An auditorium has seen musical performances by choir and band. However, the red curtain has yet to open for the students who practice music unrelated to their education.

Around campus students are pursuing the art of music outside of school.

“I thought guitar would be fun and a skill I could use later in life,” junior Max Cannon said.

Cannon, who’s played for two years, uses music practices in the place of procrastination.

“When I want to watch TV or play video games I play guitar instead,” Cannon said.

Meanwhile, sophomore Nathan Evans discovered guitar as a means of procrastination.

“I was looking around my house for a distraction from doing my homework and I saw a guitar,” Evans said.

Guitar players like Evans bring their instrument to school to have more time to play it. Instead of wasting his free time away, he gets more practice in by then end of the day.

“I bring it because it’s hard for me to go four hours without playing guitar,” Evans said.

Despite this, some try to avoid taking their instrument to school to assure the safety of it.

“I don’t want anyone to hit my guitar,” Cannon said. “Though, I have brought it before for Guitar Club and to play with other people.”

For some of these students music is more than just a hobby. Evans plans on pursuing a career in music, with hopes of opening a church camp. Sophomore Aaron Farrell wants to perform on stage.

“I want to be in a famous rock band one day,” Farrell said. “But, I don’t want to be swarmed by fans or anything.”

All three of these students play songs of famous artists that they learned.

“I love to play ‘Boulevard of Broken Dreams’ by Green Day because it’s so catchy and I’ll literally find myself air bassing it at random times,” Farrell said.

While Farrell plays cover songs, Evans experiments with writing his own lyrics and notes.

“I write my own music,” Evans said. “I typically write my progressions using strong recent memories and let them tell the story. Then I fill in the loose details with lyrics.”

Junior Wyatt Williamson, who plays guitar, piano and mandolin, also writes his own music.

“One of the methods I use is personal experience or a friend’s experience and then the words start to come to my head,” Williamson said.

While Williamson plays mostly alternative and jazz music, Farrell categorizes his music style as rock.

“I prefer to play different genres of rock,” Farrell said. “Not only do they have awesome instrumentals and fun bass lines, but the music is so inspirational.”

Current musicians provide an example to the next generation of performers of what type of artist to be.

“I look up to Ryan Cassata because he’s transgender like me and he’s living my dream,” Farrell said. “He’s able to transition and he’s even played at Warped tour this year.”

With melody and lyrics, these four students pursue their passion and express individuality.

“I do a little bit of singing on the side,” Williamson said. “And one of the things I like about music is you get to express yourself and what you’ve been through without coming off as over dramatic.”