The musical notes that resonate through the halls

Katherine Mas/Contributing Writer

Thanks to them, others are able to break away from school stress and get lost in the musical notes while they relax and take advantage of their free time between classes.

They are the students who play piano during their leisure time at the University.

Playing piano helps students relax and pass time. Current senior and hospitality and tourism management major, Conrad Gongor, is a self taught piano player plays as a hobby and finds that it calms him down during his long breaks between classes.

Other students such as undecided sophomore, Gene Yllanes, wanted to learn how to play piano last semester and now practices on campus because he doesn’t have one at home.

Some students have been playing since their childhood but have stopped along the way and want to rekindle their relationship with the piano. This is the case for freshman and English major, Brittany Owens, who is currently getting reacquainted with the instrument.

Sometimes playing music is all about moving other people and grabbing their attention and praises. Current junior and English major Gabriel Vazquez, said, “You need an audience.”

Vazquez also said that what inspires him to play is the pleasure he gets from serenading himself and others.

These students are influenced by many great musicians of both the past and modern time, from Bach and Mozart, to Elton John, Billy Joel and The Fray.

Besides the famous artists, everyday people in these students’ lives also stimulate their curiosity for piano.

Vazquez, who aspires to become a teacher some day, learned to play from his uncle, who used to play for his church.

Yllanes, on the other hand, gets excited about playing music when he sees others play and enjoys jamming with different people who play other instruments like guitar, and drums. Besides getting inspired and learning from others like him, he also stated “the best way to learn music is to learn classical music.”

Some of the students who play piano also enjoy playing other instruments.Yllanes, who is a guitarist and is also interested in learning how to play drums, finds that the guitar and piano are “two completely separate things.” He also feels that the piano combines the two music fields that he is interested in so he wants to learn more.

Vazquez also knows how to play some guitar but says he prefers to play piano because it’s nicer on his fingers, unlike the guitar strings.

While playing piano for all to hear, these students have experienced some pretty memorable moments that they will never forget.

Gongor said that one day while he was playing a lady burst through the double doors near him and stopped to listen and told him that he had made her day.

“It made me feel like that’s the reason why I play piano,” Gongor said. “It calms me down so I’m glad it did something for her.”

Owens stated that one of her highlight moments was being asked if she gave piano lessons.

One thing is for certain, whether they were self taught, or trained as a child, they all have one thing in common. They all play for themselves and for the joy and satisfaction that playing piano brings.

Vazquez had a more emotional encounter at Modesto Maidique Campus when a woman approached him while playing and with tears in her eyes told him that he had a gift. He said that made him feel good.

“It’s nice that something I do can touch someone, it moves me, so it was nice to hear that,” Vazquez said.