Senior Quinten Saylor explores his interests in music by playing instruments, participating in various music ensembles, and completing an independent study on music software. 

Saylor’s growing curiosity and dedication throughout high school helped him develop his musical knowledge.

Saylor’s love for music began when he chose the clarinet for his elementary school band. He shared that he didn’t love music then and was participating in the band to have something to do. 

“Around elementary school, my parents just made me join the band,” he said. “But where my music really kind of started taking off was in high school.” 

With the opportunities he was given upon entering high school, his knowledge of music blossomed.

“I started playing clarinet, like normal, freshman year, and then sophomore year, my dad told me to try bass clarinet,” he said. “And then I think the process of learning a new instrument inspired me to just keep learning more and more.”

For Saylor, the experimentation with picking up new instruments was mostly independent.

“I consider myself to be mostly self-taught. I’ve never really had a private teacher. It’s really just my own curiosity that teaches me,” he said.

Saylor occasionally needed assistance from band director Mr. Nicholas Pignataro to play new instruments.

“Eventually, I started buying new instruments or asking Mr. P to lend me new ones so I could just take them home and use them,” Saylor said.

For almost over a year, Saylor has been working with music software. 

“What I do with a lot of my free time is I have a little tiny studio in my room, and with music software, I create little songs or demos,” Saylor said.

While starting music software, Saylor contacted English teacher Mr. Robert Zakrzewski to do an independent study called “Lyrics and Music.” Zakrzewski noted how Saylor showed his musical abilities through different projects.

“Quinten had an idea about music composition, but primarily lyrics. Working with an English teacher made sense to him, and he knew from having my class that we do a lot with music,” Zakrzewski said. “So he came up with the plan, and I gave him some materials that we’re going to use.” 

For his independent study, Saylor is currently working on several projects and by January, he wants to have many songs fully done.

“I’m learning how to sing a little bit on my own and figure that whole process out and actually make full-fledged songs. I’m trying to get an EP done by the end of the class this semester,” Saylor said.

Throughout his studies, Saylor’s current favorite project he has ever done consists of a cold day at the beach with his family. 

“We went to the beach over winter break. I don’t know why we did, but we were basically cooped up inside a really big room and I decided to bring all my equipment with me,” Saylor said. “I made like ten tracks over the course of two or three days just in my hotel room.”

Saylor continues to talk about music when sharing what inspires him to do music. He explains that music, like movies and weddings, can set a mood for anything. 

“I think music is such an interesting topic because it’s really nothing but vibrations in your ears,” Saylor said. “If you go to a wedding and there’s no music playing, it’s kind of awkward. Adding music to almost anything makes an experience so much more enjoyable or meaningful.”

When thinking about his future, Saylor would love to see music in it.

“I’m gonna major in some field of biology for college. But I’m definitely hoping, wherever I go, I can hopefully minor in music.” 

Through Saylor’s position as drum major for this year’s marching band season, band director Mr. Nicholas Pignataro sees the qualities in Saylor that made him right for a position in music leadership.

“He’s a really likable guy, you know? He’s very genuine, and I just had a feeling that people were going to respect him because I thought he was going to respect them first,” Pignataro said.

Comparing the start of high school to where he is now, Saylor shares some useful advice to anyone who wants to pursue music.

“Don’t be afraid to jump in there. Honestly, I didn’t want to do music my freshman year. And then here I am, in my senior year, basically in almost all the ensembles we have, except for anything with strings or chorus,” Saylor said.