Ebb n Flow: "I learned from my teachers but became through my music"

On the first day of 6th grade, my music teacher passed out a piece of paper, a sort of syllabus, with the following quote:

I would teach
children music,
physics, and
philosophy, but
most importantly,
music, for in the
patterns of music
and all the arts are
the keys of learning.
-Plato

I have a hard time explaining what music means to me; when asked, I often offer Plato's words. My teacher was incredible; he still is. He taught that though one might not enjoy every type of music, one must learn to appreciate all types of music, otherwise one can never truly understand or love it. I stand behind this philosophy. I played clarinet in band and jazz band and sang in choir for the next four years, which included trips to Hawaii and Anaheim for performances, an award-winning, goose-bump-giving choir performance of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," a recorded duet of Mariah Carey's "Can't take that away" with my then-best friend, as well as singing in the memorial service of a close friend and previous music member whom I dearly miss. Though I eventually quit band and choir, music continued to govern my life, a constant, if invisible, influence. I switched from performer to full-time listener-critic-enthusiast. Saving me, driving me, inspiring me, I am as obsessed with music as ever. Here are some tunes of choice, chosen either for their lyrics, beat, melody, performance (i.e. emotion, dancing), or some combination thereof. Some are old, some new. Some are just fun. If you don't feel like sifting through, may I request that you listen to #1. for his lyrics and story, and to #9 for his moving performance. **Disclaimer: I listen to EVERYTHING.

In no particular order: