Drumming from the Womb

By Nelisa Poythress
I read a quote by Sir Kenneth Robinson that said, creativity is the process of having
original ideas that have value (Robinson, 2007). While recalling my educational experience I
realized how much of this quote was applicable to my experience in school. I realized at a very
early age that music was something I loved and it resulted in a lot of my creativity and
communication skills. Through music I gained individualism, became my unique self, and
sought out many of my passions. Music allowed me to relate to others, to express emotions, tell
stories, as well as brought clarity to my world. Music, performing arts, and art literature played
significant roles in my educational experience. Ever since the day I could remember music was
something I loved. Born in Japan, and raised in Aurora, CO I was the fifth of six children,
surrounded by a family of musicians and performers.

My mom played drum set in a band with my dad (who was a pianist) for a short while up
until I was about a year old when my family moved away to Oklahoma where my little sister
was born. My eldest brother played trumpet through high school. My second oldest brother left

when he was 18 years old to pursue his music career in L.A. where he is now successfully
producing music. My two older sisters

participated in show choir, dance, and band throughout middle and high school, and my
youngest sister danced and sang from about 8 years old up through high school and currently in
college.

With such a strong foundation of performers and musicians in my family, it was almost
impossible for me not to be involved with music and the creative arts in some way as I got older.
When I was in fifth grade, I expressed a strong interest in learning to play an instrument and I
was determined to become a drummer just like my mother, so I joined my middle schools
concert band. My favorite music teacher Mrs. Mabrey gave me the foundation of drumming and
percussion instruments. She and my parents pushed me to always strive to be the best musician I
could be and made drum set and percussion fun and engaging for me. I started to progress in my

drumming skills and was always eager to find ways to become better at it so I did and took the
skills I gained along with me to high school.
As I transitioned into high school, I became a part of my high schools marching band
where I played in the drum line from my freshmen to senior year. I found that I spent a lot of my
leisure time either studying for tests and exams, engaging with friends, or preparing for a band or
choir concert. When I was participating in the marching band, playing drum set, performing for
school musicals, and entering in talent shows, I found the most motivation to learn. I felt with
each of these that I was completing a new milestone, learning something new about myself.

In concert and symphonic band in high school, I played several engaging pieces of music
such as pieces by John Mackey and Queens. Through these pieces, I could tell stories through
dynamics, tempo changes, as well as emphasis on different notes in the music. I was also able to
tell stories through listening and blending with the rest of my band members. Not only did I learn
listening skills and different means of expression, but I learned to take great pride in my
musicianship.
These qualities I carried on with me into college. I got here to CSU and wanted to
maintain my creative and musical identity as it was a huge influence in my educational
experience. I was fortunate enough to participate in CSUs Marching Band for two years where I

was also able to build on creativity and individuality. I built friendships and gained knowledge of
music that helped me further my thinking through visual and auditory language.
Reflecting on my creative and musical journey, I recognized how much of my abilities to
be an active learner came from the early experiences I had with music. Through music, I learned
to value mistakes and to not be afraid to mess up. Through music, I learned that some of my
greatest pieces of work came when I was thinking out of the box and using my imagination.

Through music and the creative arts, I have become a critical and active thinker of the world
around me and assess the world through several unique lenses.I hope to teach some of my own
experiences with music and creative arts in a future classroom of mine because I feel that music
and creativity are essential to the creation of active and critical learners and thinker

Works Cited
Robinson, Sir K. ( 2007, Jan.). Sir Kenneth Robinson: Do Schools Kill Creativity? [Video File

Retrieved From: ]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY