Dedication, discipline and practice: three key factors in achieving success. Senior Ryker Meadows, a student displaying said traits, earned the opportunity to perform at the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio as part of the Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention with the distinguished and respected Texas All-State Band.
“It’s a really cool honor to be able to play with some of the best ensembles in the state,” Meadows said. “Especially since Texas is one of the most competitive states for music in the country.”
Through his years in the band, Meadows worked his way up to second-chair, actively pursuing a place on the Texas All-State Band. This goal motivated him to continue his hard work and keep pushing forward.
“In my sophomore year, I was close to making state, I was in second chair,” Meadows said. “So it motivated me to keep [trying out for the All-State band] because I knew that I could do it.”
Meadows’ accomplishment didn’t come easy, with countless hours of work, relentless practice and dedication going into it. Every sacrifice, late-night practice session, and want to continue building upon his skills shaping the path to this achievement.
“It takes a lot of hours of practice and discipline to practice,” Meadows said. “Especially when you don’t want to and when you’ve got other things going on over a period of a few months.”
Even though Meadows faced many challenges, his mistakes taught him how to stand out to the judges.
“There are challenges in preparation of the music to get it as musical as you can,” Meadows said. “Because every little detail will set you apart from your competition in a big way if you can get it to sound good.”
Meadows’ journey doesn’t end here, as he is already making plans for his future in the band. With a deep passion for music and a strong work ethic, he will work to take on greater challenges and further expand his experience as a musician.
“I plan on majoring in music in college and making a living either teaching or making music,” Meadows said. “Because I love doing it and being around other capable musicians.”
