Hennah Kim (Piano) – Santa Ana Branch
Orange County School of the Arts (Class of 2021-2025)
When I first arrived at Love In Music, I was a shy, jumpy, and somewhat-clueless freshman who had difficulty making eye-contact. I still feel like that same shy freshman sometimes, but for the most part, I think I’ve grown quite a lot. As a volunteer at Love In Music, I’ve been able to get over my aversion of public speaking, as well as meet so many amazing people. My fellow volunteers can be such dedicated teachers, often inspiring me in how I can become a better teacher myself. I’m grateful to the KidWork’s coordinators who are always supportive and accommodating, despite our messiness. And of course, my students. My students are bright, energetic, hilarious—occasionally frustrating but ultimately well-meaning—wonderful people, and I know they’ll grow up to do marvelous things. I’ll be rooting for them, no matter where I’ll go. I was far from the perfect teacher, but I hope I made my students’ Saturdays educational and enjoyable. I hope my students grew to understand and cherish music on a deeper level.
We live in a world where entire oceans and universes of music are available at our fingertips. We can listen to practically everything we want, from classical to EDM, with only a few swipes on our screens. But there’s still a primal joy that comes from playing an instrument and being able to create your own music. A pure glee that comes from creating your own tune instead of nodding along to someone else’s beat. Perhaps none of my students will go on to become professional pianists, but I hope everyone gained an ability to play whatever tune their heart wishes and a true appreciation—dare I say love—for music.