Vitya Felder I stand with my feet together, my whole body very tense. I am very nervous.

I scrunch up my face and sing to myself up pony down pony. I open my eyes and see Mom- beret askew- waving furiously from the audience, Dad gives me a big thumbs up. I am suddenly very excited. I got this. I must have been very young, only four or five, but I remember that first concert like it was yesterday. I think that memory has retained its clarity because as I looked at my parents smiling faces, I knew I could not fail. My mother played the violin all through high school and college and still does with passion. So naturally, as soon as I could walk, I would too. I started learning violin by the Suzuki method when I was only two years old. The problem was my teacher, Ms. Bartlett, kept kicking me out! It seems I couldnt stand still. But, in accordance with Suzukis philosophy-every child can- my mother didnt give up. Finally, at three, I was deemed mature enough to play. Its been fourteen years, and quite a journey. Im not going to lie-there have been many ups and downs. But looking back at my years of music, I can truly appreciate all that the violin has taught me. It has taught me perseverance and discipline. How many times did I want to skip practicing to go sledding or watch a movie? How many birthday parties did I miss for concerts, or want to quit because I just didnt want to anymore? Luckily, my mother never let me. She taught me that giving up is not an option. Such, I believe, is a true show of her love for me. Oh, and it wasnt easy, either, when other siblings began to show up. Suddenly, I wasnt the only one anymore. Violin helped to teach me patience and independence. Maybe Mom cant come right THIS second, but she will come. Until then, what can I explore on my own? When I joined the Eastern Pittsburgh Youth Orchestra (EPYO) in fourth grade, I sat in the back of the second violins and could barely play half the notes. Our conductor, a professional cellist, was patient, explaining that during his first rehearsal he only played seven notes. Slowly but surely, I found my way. Now, nine years later, I am EPYOs concert master. My orchestra years taught and continue to teach mehumility and the value of teamwork.

Vitya Felder What I learned most recently in my music career-and perhaps most valuably- is how to use the violin to express myself. I always loved performing, but I have only just begun to develop a creative connection to my instrument. This connection, though requiring hard work, has taught me to see my violin as a vessel with which to express myself. Now when I look at a concerto- I dont simply see notes on a page. I see a story waiting to be told-something beautiful, aching to be shared with the world. Its all I can do to let my fingers fly. When I am troubled, I turn to my violin, as I do when I am exuberant. Playing gives me a way to articulate myself when sometimes words are not enough. I would not be who I am today if not for my violin-and more importantly- the people who helped along the way: my parents. My mother, who never let me quit for a second, and my father, whose face I can always count on seeing as I rise from a bow- his thumbs in the air. And then there is my violin teacher- my mentor for life. From Jennifer I learned respect, tolerance, and how to make the music inside me come alive. To this audience of mine I owe immense gratitude. They make me feel special, loved, and as if I cannot fail- no matter how badly I stumble. And of course, to my violin. I get into position left foot out, violin up, bow on the strings. The piano begins to plan an introduction. I take a deep breath and begin my showstopper-six variations of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. And I rock it. Every little girl should have a violin.