never heard of it before but it seemed cool.

What challenges did you face when you first started to play and sing and how did you overcome them?

• The first challenge I came across was that I didn’t know how to read music. In choir it wasn’t that big of an issue, I could just match the note Paul played on the piano. In Beginner's strings I learned how to read music on the alto clef but that isn’t useful when I'm not playing my viola. I am now learning how to play the piano so I am working on memorizing the entirety of the grand staff. 

What is one piece of advice you have for someone who chooses to start?

• If you decide to start playing an instrument make sure you practice outside of school. Even if you just practice a little every once in a while it really helps. It helped prevent me from getting lost in the music and makes me feel more confident when playing. If you join the choir just try your best and enjoy.

What other extracurricular activities do you enjoy doing?

• I enjoy doing a mix of athletic and creative activities. I play basketball for the middle school girls team, I like playing football, and I rock climb. I enjoy drawing, painting, sculpting, and carving. I am also beginning to learn piano.