Opinion: I Speak Music

Karen Lin ('12, Percussion)

"Man" being a collective term for "human."

     I find myself fortunate enough to be well-versed in three languages: English, Mandarin Chinese, and music. Yes, music is a language. It has its own grammar, punctuation, and regional dialects (think Brazilian samba or Chinese opera). Musicians are the blessed few who can read, write, and speak music. So just how important are we?

     Somewhere on the inner walls of San Jose State University, there hangs a quote: Anthropologists have yet to find a society that functions without music. For me, that evokes images of our ancient ancestors beating on drums and singing their tribal songs. Although music has become more complicated over the centuries, it is a primal part of us. All of us who are human, at least.
     Our society seems to have lost some of its priorities over the years. Most football players earn more per year than do professional musicians.

MHS has just as much diversity in its marching band!

     In contrast, the musical community at Milpitas High School is amazing. We already know that music transcends cultures, but here at MHS, it even blurs the circles around traditional stereotypical cliques. Our musicians are, and should be, proud to be "band geeks," because we are also a mixture of "jocks," "computer nerds," and whatever stereotypes society can cook up. Our music building is situated in the center of the high school, where students can hear the beautiful sounds we create. Whoever designed the campus must have loved music.
     The goal of this "newsblog" is to show the personal side of our MHS music program. Behind every instrument and color guard flag is a real person. She sells homemade amigurumi and fences twice a week. He is the treasurer of the Math Club and plays tennis. Become our friends, and you will be enlightened. Fine.