Global Music Autobiography

Throughout my life, I have had music and culture experiences through travel and close family friends. I have had the opportunity to travel to Chicago, California, and New York. The music I remember the most from the trips to each state were the musicians preforming on the streets. In California, there was a lot of jazz, in Chicago, the music was mostly singing and hip hop, and in New York, I experienced street performers in China town and Time Square. China Town was very interesting, especially when you could tell the music was done for something symbolic. Often there would be a dancing animal, like a dragon, to convey a meaning to the music being played. The music mostly consisted of aeropones being played in the street. Also, in Time Square, I attended Paramour: A Cirque Du Soleil Musical. The theme of the show was for a young man to choose between love and art. The music paired with the theater was one thing I will never forget. The music flowed with the characters and told the story to the audience. Throughout the show, the music was the focal point! The characters would be silent and just preform to the music to continue telling the story. It was amazing to understand what the characters were feeling just by listening to the orchestra preform. Another exciting exposure was at Macaroni Grill in Greenville, SC. My family and I went there for dinner for my mother’s birthday. One of our waitresses mentioned that she was Italian and would like to sing to my mother for her birthday. The song was in Italian and it was a slow, but beautiful song. Her voice echoed through the restaurant as she sang for a few minutes. I do not know much about music terminology, but if I had to compare it to a type, I would say it was like opera music. I have never heard a voice like hers again, purely beautiful and soulful.

The other part of my life that has given me exposure to other music and culture is family. My long-term boyfriend’s grandmother is Hispanic. Her name is Rose. Rose loves to show pictures, cook authentic food, and share family stories when the family gathers for the holidays. This often includes music she listened to when she was younger. A lot of the music she shares is very upbeat that we all try to dance to. Often this includes a guitar, Moroccan, or just her voice. She usually sings in Spanish, so it is interesting to hear the music in a different language.