Christopher D. Exumcexum@ksu.edu

Musical Background

We are all meant for a purpose in life, some never figure it out until it is to late. As it turns out music is, and will always be my purpose. Whenever I began straying from this wonderful art, things didn’t feel the same way, a part of me needed to be expressive, and be involved with music.  However, this journey that I found myself on would never have occurred if it wasn’t for my family, and my experience with the church. My brother, whom I consider to be my mentor, best friend and some what of a father figure,  introduce me to my instrument, percussion, but the church introduced me to music - and this is where my journey begins.
        From the day my brother brought his drums home from beginning band, I wanted to copy him, and then be better than him. Once I accomplished this, I turned my ambition toward the church percussion section. As I waited my turn to play one of the choir hymns, I would listen to the organ, bass and piano player and be amazed by the sounds these instruments produced, most importantly, how it all was connected. I found a strange fascination with drums, which was encompassed with a desire to learn music. These two together provided a void in my life that needed to be filled, and so, my journey in music education began. I knew if I wanted to understand music, this would mean joining my school music program, and be involved more.  Once the day came when students could sign up for beginning band, I found myself overwhelmed with joy, from knowing I would be playing music.
From my first year in beginning band, my teacher noticed I had a natural ability to play and learn music. This natural ability would later be a hindrance with my ability to grow and fully learn my craft. Within the first week on joining beginning band, I was immediately place in advanced band do to my musical aptitude; one can only imagine the joy I felt. However my music teacher wasn’t the only one who noticed my ability. As a child, my house contain an old organ, which I would constantly play when no one was around. I began learning songs by ear, simple songs, but yet I would learn them. One day my mother came home and heard me playing the songs and wanted to place me in private lessons for piano. I professed passionately that I wanted to play drums, and refused piano lessons. This would later prove to be a tremendous mistake on my behalf. With this I told my mother that I had a natural ability and did not need to take lessons, and refused, again another mistake.
        I would continue to be involved with music all the way through middle and high school, and managed to grow musically, and became one of the best and my class. However, I always wondered  if I would have taken lesson how much better could I have been. I would later find this out when I tried out for my first all state audition. This would be the first time; I would experience total failure as a young musician. Seeing all the talent around me I noticed that I was not as good I a lot I was. As to not be to discourage, I use the experience to better myself, and practice harder. I knew if I wanted to get better I would need private lessons, but it was too late. It was at this point my family would go through a rough point, filled with tremendous financial woes and heartaches. During this point I almost gave up on music fearing I would never be as good as the students with whom I faced at the all - state. So I turned my attention to sports.
        My senior year I focused all my attention to sports, with which I also succeeded, and played music for fun. So I began immersing myself with all types of music; jazz, classical and others.  I continued to grow musically and show great musical prowess and the band director, who was in his third year noticed. If it wasn’t for Luke Chaffee my high school band director, I would have never come to Kansas State University to study music. One recoding change everything for me, The Pride of Wildcat Land marching band CD. I expressed my interest with Kansas State, and Mr. Chaffee began playing old recordings for me. I had always been a Kansas State fan, but never knew of their music program. At this point in life, I could have gone two directions; sports or music. The decision was tough, at the same time easy. So rationally I thought about how far I could go in sports, versus how far I could go in music and therefore I made my decision, music. I found myself becoming more involved with musical events that my family could afford, such as; Kansas State Concert Band Clinic, Shrine Band, District Jazz Auditions, All- State band. By doing this my talent level grew, and I became the subject of interest to my classmates. At the end of my senior year, I was given the John Philip Sousa Award for being an outstanding musician. At this point I realized that I had reached my high school potential and wanted more; so I set my sites for Kansas State University.
        I would attend Kansas State University, and receive my Bachelors of Music degree in Music Performance, but the journey at Kansas State was not an easy one. I once again found myself on the bottom of the totem pole, and had to work my way to the top, and I succeeded. I would later join the top ensembles; become Section Leader of the drumline, where I earned  awards for Section Leader of the Year and Assistant Section Leader of the Year. I wanted to make sure I left Kansas State with a well rounded musical experience, so I tried to involve myself with all the major ensembles; The Pride of Wildcat Land, Kansas State University Concert Band, Symphony Band, Concert Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Lab A, Percussion Ensemble, Latin Jazz and various jazz combos. I also wanted to bet involved socially, so I later joined the Kansas State's Chapter of P.A.S (Percussive Arts Society) and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. My experiences at Kansas State were both humbling and cherishable, and I would not change them for anything in the world. For these experiences will shape me forever as I venture out and teach students who also share the passion for music as I did.