By Dani Aseme ’25
Beneath Colony Hall’s tranquil ambiance, a faint, yet emerging sound rings throughout its corridors. Here, amidst the grandeur of the Choate Symphony Orchestra’s showcases and the Dance Company’s rehearsals, a group of dedicated novice students immerse themselves in the musical arts. Whether through the saxophone’s vibrant notes or the piano’s harmonious sound, these students embrace the pursuit of a new instrument with an unfaltering weekly commitment through one-on-one lessons.
For many non-musicians, the idea of learning a new instrument seems daunting. However, some can find the motivation to do so through a desire for personal development, self-expression, or fulfilling childhood aspirations.
For Nia Bradford ’25, her dream of playing the guitar, which began at the age of 10, stemmed from watching the Disney Channel’s Lemonade Mouth. In the movie, the five protagonists aimlessly establish a pop band in the modest basement of their high school. This popular coming-of-age tale about spontaneity and creativity deeply resonated with Bradford, spurring her passionate pursuit of learning the guitar.
Bradford, who has long dreamt of this opportunity, said, “I’ve always really wanted to play guitar, but just never had the time [or] opportunity to do so. I thought it was a good opportunity to do that now [at Choate] because it’s hard to find time [outside of built-in lessons] in your school day for lessons.” Lost in a tunnel of romanticization and Lemonade Mouth scenes, Bradford mentioned that her desire to play the guitar has not faltered since childhood, and she is eternally grateful that she can do so now.
Nia Bradford ’25 practicing guitar.
In contrast, Charlotte Flynn ’25 began playing the piano at a young age. Despite the early start, Flynn decided to discontinue her practice while still a novice. Upon entering Choate, her aspiration to continue learning the instrument returned, leading her to reach out to the Arts Department earlier this year. Flynn said, “The Music Department head is really flexible about previous experience.” This flexibility allowed Flynn to comfortably pick up from where she left off, reigniting her passion. “No matter what level you are, you can still pick something up … Don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re not good at it right away, even if you were pretty good when you were younger,” Flynn said.
Students aren’t alone in enthusiastically embracing the opportunity to learn new instruments. Physics teacher, Director of Sustainability, and Fifth-form Dean Ms. Katrina Linthorst Homan began learning the ukulele with guitar instructor Mr. Brian Hartly. She admitted, “I’m not very musically gifted.” Yet, Ms. Homan has dedicated half an hour per week to ukulele lessons, which she calls “me time.”
“Regardless of the level one is at, Choate’s music lessons offer an inclusive and supportive nature,” Ms. Homan said. “It’s really helpful and a lot of fun.”
There are also numerous benefits to taking up an instrument. Mr. Noah Baerman, who has been teaching jazz and pop piano since 2006, said, “Studying music on a one-on-one basis — in addition to whatever gratification you get from the music itself — is a really great opportunity to work on problem-solving and discipline [in a] systematic and patient [manner], building up a skill set in something, which is a life skill.” Mr. Baerman encourages those considering taking lessons to do so, even if they initially feel afraid.
For many, Choate has stood as the bridge between their musical dreams and a reality — a catalyst for the formal development of a deep-rooted love for music. “There’s a myth that music is for people who are born naturally gifted, and if it doesn’t automatically come easily to you, then you’re just not one of the lucky ones … in my experience, that’s really not true,” Mr. Baerman said.
