Unanswered [1] | Urgent [0]
  

Home / Undergraduate   % width Posts: 2


National Merit Essay: "My First Gig"


waylay00 1 / -  
Sep 10, 2009   #1
Here is my essay for the National Merit Finalist essay prompt.

Describe an meaningful past event and how/why it is important to you.

I nervously tapped my fingers on the table at the local, smoke-filled Huey's bar and grill. It was a Saturday night, and the regular bar flies, along with a few families eating dinner, packed the room. Just a few minutes later, I was scheduled to take the stage for the first time ever. Granted, I had been playing guitar for three years, but I had never experienced the opportunity to perform in front of an audience. Then, the manager motioned me. It was time. I plugged my guitar into the little black amp on the tiny stage. I asked myself, "Am I tune? Yes. Are my pedals plugged in? Yes. Is the rest of the band ready? Yes." We were ready to go. I nodded to the drummer, and he counted off, one, two, three, four...

This pivotal night in my 18 year existence highlighted the overwhelming importance of music in my life not only from a listening perspective, but also from a performing standpoint. For most of my life, music has always been prevalent in my family. I distinctly remember riding in the back of my dad's car while the stereo blasted the euphonious sounds of such artists as Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. However, I didn't actually pick up an instrument until the sixth grade. Because most For nearly three years, I practiced rigorously in preparation for that special day, that day on which I could first play for other people. This special occasion arrived in the form of a quaint, Sunday night gig at Huey's, a popular local bar and grill, when I was in the 10th grade. Although fewer than a hundred people were present, it still stands as my most memorable performance, at least in my mind.

For the 45 minute duration of the set, I experienced a thrill like no other, an ecstasy of sorts. In the immediate hours before the first song, my hands trembled with uncontrollable nervousness. But once the band and I eased into our set, any feelings of apprehension and anxiety quickly melted away. I entered a perpetual rhythm with my playing, and every note and chord I struck just felt "right." The looks in the audience's eyes indicated captivated enjoyment, an observation I will never forget. After we completed our last song, several people who heard my playing complimented me personally. Particularly, one older man told me that I possessed "something special that you don't see quite often."

By far, having other people hear and enjoy my music has been my most rewarding feeling as a musician. That experience alone has validated the countless hours I've practiced and studied the guitar. Furthermore, such unsolicited compliments as the old man's have also made me realize that I do, in fact, have a future in music, whether as a part time session guitarist or on the road as part of a touring band. Despite whichever path I ultimately choose, playing music will always remain an integral part of me.
EF_Simone 2 / 1,986  
Sep 10, 2009   #2
This pivotal night in my 18 year existence highlighted the overwhelming importance of music in my life not only from a listening perspective, but also from a performing standpoint.

The subject of this essay is lively and compelling, but sentences like this rob it of its power. "Not only from a listening perspective but also from a performing standpoint"? Do you mean "as both a listener and a performer"? Wouldn't it be easier to say it that way? Get rid of all of the extra words and overly formal clauses cluttering your sentences.


Home / Undergraduate / National Merit Essay: "My First Gig"
Writing
Editing Help?
Fill in one of the forms below to get professional help with your assignments:

Graduate Writing / Editing:
GraduateWriter form ◳

Best Essay Service:
CustomPapers form ◳

Excellence in Editing:
Rose Editing ◳

AI-Paper Rewriting:
Robot Rewrite ◳