isabel

A clip from the MTSU Spring Flute Studio Recital this past Sunday 🪈🎶

This semester has been one of the hardest I’ve faced—balancing school, work, and practice while trying to take care of myself mentally. It all caught up to me, especially the day before this performance, which was one of the toughest days I’ve had in a long time. For weeks, I had been pushing myself too far, running on barely four hours of sleep each night and feeling completely drained.

But something shifted during this performance.

As I played, I felt something I hadn’t experienced since my very first flute performance—I fell in love with playing all over again. Even though I had practiced this piece so many times, with piano and on my own, in that moment it felt new. It felt like I was 12 years old again, rediscovering just how much I love to perform.

Of course, it wasn’t perfect—but when is a performance ever perfect? What mattered was the reminder this piece gave me: even on the most overwhelming and chaotic days, there’s a reason I chose music. It’s where I find joy, comfort, and a way to escape when I need it most 🎼💕

As the semester comes to an end, I just want to remind my fellow music colleagues—don’t forget why you started. Hold onto the beauty of it, the lessons it’s taught you, and the love that keeps you going 🫶

love y’all bunches
– isabel 💕