MY MUSIC LITERACYSarah Baxter

My First UCF Football Game

• UCF vs BCU 41-7• The feeling of performing for

the first time on the field

UCF Marching Knights

Grandfather

• My mom sang to me when I was a baby.

• Papa used to play his trombone when I was little and I loved listening to him.

Professional Trombonist

Elementary Music Class

• Every year my grade put on a play

• Classes twice a week• Learned a lot of songs• Percussionist brought in 30-

40 drums once a year for the kids to play and learn on.

K-5th Grade

Piano & Violin Lessons

• Started piano when I was in third grade

• Started violin when I was in 4th grade.

• Did not continue when I moved

3rd-5th Grade

Middle School

• Attended the instrument “petting zoo” and chose the saxophone

• Then a month later, my dad told me we were moving

Going to Play the Saxophone

Moved to Michigan

• Starting Middle School in an unknown area and didn’t have any friends…it sucked

• Having to make friends

Constraint

Middle School Chorus

• Did not like the band director so I chose to participate in chorus all three years

• I continued to learn music, just vocally

6th-8th Grade

Moved to Pennsylvania

• Again, had to start over and meet new people.

• New area and I started high school.

Constraint

High School Marching Band

• My sister joined playing flute and I decided to do color guard as it did not require to learn an instrument yet I still got to be part of the marching band.

Colorguard

Auditioned for Drum Major

• End of my freshman year I auditioned because I was really intrigued with conducting and leading the band.

• Still had never been in band before.

• I took lessons from the head drum major from the past season

Constraint- did not get it

Joined High School Band

• I did not make it and I asked the band director what I can improve on and he suggested I join band.

• It was really rough at first but I just jumped in and did my best and learned a lot.

10th Grade

Indoor Competition Percussion

• Same year I joined band, I joined indoor drumline and played vibraphone.

• Really helped me with timing and reading rhythms

10th-12th Grade

Xylophone/Mallet Lessons

• When I started band and indoor, I started taking lessons with the percussion instructor on xylophone and marimba.

• He helped me learn the indoor show and the concert band pieces.

10th-12th Grade

Auditioned for Drum Major• I joined band, indoor and took mallet

lessons and continued conducting lessons all to help me achieve one goal…Drum Major

• I auditioned at the end of sophomore year and I GOT IT!

• It was a goal I set at the beginning of 9th grade.

Got It

Auditioned for UCF Drumline

• UCF Marching Knights do not have a front ensemble (mallets) and therefore I picked up cymbals

• I took lessons with the percussion instructor still and he taught me all the different crashes etc.

Made It

Without the support of my family, friends and teachers, I would not be where I am today and I would not be who I am today. They have

impacted my life more than they will ever know.