I play the flute, piano, and am attempting to teach myself to play the guitar. I have been playing the piano since I was six or seven (six years)  because my parents had put me in lessons and I never stopped. I started NYSSMA for piano in fifth grade and although it was canceled this year I am planning to continue with level five for piano next year. Piano has honestly acted as an escape because I never intended it would be something I would do in the future but more as a craft that I can do on my own time without force or complaint. This led me to loving playing the piano because nothing else mattered when I was playing in the empty room where no can hear.  When I am done with piano NYSSMA I am hoping to start flute NYSSMA even if I don’t have a private teacher.  I have played the flute for four years now. Originally I had wanted to play the clarinet because my sister had played the clarinet so I had wanted to be like her because music comes so easily to her. Eventually she had convinced me to learn something else and if I had ever wanted she would teach me to play the clarinet. So after pondering, I reluctantly chose to play the flute and I do not regret it one bit as I got really close with one of my best friends from sitting next to her for three straight years in lessons and class.  I had wanted to play the guitar for as long as I remembered but never gotten the chance. Until last year after my cousin had taught himself to play and I figured if he can do it so can I, so I had expressed that I wanted a guitar. My aunt had bought my sister and I one for the holidays and since then I have been teaching myself whenever I get the chance. It's not going well but I’m going to keep trying.