By Simone Midgett, Features Editor

Six-year-old Travis Lawrence sits against the fallboard of his instructor’s piano case, thinking of all the other things he could be doing besides this. However, Lawrence was unaware that the man about to teach him how to play the piano would shape his musical interests for the future.

“He has taught me since I was 6. He knows a lot of instruments and I would like to learn more instruments. He has been a great teacher and taught me everything I know about music,” Lawrence explained.

Lawrence went on to play the piano for the jazz band in middle school and is currently playing the keyboard for the jazz band in high school.

“I really liked playing piano for the jazz band in middle school,” Lawrence said. “It was fun to perform at different places and do gigs and to just feel like I was a part of the band.”

When Lawrence entered middle school, his artistic passion drew him to learn how to play the trombone. With his plentiful knowledge of music, playing another instrument was like second nature.

“I knew how to read music and count music when I started playing the trombone,” Lawrence said.

The sophomore’s love for music is something he has been passionate about since a young age, but it’s not just playing music that excites Lawrence. Having the power to create something yourself is what drives Lawrence’s artistic ability through both music and writing.

“I like learning the music and playing the piano, I like music a lot and I listen to music all the time, but I just like creating that music,” Lawrence said.

Lawrence’s attachment to writing began in elementary school when he would receive fictional writing prompts. Over the past years, Lawrence has kept up with writing and made it a priority.

“I like to write fantasy stories primarily, but really any kind of fiction,” Lawrence said.

His freshman year, Lawrence decided to take Creative Writing with English teacher Hunter Will. This class allowed Lawrence to express his creativity through writing essays, poems and short stories.

“We write extensively every day. Students are offered a variety of platforms and then we share their work and there are lots of opportunities to rework and recreate and get feedback,” Will explained. “And students have the opportunity to just be free to write creatively, as well.”

As Lawrence went to make his schedule for his sophomore year, he thought about what core classes and exploratory classes he would like to take, but ultimately decided music was his passion. Out of three year-long class slots, two are filled with band classes.

“I take jazz band and honors band. I only have one year-long main core class because band takes up two spaces for classes classes,” Lawrence explained.

Outside of the band room, Lawrence still takes his music seriously and tries to constantly improve his skills.

“I probably spend 30-45 minutes practicing a day unless I have a concert coming up. Then, I will spend an hour,” Lawrence explained.

Lawrence doesn’t know where his passion for music will take him, but he knows that music plays an essential role in his life.

“I will probably keep doing band into college. I might like to be in a band, like some sort of jazz band or something as I get older,” Lawrence said  “Music is just so big in my life, anytime I am sad or happy or angry I can just listen to music and I do – I listen to music all the time.”

Junior Simone Midgett can be reached at [email protected]