Cecilia H.

1. How long have you taken music lessons?   14 years, started when I was 4 years old.

2. What instrument(s) do you play?  piano and some ukulele.

3. Who are your favorite musical artists?  Lana Del Rey and Juice WRLD

4. What are your short and long term goals with music? Short term goal is to finish the Bach Gigue.  Long term goal is to minor in music at Loyola University of Chicago. 

5. What is your favorite part about taking music lessons?  That’s so hard. I love being able to use what I’ve learned from piano lessons to think about music when I’m listening to it.  I analyze the music in my head and find out why it sounds good. Otherwise, I like hanging out with my piano teacher. 

6. What do you do in your free time? I like to hang out with my friends, watch tv, hang out with my family. 

7. What are some of your favorite foods?  Annie’s Mac & Cheese

8. What is the coolest thing you've learned in your lessons recently?  Playing “Take Five” duet in 5/4 time.  I feel like I never play in 5/4 time since it is so rare. 

9. Do you have any performances coming up or have you had a performance recently?  I participated in the zoom video recital.

10.  What do you love about music?  I love that music does so many things for your emotional self - helps you process and deal with emotions, brings people together and I love how much thought goes into each piece - not just the lyrics, but make it balanced through form, dynamics, repetition and change, etc.  Music is so in-tune with emotions.  Listening to music and making music can help you express emotions.  I also did my senior thesis about music and balance and how it makes people feel happy.  

11. Why should other people play music and take music lessons? 
There are lots of reasons why people should take music lessons.  It’s good for expressing yourself.  It uses your mind in a different way.  Music is good for anybody - if you like math, science, language arts or art, or anything else, you can find a way to relate to music. 

12. Do you have any recommendations or advice for young students?
They should play the game where you make up your own songs. You can have fun and make your own music. Your teacher could play the left hand and they can do anything on the top.

“Congratulations, Cece! It has been truly an honor to make music with you for the past 14 years. From watching you grow as a young four-year-old just starting out to playing advanced piano repertoire and creating your own music. I’m so proud of you. Thank you for being part of Brighter Minds Music!

— Emily Ireland, director