The Unseen World of Student Musicians at HC

Writer: Audrey Gao

Editor: Raelyn Cheung

Many students at Havergal College are engaged in music-related activities and play an instrument or two. However, their lives are often overlooked as people don’t know what it means to be a musician in high school. Behind the spectacular performances are endless repetition, countless hours spent practicing, and the emotional discipline, all of which is done behind the closed doors of practice rooms. Without a doubt, student musicians deserve far more visibility, with their stories rivaling those of any academic or athletic achievement.

In order to be ready for these marvelous performances, musicians must spend countless hours practicing and perfecting their craft. Walking past the music classrooms means hearing scales, arpeggios, and other technical exercises meant for mastering the basics of the instrument. Sound production, intonation, rhythm and much more are the fundamentals to music making that must be practiced consistently through repetition. Students spend entire afternoons in practice rooms with their instrument to practice their repertoire until their lips, fingers, and minds are exhausted. In addition to personal practice, many students engage in ensembles such as orchestra, symphonic band, and choir. Students also now have to attend early morning rehearsals, dragging their expensive instruments regardless of the weather conditions. Many sacrifice their sleep, their freetime, and their energy in order to attend these rehearsals. A great deal of time is spent on discussing dynamics, integrating parts, and being scolded by the conductors for not practicing enough. Yet, one of the most important parts of being a musician is to make music. They want to convey their emotions, intentions, and a story through their songs. This step piles on another layer of complexity that musicians have to learn and practice. The reason why so much of the work is overlooked is because performances usually last between three to ten minutes, in which the audience only hears the final product.

Music at Havergal plays a meaningful role in the school community. The school hosts Music Nights and school-wide events such as Carol Service to showcase the students’ hard work. Parents, teachers, and the students can feel that all the hard work they put into practicing was worth something tangible to demonstrate exceptional commitment to the world. Another event that invites all musicians of any genre to perform is Prayers, which is a biweekly assembly that the entire school attends to learn about various global or cultural topics. Musicians can perform for their peers, receive a roaring applause, and internalise that all of their hard work has paid off. Additionally, one of the joys of making music is playing with other people. Opportunities such as chamber music allow for musicians to work on soft skills like team work, listening, flexibility, and much more. Getting to play with friends, classmates, or even people you don’t know and just create music together is one of the best parts of being a musician. They speak through music, which is universal because it transcends all words in all languages. Learning from one another, laughing when funny mistakes are made in rehearsal, and just enjoying the music that is produced brings light to many student musicians at Havergal.

Havergal College [@havergalcollege]. (2025, December 3). Thanks to everyone who joined us at Senior School Music Night to hear a selection of pieces by our Jazz [photograph]. Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/p/DR0oVbkDPNj/?img_index=6&igsh=MWNzemh0MHc4cHBhY

As enjoyable as creating music with friends is, a frequent challenge many musicians face is perfectionism. Perfectionism is prevalent amongst multiple disciplines, but especially in musicians. The ideal is drilled into musicians’ heads from an early stage, with academics and the need to get into a great college further amplifying this expectation. Thousands of students struggle with anxiety, which can translate to their performances in the form of performance anxiety. Sweaty palms, a racing heartbeat, shaking fingers are typical symptoms that can occur. Students have to learn to manage these emotions, which can also be very beneficial for their academics when they are taking tests. Managing their breathing, calming their nerves, and getting into the right mindset are all strategies to help tame anxiety in both the music and academic areas. Furthermore, there is a massive pressure for student musicians to do well as there are no redos in a performance. They happen once, and that is it. With this in mind, the emotional and mental labour of playing perfectly and not being able to deliver on this promise leaves many musicians upset. After spending hours practicing and sacrificing their sleep, how could the end result still be imperfect?

All things considered, it is clear that being a musician requires a tremendous amount of focus, musicality, and discipline. The culture at Havergal is heavily focused on sports, with many musicians being left behind. Let’s not forget those that create the music that one taps their foot to, or the tune people unconsciously hum. Being a musician is as mentally, emotionally, and sometimes physically demanding as being an athlete is, with the same level of dedication and commitment. It’s time to bring forth the unseen world of student musicians into view and celebrate the work put into behind every performance.