When I was four, my mother started me on the Suzuki method of learning flute. So, from an early age, I have learned to play by ear.

When I was 9, in fourth grade, when schools offer musical instruction, I signed up for the advanced class, and that's when I was introduced to playing jazz. My band teacher hardly ever taught us classical music; we always learned jazz, much to my mothers chagrin. She thought that we should learn classical music, and so she pulled me out of my school band. But because I was still signed up for private lessons, I continued my instruction.

Now I'm in fifth grade, and am back in the school band. We have a new teacher, and all he ever has us play is classical music. I loved jazz, because it has a soulful melody that classical music can never capture, but just playing flute brings me joy.