Melanie Mendoza

As a vocalist who concentrates solely in the classical era, it is crucial that I construct my pieces by painting the audience vivid images. In music, there are several elements of style that contribute to framing a given composers intended message. Being able to understand and analyze a piece's content, purpose of artwork, affects the way the vocalist will portray the song’s message. For example, as a vocalist sings a particular phrase, the composition can be marked to sing a certain word in the piece with an accent marking, while beginning the phrase pianissimo then crescendoing in order to bring forth a contrast. This use of phrasing can be portrayed as “giving a line in a song more heartfelt emotion” depending on how the song should flow, much like Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You. In addition, using a ritardando, gradually slowing down in tempo at the end of a phrase, enhances the performance by getting into the audience's head and forcing emotions upon them. It is evident that the elements of style that are put into performing and composing a song is underrated as it is not given full recognition. However, without grasping the idea of being able to interpret a song’s composition, music would not be perceived as relatable and original.

For many years, understanding music was unclear yet it was not until my sophomore year that I learned how empowering music can be. Being able to inflict emotion into a thriving mass of anonymous figures, is more complicated than it sounds. However, I was able to research figures such as Cecilia Bartoli who learn pieces composed by Mozart while adding her own interpretation of a tune in order to aid me in becoming a sophisticated classical vocalist. Moreover, I was able to see music like time; continuously changing which helped me understand that music has flourished into several different styles over the years. Similarly, music is like progress; it is always evolving into something new which lead to the realization that having different taste in music is a superb skill to have when wanting to study music deeper because the most successful musicians are often always open minded.

Although music is constantly changing in composition and form, I believe that my overall connection to music will remain the same. Singing and songwriting allows me to pour my feeling out onto paper and then vocalize it in a manner that grabs my audience by surprise. A part of me loves singing for entertaining others but the other half practices music in order to free my mind. As a teenager, singing has supported me in the worst times ranging from family tragedies to stressful nights staying up doing homework. Overall, music has embedded itself into my life and so far, allowing it to has been something extraordinary.