Matthew Ramella ‘19
THE ROUNDUP
How often do we make real life decisions based on a video game, especially when it comes from a game like “The Legend of Zelda?”
Karson Hawkins ’19 thought back to when he heard the cello being played on “The Legend of Zelda,” and said from then on he decided to play the large, deep sounding string instrument.
“The cello has a deeper sound, and it can play more interesting and emotion music than other instruments,” Hawkins said. “The fact that you can strike up emotions from people and make them feel something from the music, it’s amazing.”
He has learned, in his three years of playing the cello, the emotional part of playing orchestral music.
Mr. Leo Werner is director of the band program.
“Karson is a very fine musician, he has a passion for the art and he commits himself fully to whatever he is playing,” Mr. Werner said.
Hawkins has also began practicing the tenor saxophone since earlier this summer, and he still practices the saxophone nightly.
“The sax really contrasts the cello, when you play the saxophone and then go back to the cello, you say ‘wow, this is amazing, it’s totally different,’” he said.
“Same as the cello, you can’t play chords and a bunch of notes with it, but you can play the melody,” Hawkins said of the tenor saxophone “It’s really deep and emotional, and you can ride with the notes that you are playing.”
Although Mr. Werner does not directly teach Hawkins, he and Hawkins help with the United Sound Club, a club paired with Central High School that teaches students with special needs how to play an instrument.
“Karson meets with us after school at Central High School,” Mr. Werner said, “He helps teach a young lady how to play the cello.”
Hawkins is still looking into playing more instruments other than the tenor saxophone and cello.
He plays for Brophy’s orchestra, but he hopes to expand his horizons by playing in a band outside of school.
“I like rock music, I’d like to play in a band with friends, but I’m not sure how far the cello goes with that,” he said.
He hasn’t given up on playing the cello in a rock band, however.
He does think that the saxophone could help him with expanding his horizons with playing rock music.
When asked about music helping him in school he said, it has an impact.
“Academically, it makes homework more tolerable, it pushes me to go home and get it done, and go on for the sake of his music,” he said
