My name is Alex Farrell, and I have been with Northern California Music and Art Culture Center for the last two years. At the present time, I'm going to Presidio Middle School, where the school staff supports musical education. I even signed up for orchestra this year, where we are going to learn to play on many different instruments. I love the warm and friendly ambiance along with the supportive teachers at NCMACC. Every week I can't wait to come here!
As a child, I was exposed to classical music with my mom and my grandmother on my father's side. As it turns out later on, my mom was taking music classes from 4 years old up to 7, however, she didn't like to play piano. Her piano lessons were for about 2-3 hours long with practicing for another 2 hours. However, being from St. Petersburg, Russia, my mom learned from her childhood to appreciate music, especially considering that my grandmother on my mom's side was in ballet. Apparently in my childhood I was always surrounded by music: either by going to the ballet, the conservatory or just listing to CDs in a car. I'm very proud of being part Russian where many wonderful composers were born such as Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Prokofief,etc.
My father learned to play a guitar in his childhood, and he even was in a very popular band during the 70s when he was a teen. Unfortunately, he wasn't inspired by classical music like my mom. Yet, those were different times in the US, and my father got inspired by different musicians.
In the beginning, I didn't have much passion for a music, but I always liked to listen to different tunes. Until one day, when I was with my mom in a car and heard the "Moonlight Sonata" by Beethoven. It was quite an experience for me....
I love my teacher-Amy, she is wonderful. Amy helps me to keep focused, at the same time as being very supportive, patient and helpful. Music helps me to get more organized and inspired. I hope to keep enough inspiration to become one day the President of United States.