1. Looking back at the “bones of summer” how have you engaged or created art? If you haven’t engaged or created art, please describe why.

Art had been difficult to stay motivated to create and practice on, if I’m completely honest. The pandemic altered my goals severely, as my band, the Victoria High School Rhythm and Blues Band, was getting ready for the final stretch of the school year with close to 20 shows planned, including Victoria Jazzfest and even a trip to Iceland and Denmark. As the severity of the pandemic set in, it dawned on me that none of it was gonna be happening at all. Due to that, practice had been sparse as I couldn’t muster the motivation to play. However, there were moments where I was able to engage in art with others, even though we weren’t together. We had remote jam sessions where we recorded ourselves on our phones and compiled them into one song. I also downloaded FL Studio and worked on production with friends, experimenting with sounds. I had been creating art, but it was never a constant flow. I believe I have learned through this pandemic is that I need to personalize my goals for myself instead of relying on group to provide me with a goal to practice.

2. What things, if any, surround you that you consider powerful?

The term ‘powerful’ for me are things that help me shape me into who I am, whether it’s a thing that I like to play/do, or something that grants me knowledge and such. Here’s a list of the few things that I consider powerful to me:

Although it’s only a piece of metal, my trumpet is obviously one of those objects. It’s powerful to me because its one of the main ways for me to express how I feel. The instrument has been a part of my identity throughout my years in middle and high school. Some of my fondest memories I’ve had in my life have come from my joy of playing the trumpet.

The second thing is my computer at home, which I’ve had since 2018 I think. It’s helped me virtually everything. Schoolwork? It’s been there while I was sleep deprived trying to finish an English essay. Meeting people? It’s been my main way of connecting with others across the world. Just want to have fun on a Friday evening and play games? It’s always there. It’s such a convenient machine that grants me so many opportunities and moments. It’s powerful to me because its an incredibly useful device that can help me do many things, whether its prepping for an exam, listening to music, creating music, or just wanting to hang out with friends.

3. Over the next couple of days, take note of the dominant sounds in areas that you consistently walk. What are the sounds you notice most of all? Be specific.

This was actually a really interesting question and I quite enjoyed it! Whenever I got outside I always, and I mean always put my earbuds in. There’s never a time where music isn’t playing in the background. The most dominant sounds that I hear throughout my walks is the wind, the constant tempo of my footsteps and much more. The wind is always quietly in the background, endlessly traversing the ground and around me. I notice the rustling of my headphones’ wires every so and so. The “backbeat” of all the sounds is my footsteps, whether its on the rough sidewalks of Downtown, on the varying shades of leaves that lie in Beacon Hill Park, or walking to a seat on an empty bus. There never is a complete silence that surrounds me when I walk.

4. How do you relate to the phrase “free time only works if you steal it?”

Usually, I have some times in the day where I steal it for just relaxing and having nothing on my mind. No matter what I’m doing then, whether it’s schoolwork, practicing or anything, I take a half hour to just unwind and relax a bit before going back. Sometimes I’ll lie down and put on some random playlist and focus only on the music, or I’ll play with my cat. It really varies depending on how I’m feeling.

5. Do you have any other takeaways from the film?

One of my favorite quotes from the film was:

“Putting your back to art will help you appreciate the things around it.”

I feel like this can be reflected in a lot things, such as a symphony. The grand piece is massive, but if you look more into the piece you’ll truly appreciate what’s building it, like oboes playing the baseline that moves the piece, or the flourishing tone of the french horn accompanying the melody.