Music is something we love to use to distract ourselves with. We find more about who we are as we express our emotions through this art. Countless people take an interest in music as a way for them to find happiness through instruments or lyrics. Mills High School is known for its impressive academic record, but when it comes to music, they are just as persistent.
Aaron Field (11) is a student at Mills High who is interested in pursuing music outside of school. He expressed his passion for music by stating, “The person that inspired me to pursue music was definitely my brother. I grew up listening to the music he would listen to, and it became a big part of who I am today.” He continued, “As I entered high school I was inspired to start playing the drums myself after seeing him play with the jazz band, and I knew it was something I wanted to pursue as well.”
Even though his prime focus is on jazz, Field mentioned the trouble of picking the right path of music for him to pursue as someone that seems to be a fan of all. He stated, “It’s difficult to pick one genre that inspires me, as I believe that the best musicians are the ones that can incorporate multiple genres into what they play.” He then added, “Being able to draw from different sources when you play music is one of the best ways to build your unique sound, which is something I value. If I had to pick some of the genres I pull from the most as a drummer, I would say funk, R&B and jazz.” A unique sound is something important to an artist in order for them to find their signature touch in their music, something that screams that it’s them.
Field said, “One of my favorite musical artists is PJ Morton. I love the emotion his music conveys, and I feel like he is able to connect to his audience so well that you feel like you’re sitting there in the room with him and his band.”. He then added on, explaining his interest and how he was drawn in by stating, “The ability to communicate feeling and personality through music is my favorite aspect, and it’s one of the main things I get drawn to in a musician.”
Another student that explained their deep interest in music is Alessio Bettucchi (9) who’s also an emerging artist. He described his influence as his own family, mentioning, “My family is very musical. My parents and my siblings all play an instrument or sing.” He then explained how his dad was someone who played a key role in influencing his music taste, introducing Bettucchi to new genres and allowing him to explore different types of sounds. “My dad has always played different genres of music for me and my mom got me started on piano and church choir.”
As he detailed his influences, he also mentioned what genre he truly identifies with. “Jazz is definitely my genre. From a young age I just really liked [it].” Even as a little kid, Bettucchi felt it was something that spoke to him, mentioning an artist sparked that interest. “Oscar Peterson, arguably the greatest jazz pianist to ever live, is my favourite artist.” He then added on saying, “I like to try and play like him. His technique is really unique and I love his sound.”
These Mills students’ love for music and influences have pushed them to consider a career out of it. Who knows? They might end up like their heroes, inspiring future musicians to follow their paths as their artists had inspired them.
