contest9911
1999年高知県中学・高校
英語スピーチコンテスト
1999年11月27日
本校の出場者：山田愛子（３年９Ｈ）、原 奈央（１年８Ｈ）
The Music of My Life
Yamada Aiko
Do you have something you can devote yourself to? I do: MUSIC. I sing in a rock band. Some of you may say,"A rock band?! Are you crazy? It's just a caprice of the moment, a fleeting fantasy, a passion that will cool down in time…" It is true that just a few talented people can be in the spotlight, but at the same time nothing can prove that I can't be one of them. Who knows? I might get a chance to make it. I really enjoy singing and playing with the rock band. It's something that I want to do for my whole life. It is a passion that is here to stay.
"Why", you may be thinking. I'd like to tell you the reasons. What attracts me most is the Creativity of Music. Our songs are all original. Some, I compose and others are written by the other members of the band. I usually make songs with the bass guitar. Since I can hardly play the guitar or the drums, I make only the bass line of a song. Then I just sing with the bass, in front of the other members. After that, the other members add their own parts to the bass line and my vocals. When we play the song together, it becomes much better. Moreover, in order to improve the performance of each instrument, we use some sound-effect equipment. When we finally complete the song, it is much different from what I first imagined. Can you imagine how I felt when I heard our original sound for the first time? It was so exciting and thrilling. I just felt like shouting,"I made it." Making songs is fantastic and creative outlet for me. And I can also enjoy it because I have good partners to help me.
My parents, however, didn't understand at all why I started a rock band at first. They were against rock music. We had several big arguments, and finally I told them that I wouldn't go to university. I just wanted to live with music and make a living by myself. Just imagine how strongly my parents disagreed to my decision. In fact, they wanted me to go to university and told me that rock music wouldn't get me anywhere. We discussed it again and again. Finally, after months of discussion, we have each changed our minds. My parents and I have come to understand each other. They understood how important music is for me. I also understand what they are thinking.
Now I will go to university in order to study English and continue the band. I am so grateful that the people around me, my parents, friends and school teachers, understand me. Although there will be more obstacles to face, I will enjoy music. My band has already recorded one of our songs. Now we are preparing for a live concert coming up soon. Before I started the band, I didn't have much confidence. I didn't like my voice, and I didn't see myself as a singer. But since then, I've come to like "me". I like myself very much. I think music has changed me; it has given me confidence and made me what I am. I really want to make people happy or give encouragement through my songs, to pass on the happiness that music has given my life. That, I hope, will be the true music of my life.