Practically all teenagers in the United States love to listen to music and are devoted to particular artists and musical styles. Hip-hop, rock, rap, country, jazz, heavy metal, and ingenious combinations of various styles draw legions of young fans. The Internet and portable MP3 and CD players are among the high-tech innovations that keep teens plugged into their favorite artists. But teens do more than listen. Some three million young Americans between the ages of 13 and 18 study music in school, through private lessons, or simply on their own, and hundreds, maybe thousands, of teens participate in informal "garage bands," practicing and creating songs in the garages of their or their friends' homes.

Music is a huge part of a teenager's life. Whether it's playing in a school band or having an informal "garage band," music is everywhere in a teen's life. We just can't live without it.

I play trombone in the Wakefield High School band, but I also play electric guitar for my rock band. I have to say music is in my life all day, every day. I decided to join the school band to learn more about the theory of music. I wanted to learn more about each note on the page and how they play a part in every piece of music. I then took my knowledge from that class and applied it to what I really want to do, play guitar.

I love rock music with a passion! Ever since I was 14 years old I have been fascinated with how much talent it takes to play the electric guitar, bass guitar, drums, and sing in front of a huge audience. I have had many influences on my path to becoming a rock star. Bands like Breaking Benjamin, Adema, KoRn, and a bunch more motivated me to want to play my guitar in front of a wide audience.

Music has changed my life.

Ben Ceplecha, 17, grade 10, Wakefield High School, Raleigh, North Carolina [http://wakefieldhs.net]

Music can be used to join different cultures, form everlasting friendships, and even bring out a musician's soul. It's no wonder why so many high school students in America have such a strong passion for music. For me, music is a way of life.

I believe that motivation and inspiration are vital for a successful musician. My father and mother both immigrated to America from China. For various reasons, they never had the luxury of learning music. When I was young, my parents made me learn how to play the clarinet and the piano. Everyday, they watched over me when I practiced, and [they] scheduled private lessons for me. For the first few years, I hated spending my time practicing instruments that I didn't want to learn. When I started middle school, my parents made me sign up for the middle school band, and my piano teacher put me in a very good orchestra. This was the first time where I could see my fellow students playing in harmony. As the year progressed, I learned more and more. Eventually, I grew independent enough to practice as soon as I came home from school. The better I got, the longer I

practiced. I finally began to appreciate my parents for pushing me towards becoming a better musician.

Although I do not play in my high school's band, I play in the Chinese Music Society of Greater Washington. Our orchestra's goal is to bridge cultural differences between Americans and Chinese through Chinese and American music. As a Chinese-American, I am very proud to preserve and introduce ancient Chinese music and promote cultural exchange between Chinese and American people. I believe that I have found a great way to combine my love of music with my Chinese heritage.

Elwin Wang, 15, grade 9, Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, Maryland [http://www.waltwhitman.edu]

High school can be a very stressful time in a teenager's life. Music gives teens an outlet to express their emotions and comforts them when they feel no one understands how they feel. The beauty of music is that there is no single type of music.

My passion is for music that tells a story. I also love music that has a new sound or something that sounds classic and raw, like live performances using acoustic instruments. Music also has the power to express opinion. Opinions on politics, religion, and people can be found in some of my music, but the music I like most is free of any politics since I feel there is too much politics in everything else. Music should be a unique expression of an artist's feelings and views on the world. I like being able to mix the past and the present. Bands from the past let me get an idea of what life was like before I was born.

Music helps me and many other people my age cope with the daily stresses of high school and helps us avoid the pressure from our peers. We can listen to some music in our rooms to escape from the world [and] to get over things like little fights with our parents.

Music affects every part of my life, the way I dress, my art, [my] language.

Kim Cline, 15, grade 11, Belpre High School, Belpre, Ohio [http://www.seovec.org/belpre/bhs.htm]

I am one of the typical teenagers who loves to listen to music. However, I am slightly different from most others. While a majority of teens listen to a specific type of music, such as modern rock or alternative pop with electric guitars, I listen to a wide variety of styles. Of course, I love the same music that my peers tend to like, but I also have a passion for some country music, jazz, "oldies," classical, and even opera.

Music plays an important role within my family. All of us share it as a common interest. For birthdays, we have even developed a version of the traditional "Happy Birthday "song with a harmony part for each person in the family to sing. At church, we sing together for special services. My father has a passion for his acoustic guitar, while one of my sisters, Corinne, plays both piano and trumpet. As for myself, I have been in a choir every year of my life that I can recall.

Music calms me and relieves tension caused by a stressful day. I can temporarily escape reality as I drift into the music around me. Songs allow people to express themselves, and in some cases, build bridges between cultures. My chorus class has learned songs in German, French, Latin, Italian, and other languages, like Samoan. We become more accepting towards other cultures, simply by being exposed to new and unfamiliar songs.

Andrea Bohling, 16, grade 10, Wakefield High School, Raleigh, North Carolina [http://wakefieldhs.net]

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