~be inspired~

More often than not, I find myself worried about things that trouble me & the future. For some reason, I'm terrified for what will come within the next few years. I've known I wanted to play music with my life since my senior year, and I've been set on Music Performance since I started college. Now, with my third year at SLCC approaching I'm excited yet nervous. Working two jobs, studying full time, and still going to all my favorite shows to ease some of the tension.
There's often been times during the school year when I know I'm working myself too much and I feel overwhelmed. I can't think of a day where I'm not worried about what the next day will bring. It's not just me, though. Everyone struggles. Everyone has problems. Everyone deals with things differently. You're not alone. 
Taking private lessons has been the most difficult thing I've ever done. Each time I start with a different teacher, it's almost as if I have no idea how to even play my instrument. At this point, I've had three teachers in two years. These past two years have felt like they've dragged on forever. All of my instructors have been amazing, despite how much I don't like them at the moment. They're all extremely skilled on their instruments and have a different approach at teaching. This summer was the first summer I've taken lessons and I have seen HUGE improvement [probably because I've had a little more time to practice between lessons in comparison to during the school year]. Something I have learned so far is that there's always room for growth and improvement.
After falling into the habit of lessons and knowing how to play my instrument, all the worries go away but there's another thing that I struggle with. Staying motivated. For the last year, I've felt as if I was working towards nothing in particular. I practice classical pieces mixed with some fun Disney songs but I would ask myself "why?" I don't know why I do it. There were days I wouldn't want to go to my lesson, because I neglected to practice and I knew I wasn't growing. By not practicing, the only person I am hurting is myself. From my experience with music teaching, I remember how frustrated I would get when my beginning band and orchestra students wouldn't practice and the feeling irked me, knowing that I was also letting my instructors down.
Find your motivation. Find your passion. Be inspired.
Working at a music store allows me to experience seeing other students' growth as well as teachers' frustration. There's this little girl who has been working on  Starships by Nicki Minaj* EVERY week for what seems like forever. Once she had the song solid, the teacher added choreography. Nothing too crazy, just side to side steps and walking across the stage. Seeing her perform at the recital was definitely worth listening to her play it for so long. It's those little things that keep me motivated. I see a lot of young students go through the store, from drummers, pianists, cellists and violinists. It's crazy to think that some of these kids may grow up to become the next Lindsey Sterling, Steven Sharp Nelson or Jon Schmidt.

I'm walking the steps of some incredible people. There are a number of local shows I try to catch, mostly because I think it's so cool that I am following the footsteps of people I know. There's an alum from SLCC who took lessons from two of my teachers, took some of the same classes, and participated in some of the same activities as I do now. He also worked for the music store I currently work for and knows some of my former co-workers. He is working full-time as a musician, and I can't help but think about how amazing it is that I'm experiencing some of the same things he did a few years prior. To see where he is now, is astounding and gives me hope. It lets me know that hard work and perseverance can get you to where you want to be.

(The Strike, SoDa Row, May 2017)
(Myles, Marcus, Matt, Chris, Chase, Brady)

Brady Bills, shredding on his Jackson guitar!

Most of all, I've been inspired by seeing some of my favorite bands play. I love seeing The Strike perform. I feel like I've learned the most from them. Their stage presence is incredible. No matter how many times I see them, its always different. I love the feelings associated with how much they enjoy what they do. They bring so much joy to the audience and the crowd loves them no matter what they do.

I love seeing Brady's giant grin when he's shredding some bars on guitar, the way Matt smiles when the crowd chants his name, how Myles sings into his saxophone microphone, the way that Marcus sometimes raps, how cool Chase is with his groovy bass lines and I especially enjoy the pure happiness from Chris's face as he sings, the crowd knows every word and for a moment everything just seems infinite.



The Strike, SoDa Row
(photo cred: me)

This is my inspiration to continue. We all have hardships, these past few weeks I've had to deal with a lot of human emotions like pain and hurt, yet seeing the little girl perform at the recital and watching my favorite bands succeed help me get through the day. This summer has been one of the most productive I've had in a while. "We were built for survival!"

My advice:
Find something that inspires you, something that keeps you motivated even when times get hard. As I dread going to my lesson, I usually tell myself, "if you want to take Myles' place in the Strike, then you gotta work hard for it."
Count your blessings with the little things that bring you joy, whatever that may be, remember those in times of doubt. (:
Just because your problems seem monumental, don't doubt the things other people are going through, because your mountains are all different but they're still mountains.







*Link to Spotify, Pentatonix version of the song.

Future

Back in April I had my Spring Concert at SLCC with The Pencil Discussion.


The Pencil Discussion ft. Adam Potts
(Jeff, Kyle, Steve, Jonathan, Adam, Payton, Aly, Benito, not pictured Kayin on drums and Alex on Trombone)
(Photo Cred: Joy Tlou)

I was lucky enough to get to present and sing an original song in front of at least 200 people. I've played saxophone in front of a large audience before (Rice Eccles Stadium [Oct 2014], Maverick Center [June 2015] & Abravanel Hall[2012 and 2015]) but singing was a completely different experience. One that I was not ready for, nor expecting.
Sometime around November, I was toying with the idea of writing a song and performing at an open mic. I wrote down some lyrics and set the rhythm with my guitar. Something didn't seem quite right about the song, I guess maybe something was missing. I asked my friend Sierra if she could take a look at it and help me with the words. She did an incredible job and even helped by accompanying me on piano.
The song was about something really personal: my future. I want to go into music performance and I know the road is tough. I can see my end goal and I know the path and the way, yet somehow it feels like I'm not doing enough to be successful. I worry about the clarity and the certainty of this goal. Music is more than just a hobby for me, it's a way of life. I understand that my path doesn't provide stability and there will be times where money is tight, yet I know this is what I want to do. My fears extend beyond my professional path into personal life, going on about  things like possibly settling down, getting married and starting a family. Quite frankly, I'm not sure what I want other than to play music.

(Photo Cred: Joy Tlou)

Fast forward to February 2017, and I told my [now ex] boyfriend I wanted to present a song for the band, since we were both in. I told him about how I had originally written the song for me and my bass and I had no structure. He helped me by putting together a steady, unmoving beat and changed a few words so that the flow was a lot better. He had experience making rap beats, so that's essentially what we did. Musically, the song was very uneventful and a little difficult to play due to the lack of movement and variety.

(Photo Cred: Joy Tlou)

Before I knew it, April 25th had arrived and I was standing there in front of my parents and some of my friends. I opened my mouth and the words began flowing. It was not perfect. I'm not a singer, but I understand music. I got lost at some parts. The rush of energy was intense, the crowd was there. There were no changed to differentiate between the chorus and verse. I got back up and kept going at the next opportunity. Overall, I think that it was a very brave thing to do. I am not a singer, but I do love singing in the car and harmonizing with Less Than Jake and Reel Big Fish. I think my career in singing is over. I am completely okay with that.

 Overall, the concert was amazing, we played some great tunes and everything seemed great.

To Future Aly: If you are reading this as you look back on your journey of where you started and where you are now, I hope you see how beneficial all of these experiences were. I also hope that you find a better way to look cool while playing the saxophone. Don't ever forget why you do this or why you love music.

Saxidermy Sixteen

I often look back at previous blog posts, published & unpublished, and I wonder why is it that we do not see how blessed we really are. I'm amazed at how we take for granted small moments, details and for a brief second everything doesn't matter. I know I've had downfalls, trials and disappointments. I've been discouraged and almost quit the one thing that really matters to me. I truly see how blessed I am with opportunities, friends and family. I wouldn't be the person I am today, nor where I am now, if it wasn't for each person who touched my life.
I was definitely inspired to continue music performance by watching some of my favorite bands play. Approaching local artists and befriending them, as well as making more connections through school has definitely helped. I know the road is long, and I'm not where I want to be, but opportunities come once in a life time. I can work really hard to do something, and even if I fail, there's always room for improvement.
This opportunity was very unexpected but brought me a ton of joy. I got to play with the local Utah band Fictionist for the release of their new album "Sleep Machine. This was incredibly similar to things I've experienced so far in college at SLCC, though the Commercial Ensemble class, but at the same time it was not something I had done before. The Fictionist's music is very synth oriented, as to where I play saxophone and usually get put in groups that do pop or jazz covers. The idea was to have a 16 saxophone choir backing and doubling different parts to make it sound incredible. This was the first time something like this had ever been done [at Velour]. It was an exciting experience to even be asked to participate. It's been surreal.
June 13, 2015
I look back to the first time I saw The Neon Trees in concert. It was part of their "Intimate Night Tour" in June 2015 where they went and played small venues, similar to Velour which was where they started. Utah, on the other hand, was special and we got more of a music festival in which different bands played. Those included The Strike, Fictionist, Alex Winston, Big Data & Blue Aces. The Neon Trees have been my favorite band since I was in 8th grade and their music has definitely shaped me into the person I am today. I was extremely excited when I finally was able to see them before their long hiatus.


Neon Trees performing June 13, 2015

Tyler Glenn ♥

Branden Campbell & Neon Trees ♥☺

The Strike at UVU on June 13, 2015

They're cool, right?

This was the night I fell in love with The Strike since. I was [still am] obsessed with ska and had made a joke to my aunt (who took me to the show as sort of a graduation present) that if there were any saxophones, trumpets, or trombones my night would be complete. I was shocked when the Strike took the stage and they were exactly what I was looking for. (Not ska).  Since turning 19 I have caught every show I possibly could. On June 2016 they played in my hometown and  I talked to the Saxophonist, Myles Lawrence, and he gave me some pointers and since then he's helped me in different ways to get more confident in my saxophone abilities. I see him at different shows every now and he always gives me advice. The Fictionist recruited him to compose something, and he ended up writing a 16 saxophone choir to their new album, Sleep Machine. After one of the Strike concerts we were talking and he brought up that opportunity and I was ecstatic to be part of it. Once everything was organized and arranged, I ended up playing Bari sax.

Velour Live Music Gallery, Provo UT
(Photo Cred: one of the other tenor saxes)

Myles has been my mentor of some sorts.

Free jazz with the Fictionist (:
(Photo Cred: Kyle N.)

Me, Branden C & Branden
(Photo Cred: Payton R)

Fictionist & Friends, Sleep Machine Release
(Photo Cred: Melanie P) 

Just chillin' before the show. Sixteen Saxophone Choir
(Photo Courtesy of Myles L.)

Meeting Branden Campbell
Rehearsals with the Fictionist were great and productive. The Saxophone harmonies and panning of the parts was incredible. I still can't believe I got to experience this. Branden Campbell, the bassist from Neon Trees was announced as one of the guests who would be joining the Fictionist on stage, and I completely lost my cool. Like I mentioned before, I loved the Neon Trees since I was in 8th grade and never had I ever imagined that I would be playing a show with [any of] them. I saw him at one of the rehearsals and we talked a little. I fan-girled, of course, and got a picture with him. He was pretty cool, and very talented. We talked a few times, and he's really nice and encouraging and excited to play with so many saxophones. He gave me a bass pick that has his name on it and the Neon Trees logo. I completely lost it. I think that it's important to keep a balance between people you meet professionally and people you meet because you're a fan. I hope to someday work with Branden (and hopefully the rest of Neon Trees).

The back to back shows
Friday and Saturday.
I had the opportunity to play on stage with all of these talented people, while the rest of the saxes were on the risers on each side of the venue. It was incredible how pumped the crowd was. It was definitely a sight to see. The Fictionist are all talented dudes in many different aspects, and I feel extremely honored and grateful to have this experience. I hit all the right notes and had fun while doing so. The energy on stage was incredible compared to what I normally experience in the crowd. The commercial ensemble class at SLCC had definitely prepared me for this experience. Fictionist have played with Neon Trees, Imagine Dragons and Vampire Weekend, to name a few. Bari sax is not my main instrument, and to be quite fair I've spent the least time playing Bari. This experience taught me that Bari sax is a useful tool. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.

Robbie from Fictionist
(Photo Cred: Melanie P.)

(Photo Cred: Kyle N.)

Taking the stage with Fictionist, Branden Campbell, and Myles Lawrence was something I never imagined. These two shows are definitely what dreams are made of. I don't think I can condense into words what I felt in the moment or how I feel now, remembering that it happened. If it wasn't for the pictures, I wouldn't believe that I was on stage with them.

The significance in this gig, for me was that it was the biggest gig I've done so far. The biggest crowd I've played for was my graduating class and the people that came to support us. It was my senior year jazz combo and I got to do a tenor sax solo. It was about half of the Maverick Center, but this is a lot closer to what I want to do with my life. The whole experience was surreal. I never thought about playing at one of my favorite venues or even to be playing along side some of the people I look up to.
It really is incredible what we take for granted. I'm so lucky and so blessed to have good influences in my life. I love meeting musicians. I think the most important thing I still need to learn is that even though I may think someone is the most amazing human being in the world, they may not be to everyone else. You gotta keep it professional with people that you meet. People are people no matter how extraordinary they seem. After a while of knowing someone they lose their magic and are just as normal and extraordinary as you! (: Because you may not see it but you are special too!
"be the change you want to see in the world" -ghandi

Moral Support

I feel like there are things that we often overlook.
Growing up, I didn't have too many friends until about Jr High. I made some really great friends throughout those years. As we grew older and went through high school, I made even more friendships.
We grow up and change.
We grow apart, our interests change and we go to college. I still keep in touch with some people I call my friends. I have the regular friends I hang out with on the weekends, and I have the friends I see at LDS Mission Farewells and Homecomings. We catch up, and make more memories. I made some great friends through work, some friendships have potential to last long, or even survive hardships.
Despite it all, I still love my friends because they are my family. They are more like family than my actual family. They have been there for me during some of the roughest times in my life, as well as my successes.
I am truly blessed to have these incredible people in my life.
I love being able to help friends prepare for their religious mission, wedding, birthday, or really anything that involves being part of their life in one way or another. I love them all very much. There's so much I would do for them.
Unfortunately, as we grow up, we learn to depend less on each other. We don't need as much of each other and we find our partners. Eventually get married and the friends seem to be pushed aside. There are other priorities in our lives and we overlook what we once had.
I always invite my friends to parties, concerts and other events and for some reason they fall through. It hurts a lot when it happens but I understand things have more priority in their lives. I think about every wrong thing that my friends have done, but this is all superficial. It doesn't matter in the end as to who came to your 21st birthday party, your son's baptism luncheon or even said yes when you asked them to be your bridesmaid. As long as YOU had a good time, that's all that matters.


It's hard to have fun on your own, but use that time to do something creative like DIY projects, or go on a "me date". Being on your own doesn't have to be a curse, you can meet new people and have fun, maybe make new friends. I often find myself going to concerts alone and enjoying them just as much. There's a negative connotation to doing things alone but keep in mind that sometimes being by yourself is great. Be your own person. Whoever comes or at least reaches out to you is worth keeping in your life. Give as many second chances as you want, just know the consequences of it. BE THE PERSON YOU WANT TO BE.
The most important thing is: be happy because of the person you have become.


-if you are reading this and you think I'm still mad at you for the thing you did, trust me when I say that I'm not. I got over it. It took some time but I'm over it. It might've hurt at the time and I might've thought I would never talk to you again, but trust me. I do still love you. You are my family. Thank you for giving me time to myself.-

• Saxophone •

Every single person in this business has at some point in their life hit a low note. There are always those days when you question the legitimacy of this dream. There is always a point when you doubt your abilities and question everything you stand for. As a sophomore in college, I know that I am just beginning, yet there are times when I have experienced that feeling. I've questioned my career enough times, to where I've been close to dropping out and quitting. There are moments when I'm left to wonder if this is all worth it. I've neglected my practice over the holiday break, and even though I'm fully engulfed in my band class, I guess I'm not as serious about this as I was before. I had one of the most rigorous auditions and although I had a long time to prepare for it, I didn't feel like I had the help I needed until the very last second. Last semester I had my first jury, and I only had a two week notice to prepare for it. I walked into the room after several violinists and I was freaking out. Judging musicians is tough, because it's difficult to tell where they are and where they are supposed to be. I've been playing for five years but sometimes, it feels like it's been a lot shorter.

I wasn't as excited to take private lessons this semester, for the last few weeks I've been questioning my seriousness in this business.  After my lesson was over, I realized why I keep doing this.

It's because I love it.  Over the last couple weeks, I've been going to different shows and watch some of my favorite local saxophonists. These are people I really look up to. I finally got to meet a former employee of the company I work for, and alum to the school I currently attend. He is someone whose footsteps I'm basically following.  It is really astonishing to see how far he has gone in his career. I talked to my Private Lessons Professor about it, and he knows the guy because he was his instructor too.  At some point in time, I hope to be where he is now.

For a while, I had been thinking, "I'm not going anywhere," despite a few friends who keep reminding me that I am just starting out. Yes, this is difficult, but with enough patience and a ton of practice, I can do this too!

For anyone who is struggling:

It will all be okay. Remember why you do what you do and why you want to do it. Re-kindle your passion for it, any way possible. Just don't ever forget it.